Single Foster Motherhood: Journeying Alone But Never Lonely

Stephanie Miller shares her journey as a single foster and adoptive mom to three young children, revealing both the exhausting challenges and profound joys of parenting alone.• Adopted a five-year-old last December and a 16-month-old around Halloween, while currently fostering another five-year-old• Drew inspiration from her cousin who fostered and adopted three siblings as a single mother• Openly discusses the fears she faced - financial concerns, physical exhaustion, and emotional capacity• Explains the hardest part is never getting a break, even after bedtime when household tasks remain• Finds joy in getting "all the snuggles" and witnessing every first milestone• Maintains perspective with a sign reading "Today is a good day to have a good day"• Built a crucial support network of friends, especially other foster parents who understand the unique challenges• Uses music as self-care - church choir, intentional listening, specific artists like Lauren Daigle and Ingrid Michaelson• Finds purpose in seeing positive transformations in the children she fosters, even those who stayed briefly• Emphasizes that fostering isn't about being special or a "saint" - it's about making a lasting difference in children's livesWe know that foster care and adoption present unique challenges for your marriage, so we created this Same Page Checklist as a conversation starter for you and your spouse. You can download it for free on our website at https://www.havenretreatsinc.org/couples-free-resources-1. Enjoy! Follow us on Instagram:Haven Retreats- https://www.instagram.com/haven.retreats/?hl=enBehind the Curtain Podcast- https://www.instagram.com/behind.the.curtain_pod/