It always saddens me when I see news items of families that break up because they are unable to live together peacefully. I suppose we have to count ourselves fortunate when our families turn out to be decent people, and we can get along together in a reasonable manner. My own family has long since grown up and left home, although my son is still with us because of a chronic illness. Our expanding family now consists of four grandsons, two of whom are approaching the end of their schooling.
I suppose because of the foregoing reason, I feel strongly for those children and young ones who loose the stability of family life, and sometimes end up on the wrong side of the law, or making a complete mess of their relationships with other people. I always admire friends of ours who make their homes available to such unfortunate children, providing them with a stable home atmosphere through fostering. We have not been able to do the same ourselves, because we lack the extra room that is required. Living in a two bedroomed house with our son still at home.
One particular friend of ours, an elderly lady in her eighties, has fostered children for a number of years now. We find that truly amazing, and wonder how she still has the energy at her age to take on such a commitment. From what she tells us she gets some say over the type of case that she is willing to take on. So nobody is forced into situations that they may feel they will not be able to handle. Along with her strong desire to help with fostering children she has a sense of satisfaction to see the good affect she has had on such ones. Financially she is better off also.
For anyone desiring to become a foster carer, do a search for fostering agencies to get more information about fostering and the needs of your local area.
