This Problem with Foster Care Needs to Be Fixed
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- Опубліковано 12 сер 2019
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As a Christian. It is not a Christian or Godly to deny a child because they dont wanna go to church. And I would have gladly missed a day. I am disappointed to hear that. Keep up the good work guys!
In an aithiest in foster care, and in my first goster home I didnt feel comfortable going to church, and she forced me to go and yelled at me for being an aithiest.
(Dont worry I'm in a much better foster care)
@@marisolcapra6274 I love it when abusive people become foster parents and exasperate trauma in their wards
@@marisolcapra6274 wow its must have been really scary to have been yelled at! I'm so sorry you didnt deserve to be treated like that, I'm glad you're in a better place 💗 🥰 I'm so proud of you for just making it through those moments. Keep being who you are! And remember you always deserve respect and kindness from yourself and others 😊💖
Totally agree and appreciate you saying this! Especially when these children may come from different walks of life where they already have their own belief they follow
@Marisol Capra I am sorry you had to experience that. Heck I am a mom and my husband who is the father of our kiddos we both believe in God and Jesus as the son of God as well but we have never forced our beliefs even on our daughters (both are teens) but I personally believe it is such a personal choice it is NOT something to be forced upon but a personal decision. I get how that could leave a bad impression on you, I’m sorry! my mom and stepfather were such a-holes it left a lasting impression I would not go just to spite them...it took me many many years but on my accord to study, learn and discover all sort of religions before I found what was right for me. When I thought most were hogwash is when I got the proverbial “tap on the shoulder” and found what was right for me (nondenominational Christian) All I’m saying is I get where you are coming from based on experience but don’t let the actions of a few dictate what you look into. Your faith if any is the most personal, intimate choice of your life and I pray just because that woman was cold, callous and attempting to be manipulative and con you into beliefs deter you from learning and discovering it is on your own. Not everyone is like her... what you described is a total hypocrite, if she was a true Christian she would have known it isn’t any one’s place to determine another’s faith but only introduce people to their faith by being a decent and good and loving person. Either way kiddo I am sorry I tend to type like I talk and ramble lol 😂 but I’m sorry you were made to feel that way and please know so many are not pushy “my way or the highway“ types, you just never hear about them because they aren’t acting foolish! But I hope you are in a good place and life is treating you well!I am sending you best wishes and I pray you have a fantastic future!!
I LOVE THAT PART WHEN YOU SAID THE LADY SAID SHE HAS TO GO AND MAMA BEAR CAME OUT HAHA you guys are freaking great parents and you treat Miss A like she’s your own child and that’s important! You guys always talk about her and foster care but you never make it seem like she’s your foster kid. It’s what I love most about you guys!
❤️❤️❤️🐻
It was amazing. It is so extremely extremely vital that children have freedom with their spiritual journey.
"she will go where we go"!! Wtf? I hope this respite family has someone go over the rules with them again, and see if they actually are okay with what the rules are.
I hope so, too, because the family either didn't know the rules or didn't care - "it's my way or the highway." Yes, it's good to uphold your own faith, but not to force it upon someone else. It's also important to uphold the child's rights and beliefs. I hope that the family in question understands that better now and adjusts their attitude or leave the foster care/respite business, realising that they're not suitable (or the service "fires" them). I don't mean to sound harsh, but if you're not willing to uphold the child's rights, then what are you doing here (as a respite worker)?!
being a respite home but refusing to miss ONE day in church? I'm so glad mama bear came out!
You guys are fantastic.
So many American youtubers who make videos about foster care are constantly talking about God and going to Church and putting bible quotes up on the bedroom walls of their foster child and putting bibles on their bed.
I know how important Christianity is to a lot of the U.S. but seeing 2 foster carers who aren’t interested in forcing religion onto their foster children is so refreshing and amazing.
You can tell you don’t have ulterior motives and are doing foster care because you care and not for the purpose of recruiting more people to your faith.
It’s their house. Surely you don’t expect people to take down and hide religious objects from their own house. Slightly different scenario but when it comes to exchange students many devout religious will attend an entirely different church with their student for the months they are hosting. Real denominations would never initiate a child into their church without parental permission, which a foster parent can not grant. The truth is there are groups of people in a church family that might go through the foster care training together and all seek to become foster parents. That way there is a community of support. It would be lovely if vegan groups, or running groups.. just trying to think of a non religious type club would do something similar. But then would be okay if the vegan foster parent had to feed to the child meat? When the child is an adult they don’t have to stay vegan if they felt they had to adopt that lifestyle. Same with religion. Fostering isn’t a permanent thing. Would going to church or not going to church a year (if the kid was raised in a religious home but the FP not)really be a big deal? It’s an hour a week. If they are little in those churches that evangelize most the time is spent on crafts and entertainment.
