At one time or another all foster families need support with the issues that come when living with a foster child.
When the decision is made to become a foster parent, it is important to understand that the parenting techniques you may have implemented when raising your own biological children often don't work with a foster child.
Foster children often have backgrounds which differ immensely from what you grew up with and from the way you raised your own children.
You must be willing to look at each child that comes into your home and learn about his or her own unique background, habits, personality traits, and struggles.
Once you know in what areas this child most needs your help, it is imperative that you get in contact with support groups who have experience with your child's specific issues.
If this step is overlooked and if you are not willing to learn what your child most needs from you, you will be setting yourself and your child up for failure, and failure should not be an option.
The children who come into the foster care system find themselves stripped of everything they once called home and family.
Most of these kids desperately want to go back home regardless of what unacceptable conditions prompted their removal from their home.
The children you take in need to know that they are loved despite what they may have lived through or done in their past, but they also need to learn about boundaries and rules and what is acceptable behavior.
If you do not seek support, you will not only be potentially immersing yourself into a world of stress and conflict, but you will also be robbing your child of the chance to find peace, happiness and love within the safety of your home.
Your child has suffered enough.
Talking to other foster parents about the often confusing and somewhat complicated situations that you may find yourself dealing with can help you understand your foster child better.
With support from others, you can begin to feel confident that you do have the ability and energy to take care of your foster child in a more loving, accepting, and effective way.