One of my most viewed posts is “You Know You’re a Foster Parent When…”

I wrote that about a year ago and have since thought of a few more to add to the list, so here is part two of “You Know You’re a Foster Parent When…”

You Know You’re a Foster Parent When

• Your agency’s idea of a Christmas gift is a planner to keep track of all the activities, meetings, visitations, and appointments you’ll be making.
• School and intervention specialists know you by name.
• A caseworker has shown up unannounced when your house is a mess, you haven’t showered in days, and the kids have turned into screaming banshees.
• Someone stops you in the grocery store to ask about your “twins” who are two years apart and different races.
• Your fears about running errands with the kids center around someone coming up to you and demanding to know why their relative is in your shopping cart.
• Your first instinct when a kid gets hurt is to take a picture and document it.
• You voluntarily go to court.
• You’ve considered drastic home renovation just to add another bed.
• You’ve said yes before asking your spouse.
• People ask you if this is the same child as last time.
• You can’t babysit or go somewhere with your own child’s friends without people assuming they’re fosters.
• The name you were told by the caseworker is different than the name bio parents use.
• You’ve cancelled plans because you can’t find respite.
• You’ve lost count of how many times you’ve heard “bless your heart” and “I couldn’t do that.  I’d get too attached.”
• You’ve grieved a goodbye.