Released On 8th May 2015

Rachel’s blog: “We foster as a family”

My name is Rachel, I am 16 and I’ve been part of a fostering household for as long as I can remember.

My parents fostered before I was born and so I have grown up with foster children living with us, ranging from new-borns up to teenagers.

As foster carers my parents have specialised in working with disabled children, so we have looked after children with a variety of physical and learning disabilities. One girl we cared for had no speech, and another had regular temper tantrums.

We also had a boy who came to stay with us, who had lots of additional health needs. These included only having one lung and a heart on the wrong side of his body, and so he needed oxygen machines.

I have always loved the fact that we foster, the idea that we are giving a child that needs a home a stable and loving environment is a lovely feeling!

We have always said that we foster as a family, and so me and my younger brother have a say in who comes to stay. For example, one decision was that we would not typically foster anyone older than my brother.

Before a child arrives at our house, I get ready by trying to make their room as friendly as possible, perhaps making a sign for the door with their name on it or putting some toys on their bed, just little things that can make everything a little less scary.

Although I really enjoy fostering, there are also certain things that I dislike about it. For example when a child leaves it can be really emotional and there are always a few tears. But at the end of the day you know that they are going on to a family of their own and you have done a good thing by providing what you did even if it was only for a short period of their lives.

An example of a child we fostered who had a very happy ending, would be a baby boy that we looked after for a while.

He learnt to crawl and walk with us, as well as his first word being my nickname! He got adopted by a couple who were absolutely perfect for him, and who visited lots in the run up to him moving in with them, so he was comfortable and happy around them.

Although I was very upset when he left, the main emotion was happiness that he got loving parents, and that we had helped him with that start in life. We are still in contact with them and even got to attend his christening.

Fostering means that a child is with you all the time, including weekends and holidays, so you really get to know them well and they are able to talk to you, as you are sharing your life and your home with them.

In our house everything downstairs is shared, but mine and my brother’s rooms are our own, which I think is important, as it means there is always somewhere to go if we need privacy or a little bit of an escape!

Fostering is a huge part of our family life, allowing us to make a difference to a child’s life and provide a stable home to someone that needs it.

The positivity that comes out of fostering, both for us as a family and for the children we have fostered is massively rewarding and means that life is never dull!

Could you foster or adopt with Somerset County Council? Take our online quiz by clicking here, or pick up the phone and speak to our friendly team on 0800 587 9900.