@@jendubay3782so is It extremely abusive for the child of Christian parents to be fostered by a gay couple then? When did different become abusive?
@@jendubay3782 foster parents can not send foster kids anywhere. Sexual relations would be a problem with most Abrahamic religions, not all. Simply being attracted isn’t relations, nor a problem as those religions are practiced in the US. And no minor should be having relations. Whether a foster child (a minor) has sex with an opposite sex person or a same sex person is technically a sin. Who in the heck is calling to kill anyone? A Christian who thinks everyone should be straight would want the person to live longer so they change, not bring about death through early execution. You must be thinking about a sharia law country, but we don’t export our foster kids. Perhaps you could be upset about a real threat and not what you read about happening centuries ago.
Dude I love that she felt comfortable enough to tell you guys that she didn’t want to go to church! When I was in foster care I went along with everything my foster parents wanted even though half the time they never even asked if it was okay when they did ask I would always feel like I just had to give them the answer they wanted and not actually how I felt. Love you guys!! You’re doing great!! 💕💕
I hope more families ask their kids what they want!
My foster mother made me walk to church every Sunday (was about a mile away), to turn in her weekly donation envelope and get her all the flyers that went with that days service... This started when I was 8 years old. At the time I didn't know that was not ok. I did what I was told cuz she was abusive and I was petrified of her.
I didn't know that foster parents couldn't force kids to go to church/any other place of worship. That's really interesting, and important!
People just don’t know. We hope this empowers families and kids to speak up for their rights.
Wait the kid was forced to go?
But you can ask when you have a placement or put it in your application
Actually no one can force anyone to do that! Its a human right.
There's actually so many rules of things foster parents can't do. Like hair cuts. You can't change your foster child hair. (You can get reasonable trim, but not change the hairstyle). That's just one example.
Sometimes kids have trauma around church/religion...not all churches are positive unfortunately.
Very true
I was a foster child in the system for 10 years and it was GOD who radically changed my life. I wish my foster parents would've taken me to church
I wasn’t a foster kid but I do have a lot of church trauma and I would be so retrumatized if some one made me go to church
@@stashaaddison5430 Some of the Worst PEDATORS are there in plain sight making things appear to be normal to everyone else. Unfortunately I found this out the hard way. It's so messed up because as a child It's so confusing anyway. You don't feel like anybody would believe you and if they did It's all your fault.
Exactly. I practically grew up in the church and it was basically a brainwashing cult
Honestly, the fact that there are some families who would force foster kids to attend their religious services and not respect that child's choice to not attend makes me really uncomfortable. Religion is such a personal thing, and it's upsetting to hear that some families aren't following those rules.
We 100% agree
Right?? In my opinion, it’s totally fine to introduce your religion but if the kid isn’t interested, then BACK OFF. You can’t force someone to make such a personal choice.
Agreed! I fostered children who came from a Muslim family, our family celebrated EID for them which was pretty cool! People assume these kids don’t come from different family backgrounds and love to shove religion down their throats instead of having just their well being at heart
I HATED going into respite care. It was so scary and stressful. The longest period of time in which I was in respite care I was able to be with one of my foster sisters so at least I had someone I knew.
I'm so thankful that you guys care so deeply about Miss A and that you truly respect her and her preferences.
My first foster parents made us all go to church with them. Nobody ever asked us if we wanted to go.
She is so fortunate to be with you 💚
Even worse, I was once sent there for many weekends and they mostly had severely disabled kids who were amost all nonverbal so I was just totally in the wrong place with my abled sisters. Sometimes by myself. My 15 year old self used to be a fully verbal abled, somewhat independent guy and I still don't have such serious disabilities. Same now only older and doing better. However, he also had some mild mental issues and chronic depression. Sometimes resources are desperate but do parents really understand the struggle with putting a mostly abled child with severely disabled peers? At that age you want outright to murder em, but now I can understand from the perspective of such a struggling parent.
You guys are BRILLIANT. I watch lots of foster care vlogs and many seem to have a mould or agenda or lifestyle which their want to push onto the children. Very often it’s religious beliefs. When a religious ‘calling’ draws people to be foster carers I’m very wary. The child isn’t first in those instances and the motivation to foster seems off.
These people can seem wonderful and caring but if it’s all only under the guise and conditions of religion and expecting a child to conform to that mould then I wonder someone’s true capacity to care unconditionally and respectfully and openly. So if a child isn’t able to hold their own self and own beliefs freely in a foster situation then I see that their caring was a facade and notice that the mask quickly drops. The motivation highly religious people have to foster is questionable unless they are flexible and intune and responsive to each child’s own personhood.
