What it Takes to Be a Foster Carer

My family and I started fostering back in 2012, when I was only nine years old. I can boldly say that it was one of the best decisions of our lives - and has changed our lives forever. Since 2012, we have fostered for three different young people. It is safe to say that we have loved them all and they each quickly became part of the family. Obviously, with teenagers, there will be tough times - I’ve created enough of my own to know that. However, on this occasion, I would say that the positives outweigh the negatives. Becoming a foster carer gives everyone involved an extra set of responsibilities, and can help to grow younger minds in the form of empathy and patience.

For a long time, my mum was the main carer. She had to deal with all the arguments, tears, and awkward conversations; all of which she handled perfectly. I think the main thing that fostering taught my mum was patience, in that to raise a child from a challenging background can be tough. There are a lot of bad habits and insecurities that have to be overcome and she showed dedication and love towards all the people in our care when taking the time to help overcome these issues. For me, the main quality I developed while fostering was empathy. Learning about the troubling backgrounds the young people in our care had come from helped me to put things in perspective and understand how different circumstances can affect a person's mental state and physical actions. I believe we have successfully managed to shape the minds of the people in our care and prepare them for adulthood and independent living.

Being a foster brother from a young age has really helped me grow. To understand how different backgrounds can affect people differently helped me empathise with people outside my family and gave me a different view on the world around me. I think that fostering is a brilliant opportunity for adults looking to raise a child of their own or to add a member to the family. Being a foster carer is not for the faint-hearted, but the emotional benefits are more than worth it.

Connor GIll