It is interesting that in reading my friend Lauren's blog she stated that she and her husband have started taking foster parenting training classes. Just prior to reading that, Brandon and I went to the local branch of the Utah Foster Care Foundation here in Ogden to get some information about foster parenting.
That was a month ago, and after playing some phone tag (in which I was "it" most of the time) we were able to set up what is called an "initial consultation" with a recruiter for the foster care program. So Tuesday night, the recruiter came to our home and sat us down to give us the low down on the down low of foster parenting. She explained the process of applying for foster care, the training classes, and the age group with which we expressed interest. The meeting went really well. We asked a LOT of questions and got the answers that we needed. I am sure that we will have more questions as we attend the classes. The classes start next Tuesday so Brandon and I will be going to that, but since we are both going to be out of town, we will miss two classes, but we will be able to make them up later.
We are both just thrilled about doing this. We know that some of you may be thinking that we are in for a rude awakening, but believe me we know that with doing this there is going to definitely be the good, the bad, and surely the ugly.
We were told that the classes are on varying topics, and the requirements of foster parenting. The recruiter said that she knows the instructor and that he is completely frank in talking about things in foster parenting. I am totally open to that, because I would rather know the good things AND the difficult things that foster parenting entails.
We have decided that to start we want to take newborn to 2 years. We talked to the recruiter and she asked us how open we would be to adopting a child if their parents' rights are relinquished. Of course we would adopt! With my health issues adoption is/has been something we have strongly considered. It just sucks that there are so many kids out there that need homes, but adoption is SO friggin' expensive. Foster parenting could lead to the possibility of adopting a little person, and we wouldn't pay anything for it. But I am totally supportive of any way that people decide to start or have a family.
So that is what exciting in our lives right now. This just feels so right.
4 comments:
That is awesome!!! You'll have to keep us updated. Kurt and I considered adoption before Logan was born (he took 3 1/2 years to come). You and Brandon will be great parents!
Awesome! Foster parenting is a wonderful calling! I got the chills when I read this entry... I feel so excited! Hope the classes go well. :)
YEAH! You two have so much to give and any child would be blessed to have you two as foster parents!
I love you both!
way to go... we are so excited to start! We sign the final papers next week
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