You two are perfectly balanced. Fighting for Miss As autonomy is demonstrating a powerful message to her that she matters as a whole person who she is and who she wants to be. You are giving Miss A (and your younger girls) the clear message that it’s ok to have a voice, to say no, to have their own thoughts and beliefs and philosophies listened to and taken seriously. Their minds are their own and their thoughts and wishes matter.
That should be the norm but it’s not it’s a powerful example. You are not asking Miss A to conform and you are standing by her right to have her rights met - wonderful!!!
Many people would think ah well it’s harmless just one day or whatever but nope you fought for her to have her voice heard. It made me emotional to hear what you had to say. Your boundaries are excellent. I deeply respect your approach.
So well said. Thank you!
Church shouldn’t be that important show the foster children God thru your lives, how you treat them and others and the love and care that you provide.
Lucy Locket I feel the same about adoption. I find it scary when people say they adopt a child because that’s the right thing to do according to God’s word. You should adopt because you genuinely want to have that child as a full member of your family and love them like your own . They should not be a burden put upon you to bear for the sake of satisfying your god or religion . that seldom ends well for anyone...
@@malina1239 we are supposed to care for widows and orphans. People only think the orphan with that living parent needs to be fed, educated, cared for. The widow is also to be cared for. It’s acceptable to adopt for Christians. Some religions have different perspectives.
I love how dedicated you are to protecting miss a's autonomy and rights and stand up for her in every situation and put her needs first. Glad she ended up with a good respite care placement for the weekend and thank you for sticking up for miss a's rights and ensuring she was able to stay with someone who would respect her and care for her
One Simple Wish is such a cool site!! I just donated $25 for a speaker for an 11 year! SO COOL!! Thanks for the link (:
Thank you for donating!!
As a child growing up in foster care myself I was forced to go to church every single Sunday even tho I did not want to go. When I talked to my case worker she told me it would be good for me! I live in pa and my case worker definitely failed me.
I agree with you that PA forster care sucks.
I absolutely love how Miss A is the first priority, you guys are wonderful parents!
I plan to create a 4-people residence for hypersensitive/anxious youth and adults, it's crucial to my morals that the tenant is first.
You guys are officially my favorite people. I stopped and paused the video just to write this! As someone who is adopted, I hate hearing how people push their faith and religion on their children and act like saviors. You are doing what you do for the children and no one else and letting that child have the responsibility of shaping who they are without further influence. LOVE IT!
Thank you so much for watching!!
I look forward to your videos❤️
Y’all are amazing and these kids need more people like you! I want to adopt so badly. I would love to foster children too after my husband serves the rest of his contract in the military.
I would’ve been so mad if someone tried to force me to go to church. I’m glad you fought for Miss A.
I’m a junior social work major and I even that that policy isn’t right. From a case workers point of view, I would simply want the child to comfortable, especially since training is mandated through the state.
Be The Village hearted my comment and now I’m fangirling 🤗
I don't know how it is where they are, but in Texas, the foster care organizations are all privatized, so only people okayed through my agency can do respite. I don't know too much about why states are going privatized like this (like how badly did the state mess up and how so?)
@@whitneypickle the state wants private agencies involved. Less lawsuits for them and more heat in the agency. Truth be told lots of private agencies that do the work the state does end up folding at some point. The state has some protections against suits later in life but private entities contracted by the state don’t necessarily have that.
You guys are amazing foster parents standing up for Miss A and making her rights heard. I hope to one day be a foster parent myself. Thank you for these videos. Lots of love from Ontario Canada 🇨🇦💜
Alicia Grace same here. Love these videos and seeing them advocating and making her rights heard. Also from Ontario and considering fostering one day and plan to adopt
WOW! You guys are amazing foster parents. I appreciate so much that you are so protective of Miss A's rights. It's something that I think a lot of people working with kiddos forget, and it's really important. Love to your sweet family!
Unfortunately, you can tell people rules, put them through training and they still have these ideas about parenting and what children should do . Bottom line, you can not force a child in care to go to church, that was clear in our GPS class. I'm glad you fought for her rights.♡ if they want to go to church more than they want to foster, then maybe they cannot foster because of their faith. And that's ok , they just need to move on
So great of you to mention kids who have aged out of the system. They definitely need more support.
Thanks for posting!
