Guest post
Fostering is one of the best journeys a person can take. It gives vulnerable children a warm and caring home – one that keeps them safe and secure. It’s not an easy thing to do, though, and even the best parents in the world struggle with fostering at times. But the good times certainly outweigh the more challenging aspects of the work, and seeing a child happy is the ultimate reward. But as a single parent, you might wonder what it means to take on that responsibility without a partner.
Can You Be a Foster Parent If You Are Single?
Being a single person doesn’t affect your fostering ability. If you are kind, caring, and compassionate, and have enough love to give to a child in need then you certainly have the foundations of a great foster parent.
There are some things that you will need to consider when thinking about fostering though. This includes your work and whether you can fit this in around fostering, whether you have a strong support network of friends and family around you, and if you have a spare bedroom in your home that is comfortable and warm, and always available to a child in your care.
There’s lots to think about but one important piece of advice to anyone who is considering embarking on this incredible career is to never just assume that you wouldn’t be able to foster. Speak to a fostering agency or your local authority and they will be able to offer tailored advice around your personal circumstances.
If you think you want to foster as a single parent, it’s crucial to understand what it entails. Read on to learn more.
Fostering Becomes Your Career
When two people decide to foster, often one of them can stay in full-time work, depending on their situation. As a single parent, however, the chances are you will need to make fostering your full-time career. If you have a job, you might need to consider leaving it to take up fostering full time. For some, that is a plus, as you get to do what you love from the comfort of your own home, which often means spending more time with your own children too. Plus, you’ll receive a generous financial support package to help cover the costs of caring for a child as well as provide you with a professional fee for your hard work and dedication.
Your Support Network is Crucial
A solid support network is crucial when caring for vulnerable children and young people. You’ll quickly learn just how important the support from your family and friends is when you become a foster parent, even more so when you’re doing it alone. Luckily, though, becoming a foster parent naturally builds a support network. You will have your social worker to talk to, as well as a close community of other foster parents. If you need help, reach out!
Fostering is Always a Challenge
You can’t expect every moment as a foster parent to be easy. That’s not just because you are a single parent, though – it’s because being a parent is always challenging! Whether you’re looking after an infant, pre-teen, or teenager, there will be obstacles. As long as you go into the fostering journey without any expectations and you are ready and willing to work through the challenging parts, you will make an excellent foster parent.
Experience with Children is Helpful but not Essential
You don’t even need to have raised children of your own to foster, although some experience with children is beneficial. As a single foster parent, you will have a lot on your plate, after all, from managing meals to supporting your child in school, and everything in between. If you have no experience at all, you might find it useful to volunteer at your local Scouts group or something similar, so you can build up your skills and confidence around children. Plus, there’s lots of training to complete too.
It’s An Extremely Rewarding Experience
While fostering is not a walk in the park, it is an extremely rewarding experience. You will get to change a young person’s life, and in the process, they may also change yours. If you think you can do it, contact Fosterplus for more information. Your fostering journey is one you won’t regret.