I  was a Foster Child
Submitted by: Samantha Picard

Hello, my name is Samantha and I have been a foster child since I was little. November is Adoption Awareness Month so it is important to talk about foster care and especially what it is like to be a foster parent or an adoptive parent.

In my opinion, it is important for future parents, whether foster parents or adoptive parents, to understand that the life of the young person in your care has not always been easy. It is also important to remember that most of these children have experienced trauma from a young age and this is not something that is easy to overcome. One thing I like to say to waiting parents is to take the time to listen to the child because not all children are going to want to open up to new people early in a new relationship. So, you have to remember not to push the child to open up to you, as this may just cause the child to distance themselves even more. In short, take the time to get to know the child and be available when he or she needs your help.