Foster Care: Love, Let Go and Still Love

When Kelli Ingram says she's not stronger, less selfish, divinely called or any different than you are, you get the feeling she's heard those adjectives a million times before. It's easy to see why folks would think she's not like the rest of us, though. A homeschooling mom of six, Kelli is raising children she has carried herself, fostered and adopted; she'll deliver the family's seventh child this fall. With a story like that (and hair that defies gravity), we had a million questions for her.Hear how she met her husband, Trey, and how they have used the heartbreaking parts of foster care to fuel change within the system. After the state, against his biological mom's wishes, took their 19-month-old foster son from the only home he'd ever known, the Ingrams campaigned to change the laws. They succeeded. Kelli's lifelong best friend adopted the biological brother of the Ingrams' fourth daughter, Faith, making the two families even more intertwined than before. Kelli's family shares property with her mom and sister, but even with help nearby, parenting is hard work; that's especially true, she says, given the brokenness and trauma tucked inside the beauty of adoption.From thoughts on finding the right partner and speaking honestly with your children to getting your family to smile for the camera (this one took me by surprise!) and achieving Insta-worthy hair, Kelli didn't shy away from any of our audience's questions. You can find her at @kelliingram on Instagram. She points you to fgi4kids.org to learn more about Stand Up, SC and foster care reform. Thanks for being here, y'all! I'd love to hear from you at @ButNotAllAtOnce on social media or via ButNotAllAtOnce.com.