This article is a tribute to all of the foster parents that open their homes and hearts to children in need of a safe place. I have never been a foster parent; however, I do believe it takes a special person with compassion, understanding, and love in their hearts to help those children that have been removed from their own home, for whatever reason. Not all people can be foster parents. It certainly takes a special caregiver.

The children that are sent to foster homes have usually endured some form of abuse and they are no longer safe in their current living situations. Perhaps they were physically abused and must see a doctor regarding their injuries. Perhaps they were emotionally abused and feel as though no really cares about them. These children should all have the freedom to go to a therapist and talk things over with a neutral person. In the interim, they are placed into foster care to ensure their safety.

I believe that a foster parent is essentially on call at all times. Not only do they have their own children, they take in a child that can no longer stay at their own home. The foster parent opens their home and feeds the child and takes care of the child’s needs, which includes medical and psychiatric care. The foster parent is responsible to take the child to whatever appointments the child has with medical personnel. The foster parent does all of this, in addition to caring for their own children.

The foster parent has a huge responsibility, since many abused children come with emotional baggage that must be dealt with sooner, rather than later. I believe it is most likely a slow process to healing for these children. Yet, I believe they will eventually heal, if placed with the appropriate foster parents.

My hat goes off to all foster parents. I believe very strongly in their ability to provide safety, healing, and compassion to all children in their care. I want to personally thank them for what they do. Their job requires that they be ready in an instant. Their job also requires them to welcome each child, as best as they can, from the moment the child is placed in their care. I believe that all of the help given to the children, from their foster parents, is never forgotten. It’s a powerful thing to watch a child heal from the abuse they have endured. When a child thinks back on their childhood and what they endured, they will most likely smile when they think of the foster parents that have cared for them in every way possible.

This article is a tribute to the foster parents across our country. They take a child in when they are at their weakest and in need of stability, structure, and tenderness. They provide emotional support to those children they provide care for. They also have an enormous job in the sense that they must be ready at all hours, in order to help each child through whatever stage the child is in, in regards to their healing process. Imagine a child that has been beaten, starved, taunted, and battered. When the child walks in the doors of the foster home, they are given a time of rest. If they see something or hear something that triggers a bad memory of the abuse they endured, they are in need of someone to hold them and assure them that they are safe. Foster parenting is a special calling. Again, hats off to all of my readers that are foster parents. Thank you for all that you do for the children in your community.