Single, Fostering and Figuring it Out: One Foster Mom's Journey into the Unknown

Kate shares her journey from teacher to single foster parent, reflecting on the profound identity shift that occurs the moment a child enters your home and the unique challenges of navigating the system alone.• Background in early childhood and special education creating a strong foundation for advocacy• Building a house with kids in mind before even being licensed• The exact moment of becoming a mother at 11:23pm on June 29, 2023• Navigating the overwhelming initial days of placement with no preparation• The tremendous mental load of single parenting while managing the foster care system• Creating community support networks for foster families• Starting a nonprofit to connect those who want to help with foster families in need• The critical importance of utilizing respite care for sustainability• Finding balance between the peaceful single life and the chaos of fostering• The uncertainty that comes with foster care and learning to embrace itUse respite care regularly - it's not just good for you but beneficial for the kids to see other safe adults and different family dynamics.We 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/