The impact of being a Foster Parent

May 2010

Hello David,

It was a pleasure hearing from you. I hope all is well.

In your e-mail, you asked me how I've grown from my fostering experience.

Prior to the moving in of my teenager, it had been some time since I had lived with a child.

While my teen is not so much a child anymore (he was 17 when he moved in (11/09), he is now 18), still the parenting/fostering issues are nonetheless prevalent.

The experience has been overall positive. My teen is of good character and seems to be generally responsible. While not embracing scholarship and academia like I (and many of the readers of this letter) did in high school, he is, for that constituency performing in an above average manner.

As I mentioned, overall the experience has been positive. We (childless) sometimes get wrapped up in our own world and forget how we can impact others' lives. This opportunity has reinforced in and reminded me that there's more to the world than what I/we have transpiring in my/our own life/lives. There is no better way to impact society than bringing somebody into your home and helping him or her ascend the ladder of life.

The old timers always say you never regret what you did, you just regret what you didn't do. I don't want it to be said that I didn't take the time with all the tools I have at hand to impact somebody else's life. (The system and) This teen is giving me that opportunity.

While it's far from a panacea, it is overall rewarding, and an experience I would recommend to others. Your candidates are welcome to call me anytime.

Albert

Foster Parent