May is coming to a quick close, but were you aware that it was National Foster Care Month? Not sure how to celebrate? Here are a few ideas:
Support foster families by offering to provide meals, clothing, books, or other needs
Support agencies who place foster children by donating items or your time
Support children who have been in foster care or are in foster care by allowing them to grieve, understanding that they are in a hard place, and being non-judgmental towards them
Also consider praying about ways you can support foster children. Maybe you can talk to someone who has been or is a foster parent. Find out more about what local agencies offer for those considering fostering.
If you are not sure if becoming a foster or adoptive parent is right for you, or if you know that it is right but feel that it would be beneficial to have some much needed preparation prior to taking the plunge, consider attending pre-adoption counseling sessions. Pre-adoption or pre-foster counseling sessions help you to work through your expectations and explore how those expectations may and may not be met in various ways, which helps you not feel disappointment (in yourself, a spouse, a family member, or the child), helps you grieve, and helps you continue building a positive relationship with your child. Sessions also help you explore your parenting styles, attachment styles, love languages, and your working model for what family is. Affection, discipline, and many other things that you think about when it comes to parenting can look very different with a child from hard places. If you are interested in scheduling pre-adoption or pre-fostering counseling sessions, please contact me. Many married couples attended pre-marital counseling, and so this type of counseling is the same concept, except it prepares you to open your home, heart, and life to a child.