Mar 06 2009
Blended Foster Families
Foster Parents may have children in their home from several families. While blended families, where Mom and Dad bring their own children to a marriage and may have children of their own, often have difficult times at least the children have a biological parent as part of their life. Foster children might have a sibling placed with them in a foster home, but it is not unrealistic to have as many as six children in a foster home from different parents. That’s six different sets of family values that must be meshed together in a new household.
I have children from two different families. Two are siblings, a four year old girl and a three year old boy. My other child is a five year old little boy that I have now adopted. Even though this 5 year old has sisters of his own, for my home he wishes to act like an only child a lot of the time. He likes to be in charge and have his way in everything. The four year old girl gets jealous if the 5 year old gets his way.
Structure, consistent routines, and special one on one time with each child helps keep arguments to a minimum. Foster parents with more children than I must work hard daily at trying to maintain a normal household. If you know a family like this, see if there is something you can do to help these foster parents in the daily lives.
