How Fostering Changed a Teacher’s Life and Created a Forever Family

In this episode of In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered, Kristen, a single public school teacher from North Carolina, shares her journey into foster care and adoption. After facing fertility challenges and separation, her experience with foster children in her classroom inspired her to become a foster parent. She recounts accepting placement of a five-year-old boy, taking him on a beach trip just days later, and navigating early behavioral challenges. With a strong support system of family, colleagues, and professionals, Kristen witnessed remarkable growth in her son. Early last year, she finalized his adoption, calling it the greatest joy of her life. On experiencing "firsts" as a foster parent: “I still think that there's a lot of other firsts that they can experience with older children. Maybe they don't get those early experiences losing their first tooth or, you know, walking or things like that. But definitely with older children, there's the first day of this grade level or trying a new sport, getting to do or go places that they've never had the opportunity to do or go. Even trying a food for the first time.” —Kristen What You Will Learn: Kristen's journey into foster care and adoption Initial plans and challenges related to motherhood and fertility treatments The impact of her teaching experience on her decision to foster The process of accepting her first placement, a five-year-old boy Early experiences and adjustments after the placement Emotional and behavioral challenges faced by the child and Kristen The importance of a support system for foster parents Growth and development of the child over two years Maintaining connections with the child's birth family Misconceptions about fostering and encouragement for potential foster parents Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro00:27 – Meet Kristen01:29 – Initial Plans and Decision to Foster02:58 – Getting Licensed and First Placement Call03:17 – Preparing for a Five-Year-Old and Beach Trip05:01 – First Days and Building Connection06:13 – Experiencing Firsts with Older Children07:23 – First Few Weeks: Highs and Lows08:26 – Support System and Asking for Help09:52 – Balancing Single Parenting and Teaching11:02 – Growth and Development Over Two Years12:43 – Trauma, Triggers, and Progress14:15 – Bonding and Parent-Child Relationship15:26 – Maintaining Birth Family Connections16:47 – Talking About Birth Family with Her Son18:03 – Openness and Life Book19:28 – Maintaining Birth Family Connections20:42 – Emotional Challenges and Support from Specialists21:41 – Attachment and Letting Go23:33 – Misconceptions About Fostering and Adopting24:21 – Advice for Prospective Foster Parents25:12 – What It Means to Be His Mom26:08 – Personal Growth and Gains from Fostering27:34 – Final Advice and Encouragement29:07 – Episode ClosingEpisode Resources: Catch up on previous episodes of In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered here: https://chsnc.org/about/podcast/ For more information about Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, visit: chsnc.org To be a guest on the podcast, email: [email protected] To learn more about foster care, visit: https://chsnc.org/adoption-and-foster-care/get-started/ Let’s be friends! Follow us on social media:  Facebook: @chsnorthcarolina  Instagram: @chs_nc LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/chs-nc YouTube: @chsnc