Foster Care: A Journey of Love and Compassion
Foster care helps kids who, for different reasons, can’t live with their biological families. Foster parents are people who are willing to take care of these children and give them a safe and loving home. We had the opportunity to talk to Katie, a Lincoln foster mom, who has made a difference in the lives of many kids.
Katie and her husband Kevin live in Lincoln with their kiddos. They always knew they wanted kids, and they were heartbroken when they found out they couldn’t have their own children. Foster care was always something they wanted to do, and on Katie’s 30th birthday, they decided to take the first step.
They started by taking classes to become certified foster parents. During this time, they did respite care, which means they babysat for other foster parents who needed a break. Through this experience, they realized they wanted to work with older kids. Many people are scared to take on teenagers, but for Katie and Kevin, teens have been the most fun and rewarding.
Katie’s advice is to not listen to everyone’s horror stories. Every family’s experience is different, and you never know until you try. She encourages families who are interested in foster care to take the classes and get to know the kids. You don’t have to commit to taking a placement right away.
Katie and her family have had many foster children over the years. They have adopted five of them and are working on adopting two more. Their ages range from 10 months to 19 years old, and they all have different backgrounds and experiences. One thing they all have in common is that they need a safe and loving home.
One of Katie’s favorite stories is about Kameron, one of her first placements. He and his biological sister, Kennedy, were already waiting for adoption and had been placed with many families.
When Kameron moved in, he asked Katie, “So you’re going to be like my real mom?”
Katie replied, “Yes!”
Kameron said, “You know what real moms do? They pack a cold lunch — a sandwich, apple, and chips in a brown bag!”
From that day on, Katie packed his lunch every day for three years. It’s the little things that can make a big difference.
Another child, Keegan, had been through 13 homes in one year. He had behavioral issues that had been seen in other homes, but when he got in trouble at school one day, Katie talked to him and made it clear that he was not going anywhere. Keegan had never had that kind of stability before and never had another major problem at school.
The support system that comes with a foster family is something that can’t be understated. Katie’s mom fully embraced her role as a foster grandmother, something that had a profound impact on the kids. Keegan once said, “I’ve had a lot of moms and dads, but I’ve never had a Mimi before.”
Katie, Kevin, and their family are open about their dynamic and treat their family like a quilt. Blood is important, but it’s also about experiences. Each of them has different interests and hobbies, but they come together as a unit and do things together. The family loves playing board games and having Nerf™ gun fights. It’s the little things that make them happy.
One of the most heartwarming things about Katie’s story is that all the older kids want to be foster parents when they grow up. They have seen the impact it can make and want to pay it forward. Foster care is not just about providing a safe and loving home, it’s about teaching children that they are valuable and loved. It’s about empowering them to make a difference in the world.
One of the ways you can support families with foster children is by being open-minded and willing to learn. By being a support system to foster families, you can make a big difference in a child’s life.
Parenting is a beautiful journey of love and compassion. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it.
Thank you, Katie and Kevin, for sharing your story and for inspiring us to be more compassionate and loving toward others.
