The Encouragers Life

  5 Things I Wish I Had Known Before Becoming A Foster Carer When I became a foster carer I wasn’t a mum at that time but I was involved for years in youth work so I, naively, thought I had all that it would take to be a foster carer.   I envisioned being the rock for someone who just needed to be supported.   And whilst that was a good foundation and a good intent to have, the reality of foster caring blew all my preconceived ideas out of the water.   I did have great times and I also had not so great times. I was asked recently what would I have liked to have known, before I went in to the role and I came up with 5 core, 'I wish I had known’s' to share with you.  Although if you ever meet me, you will learn that there is always more advice to be given. 1. You will go through way too many toilet seats for it to be normal  I don’t know why, but we have replaced toilets seats regularly during our time as carers.   They always went loose no matter how many times you would t

  Buried Treasure If you are anything like me and I was to sit in front of you and say, ‘You are special,’ it is likely you would feel very uncomfortable.   You might squirm in your seat, your face might turn a shade of red and you may even start to recall all the ‘facts’ that would prove that you aren’t special. You would tell me things like, ‘You don’t know what I have done in my past. You don’t know what I have said to others or all the stupid mistakes that I have made.'   I am here to tell you today that your past and the marks others have left on you doesn’t mean that you aren’t special and that you are worth more than you think. I remember standing at my sister’s work desk when I was maybe 11 or 12 years old.  My sister had to pop out for a couple of minutes and her colleague, who we will call Lucy, was looking after me while my sis attended to her responsibilities.  Lucy and I got on to the subject of how wonderful my sister is.  And she is wonderful.  All of my siblings h