Why do YOU Foster or Adopt?

Hi, am new here and just starting to spread my wings...

I wondered who fosters / has adopted and why they did so?

I have done both, and am an 'empty' foster carer still.

What lead me to foster was that I was fostered briefly as a child but returned home due to what i can only call a mix up online i guess, my foster carers made a HUGE impression on my life and I was glad to have the chance to thank my foster mum on the phone last year. She was shocked that i'd remained 'at home' the remainder of my childhood but relieved that i'd managed to get myself through it and become a good mum myself.

I adopted because... well this is a good one.. we had no plans so i can't pretend otherwise.. we fostered our little one and things didnt' go to plan for her future, her mum has mental health issues and her dad is mixed race so it meant that she had 'virtually no chance' as the SW's phrased it. We can't adopt anymore but it was a very easy transition to make from loving foster carer to loving mum and dad. bigrin

Our little one will know her history soon enough (she's 3 with a speech and developmental delay so a little 'behind' other almost 4 year olds) but she'll also know we are her mum and dad and love her dearly, as does our eldest daughter. I hope that this will be enough to get her through the years to come, whatever they hold.

Hope you don't mind my asking your story..