A Day in the Life

Foster parenting isn’t about being perfect — it’s about being present. Every day is different, but each one is filled with opportunities to show love, offer stability, and help a child feel safe and seen. Every day brings its own set of joys and challenges, triumphs and trials.  Here’s a glimpse into what one day might look like in the life of a foster parent.

Morning: The day starts early with breakfast, school prep, and small victories — like a child tying their shoes for the first time or smiling as they leave for school. It’s a busy time, but a precious opportunity to help a child start their day on a positive note.

Midday: While the kids are at school, there’s the behind-the-scenes work: phone calls, scheduling appointments, and checking in with caseworkers or therapists. These tasks may seem tedious at times, but they are vital in supporting the bigger picture for a child’s well-being.

Afternoon: After school brings snacks, homework, and conversation. It’s in these small, consistent moments that trust begins to grow. Sometimes it’s helping with math — sometimes it’s just listening. Afternoons are also often a time for appointments, visits with biological family, and case worker visits.

Evening: Dinner is a time for connection and nurturing healthy habits and relationships. Bedtime brings cozy routines — a story, a nightlight, maybe a few extra hugs. And when the house is quiet, there’s time to reflect on the day’s progress — no matter how small.

Day to day life in our home currently includes our 17-year old foster son and looks like what you would expect in a house with 4 teenage boys. Homework reminders, chores, video games, fights over the shower, non-stop snacking, etc. We try to focus on teaching some basic life skills, but those are things we’re teaching all the children in our home. We pretty much carry on our normal lives and intentionally invite our foster son into our “normal” with the hope that he will eventually feel comfortable enough to join in naturally.

Foster parenting isn’t a 9-to-5 job. It is full of both challenge and joy. It’s not about grand gestures, but about showing up day after day with patience, love, and hope. And in between the chaos and complexity are moments of magic – first smiles, deeper trust, new beginnings.