Are you a foster parent or have you ever been a foster parent?

I don't think that there is anyway for you to keep from getting too attached to a child. To be a good loving parent to a child you really have to get too attached. I admit it does hurt if or when a child is returned to their biological parents but I always took solace in knowing that while the child was in my cares/he got the best of everything. All the hugs, kisses, and love that I could give. Knowing that I was able to show that child love and affection always made me feel better. I end up adopting two wonderful little boys. One was thirteen months old when he first came to live with me. His adoption became final just before his fifth birthday. His little brother came to live with me just before his third birthday but it only took six additional months before I could adopt him.

oh hun, don't get into this for the wrong reasons! if you ALL want a baby girl, why not adopt one? if you foster, in most cases you can't keep the baby, I'm sure you're aware of that! You will get attach and your heart will break with the injustice. You already have experienced that. And plus you're expecting a grandbaby aren't you? why not wait? I know that can't replace a baby of your own to feed, to change, to spend endless sleepless nights with but you know where I'm going with this. Love ya girl!

I always hoped to be able at some point to foster children, although I would prefer to work with the ones where are a bit older. Due to certain circumstances, it has never been possible for us, but was involved in helping to care for foster children when I was a child, and I was fortunate in getting short-term care from wonderful foster parents myself when I was a teenager. I cannot be of any help to you on this one because I would most certainly get too attached and too heartbroken about not being able to protect the children from the heartless bureaucracy one has to go through. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. I couldn't go through all of that. But I came here to say what profound respect I have for you and for the wonderful things you have done for your two boys. A girl would be blessed to find herself in your care! Good luck.

I have never had any foster children but I have two girlfriends that have done this. They only got to keep each of the babies usually for only about 6 months so you don't get too attached to them, knowing that they are in your home temperarily. I think if you keep that in mind, that they're not yours to keep, then you should be okay. Think of it as babysitting for someone till they get well enough to take care of their baby. Think of it as you are helping the parents. I know it's easy for me to say because I have never been in this situation but I have talked to my girlfriends a couple times about this same subject and this is what they have told me. One of them is in it mostly because of the money she gets paid for taking foster kids. She is a single mom and this way she can stay home with her two little ones.

Having been a foster child myself for a brief period as a small child, I would like to give you a little insight. My foster parents, Carl and Kathy, were awesome. So awesome in fact that when it came time for me to go back to my mom, who had been hospitalized for 6 months, they became friends with my mom, and continued the relationship to this day. I still have contact with them, even though they are 1800 miles away. I am nearly 40 now. Even if you only have the child for a short time, try to establish a good relationship with her parents and let them know that should they need your help in the future to call you. That will go a long way!!

I work at a preschool and sometimes I see people that foster that are not in it for the right reasons. Good luck, it really seems like you are. These kids have so many problems, it is just heartbreaking when things don't go well.

Hubby and I were foster parents for 2 years. For the most part I enjoyed it...at least the kids. The caseworkers, judges and lawyers were the nightmare. As for getting attached that was what finally ended our foster home. We had a 5 year old that they were going to terminate parental rights on. We were told that we were going to be allowed to adopt her and that we needed to bond more with her and get her used to the idea of staying with us permanantely. I loved it...it was what I'd always wanted. We worked on it for a couple months and then they moved her and decided that they wanted to let another family adopt her who had already adopted over 10 kids. I was broken-hearted. They wanted us to keep the foster home open in order to load us up with teenagers (which very few foster homes want) and I said no. I just couldn't cope at that time. We closed our foster home and got on with our life. I know the kids need help but the lying, dishonesty and backstabbing that goes on with the caseworkers tend to ruin it for the foster parents. I wish you lots of luck with yours. **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~

I'm not a foster parent, but I was a foster kid. No offense, but I think that attitude is a little selfish. Many times, kids are in foster care because their parents were abusive and/or negligient. Those kids need to be reached out to, to be loved, to be shown that they have worth as a human being. To push them away because you don't want to be attached could make them feel that they are unlovable, or do not have worth as a human being. I don't mean to be rude, but I think maybe you need to reconsider whether you are cut out to be a foster parent or not.