How far would you go

The only time this ever came up was when my son was in high school. One of his close friends was thrown in jail along with his brother for the murder of thier father. The next morning it was proven that the friend had also been attacked by his broher and he was released from jail. We welcomed this boy into our home until others in his family could come to his aide, about two weeks I think. It brought home to me the fact that no way was a welcome loving home able to cope with the needs of tramatized child. I'm very glad we were never asked to do it again. But if it was needed again we would have a bed, food and care to give if needed.

Boy, you have your hands full! I would have to say for me to do that, I would have to be very close to the family, and it would not be because the kids were unruly. I hope this gets resolved quickly, so you can get back to your normal household.

I really admire for doing so. I might do the same thing but if how far will I go- that depends on my financial status. I also have kids of my own that i should take care and my resources is only limited. But, if I am rich enough to care for 5 kids- why not. I would love to be a foster parent of my friend's kids.

I would definately help out because I would hate to see the children put in foster care. Randy and I are looking into adopting children because I am having a hard time getting pregnant. I hope that you will be able to take care of your friend's kids and the father has cannot see the kids. I would be afraid that the father may try to hit the kids. I hope you can afford to take care of three more mouths. I am sure once the mother gets out of jail that she will help you out.

I think you would have to be a fairly strong and stable person to take over. I don't see myself doing that because I don't think I'm emotionally equipped to "rescue" someones' children like that. I think I would sacrifice my own health and happiness if I spread myself too thin. I respect people who are willing to be foster parents. Actually I respect anyone who is willing to love and raise children whether those children are their own...or not.

Yeah sure. If it was my best friends kids absolutely. I was actually thinking of being a foster parent at some time in the future but I have my reservations about that. I would absolutely love to bring some wonderfully grateful child into my home and show them love and get a paycheck for it. But I see all too much that this is not always the case. Some of these kids are unpredictable and violent. I commend the ones that take the risk but my personally I just keep thinking my god, what if the kid did something to my kids or pets or us in our sleep? No one can tell me these kids always turn out to be normal members of a household. I have read the stories. But as far as my friends kids go, I absolutely would and it's a wonderful thing that you are doing. I'm sure it's a pain but you will feel good about yourself for a long time trust me. Reminds me of the movie where the heart is. Natalie Port-man did something similar in it. She took her best friend and kids in when she was beat up by her boyfriend.

Yes I would. I think kids deserve the best chances they can have and if it meant my being the one to take care of them I would.....they are lucky to have you taking care of them!

I would do it for family or a really close friend if I were able.

Without hesitation I would do it for children that I love as if they were my own. There is no way I would allow children to be put into the system and end up being split up from each other. You did the right thing because you have a good heart. I commend you and that shows what a good friend you really are to the mother of these kids. Just pray be patient and some how it will all work out in the end. Good luck and God Bless.

I admire you but I could not have done as much as you havre done. I think I can take with me someone else`s child for a short time, but not on a long time basis. It`s not only a matter of money, but capacity for love and energy to double the work.

I think I wouldn't have problems with it, if it were for a short time. I don't think I would be a good foster parent for the long haul. It's not that I would treat the other kids badly, but I would always treat my own kids as favorites. They would have special stuff, and maybe more patience, which in turn wouldn't feel a lot like discrimination to the other kids.

I have always wanted to be a foster parent. I just don't have the financial means for it right now or anytime soon... =( I would have done the same thing you did. I love children and I could never see children being separated or put in foster care if I could prevent it...

LOL, we were foster parents and then adopted the kids. Even knowing what I do now, I'd do it again, but it would be nice to know what I do now before doing it again. We also took in my nephew when his parents were in jail. We only had one extra bed, so his little brother went to my mom -- then 75, and not exactly crazy about having a five-year-old, even though she loved him. It was very hard on her, but it also made her feel needed -- a good thing. Later, when my brother was finally home again, I think he realized for the first time how important extended family was and appreciated that his children were with people who loved them. I can't say any of this was easy for any of us, but I'm sure we'd do it again. It's really hard on the children when something like this happens and if they go into strange foster families it makes their world even more topsy turvy. My nephew who lived with us was 12 and turned 13 while with us. He had real abandonment issues and quite a temper. Whenever you have a new child on the scene who would rather not be there because he's always lived with someone else, there will be problems. The older the child, the harder it is. Mom took the five-year-old because at her age she wasn't ready to deal with adolescent issues. But the five-year-old had his own issues to deal with, and he was very willful and often naughty. Mom had been a widow for 15 years when all this happened, and it was really tough for her to do this alone. We lived 200 miles away from them. When the children went back to their father (their mother was still in prison), I talked my mom into moving here in case we ever needed to have the children come again. At least, then, we'd be able to relieve her on weekends, Fortunately it never came to that, and I'm happy to say the family was finally all together and though they had many issues they needed to resolve, they've been a functional and happier family for the past two years, and the boys have grown up and seem to be doing OK. Growing is always a process.

If someone asked me to look after there kids and I loved there kids as much as my own. Heck yeah I would take them in even we couldn't really afford it, if it meant these kids could be together or that they would be with someone that they knew then I would do it. But first I would see if there is any close family to them that could take them in and if not then I would let them stay with me and my family and take care of them. Being a foster parent in my life I would love to do that in the future if I can.

Personally if these was a close personal friend of mine who has this happen I would try my hardest to make sure and find a way to help provide for them. It would mean a lot of immediate changes, but to keep kids together instead of a Foster Home does mean a lot when these are kids you Love like your own. I am wishing you the Best with this effort, and hope everything can turn out for the Best.

If I was able to do it, I would so without hesitation. Being willing to take in the children of one's friends in times of need is part of being a good friend. I hope that once my boyfriend and I wed and have a bit more financial stability that we adopt children; that is what I plan to do, and it is something that I've spent quite a bit of time researching. I've also considered the possibility of us serving as foster parents.

Right now I don't have the resources to take on such a task, but I think I would do it anyway, at least for a week or two. I think I would have done it without thinking because in the moment there is nothing to think about. You are right there with the children when the mom is taken and if there's nobody else there to take them, they would go to foster care. that would be very heartbreaking to see.

If they were close to me, I sure would! The thing is, the people who are closest to me do not have children. My friends that I consider the closest are all close to or over 50. My sister got married last year, and although she and her husband expressed they only want one child, they aren't exactly trying yet. So honestly I haven't thought about it much. I can think of one cousin that I'm not exactly close to, but we seem to be the only cousins on my dad's side that "visit" each other . . . they have 2 kids that are my kids age . . . and I would take them in. My cousin's wife had some type of cancer . . . and there is a 50/50 chance it may come back though she had surgery and chemo for it. She is the sweetest person and I often think about her and her family - and how they would make it if anything should happen to her. You are a wonderful person to take on your friend's kids . . . I hope things work out for the mom asap - and I wish you the best of luck with it all too because I know you already have so much on your plate!!

That's exactly what I would have done as well. The kids need someone they know and a familiar face. It is a shame he got away with hitting her and she is in jail on a probation violation. Sending positive thoughts that, this will all work out for your friend and you are doing a good thing for the kids.

I could see myself doing that if the parents were going to reimburse me. That's a huge load to take on by yourself.