I love your explanation of respite care! I am sorry that the system does have it’s downfalls. I think honestly Miss A would’ve been better off staying with familiar figures than strangers. It can be traumatic and frightening moving too many times, and can uproot stability. Upside is that the respite provider is similar to your parenting styles, and things will hopefully not be too awkward. Things happen, don’t beat yourselves up! All is well!
Also a big no no for the one foster family acting as if they can force the foster child to do as they do! Religion could be a major trigger for any past trauma that some foster parents need to acknowledge. Applause to you!
They explained that overnight care wasn't an option with family.
SocietyOutlier I know. And the system should fix that, as that’s what is in the best interest of the child. Sorry.
the way you guys advocate so strongly for the agency of your foster kids is amazing, religious agency is so important, even biological kids shouldn't be forced by their families to go to church and be a certain religion if they don't want to, and so many kids from so many different backgrounds have trauma around Christianity and church in particular. You guys are amazing for being so on top of this issue and being advocates for religious freedom for your kids.
Thank you for the kind words!
When you sign up to foster, you forgo some of your own preferences for the child. Yes, yes, yes!!!!!! ❤❤❤
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I wish more people knew this
I wish all foster parents agreed with it.
Am I the only one that just got the notification and got so excited.... I love you guys so much you’re literally amazing parents! I’m 19 but after college and getting settled down, I’ll eventually foster and adopt. I want to be exactly like you guys. You’re great role models ❤️❤️
Aw! I’m so glad you love our videos!!!
My first foster home was kinda abusive. They sent us to a respite home for a weekend. Not too long after that my three siblings and I went to live in that respite home. We lived there for over a year! I was 10 when I went home to my grandma. Up until I was 14 or 15 I still visited the respite family! One of my siblings still keeps in touch with them. I really miss them!
You guys are really just so nice like I have never seen a nicer foster family
Sorry for the double comment, but I just love how respectful you are of Miss A's choices. I'm pagan and super conscious of the fact that my religion is not acceptable to many people and I would never try to push my way of thinking on my own child, let alone a child that is not mine. It blows my mind how more mainstream religions just feel that everyone should just be on board with their religion.
We agree!
Thanks for explaining the respite system to the general population. Before I became a foster parent, respite sounded unloving and horrendous to me. What people don't realize is that it can be impossible (or very difficult) to take your foster child out of the county (let alone the state or country). Sometimes we do want/need to leave for work or vacation, family commitments, etc. Respite is a blessing. We look forward to helping other foster families by providing respite care!
UA-cam randomly recommended one of your videos to me a little while ago and I’ve watched every video ever since. I’m from the UK and totally addicted to your videos! Keep up the amazing work and all the best for all of you xx
So glad you stuck around ❤️
I randomly got recommended one of your videos awhile back and have been hooked since. Seriously though I love how fiercely protective you are of Ms. A and her rights. I hope you guys had fun at the music festival and Ms. A had a good time at the respite women's house.
Love watching your video, keep on being awesome!!
Heyo! I'm a Christian and have worked at two Christian summer camps that partner with a few state-run camps for foster kiddos. The camps I worked at had activities focused around adventure, arts, and water activities, with a morning a nightly chapel service.
Because of the rules you outlined, the foster kiddos had a choice of if they wanted to go to Chapel or not. If the foster kids didn't want to (the vast majority didn't), we'd hang out, play board games, do sports, or just chat. It always went like "Ok everyone, it's time for chapel, who wants to go?" All the kids who wanted to go went with one counselor, and all the kids who didn't hung out with another, no questions about why or "awe come on, Chapel is fun!" or "such and such will happen to you if you don't go to chapel". If a kid asked us religious questions, we were allowed to answer them.
I'm honestly appalled by the one Respite Care family's response to reject Miss A because she didn't want to go to church. There's plenty of other ways to love and care for kiddos and introduce them to Jesus without sitting in a service for an hour.
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Also, just respecting that they may not want to be introduced to a religion. They have plenty of other things to worry about. But choice is something that should be a given. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Guys thank you for sharing your video. I also have expressed my anger with the adoption process. Our foster care system is so messed up. We need to continue voicing ourselves here on youtube so everyone can see things need to change. As for the religion thing, children in foster care are not so be to be imposed in anything besides their own beliefs.
Hey Gunters nice to see on be the village channel. Love yall both
I hear you! We have rarely used respite in 14 years because it’s such a hassle. Good for you for advocating for Miss A.
Yeah, I don’t think we will do it that much although now that we have someone who is so awesome for Miss A, we may let her get away from us and hang out there :)
As U said, Miss A is at a stage where she can make her own choices. Can I just once again applaud U guys for EMPOWERING Miss A-standing ur ground within the rules & STANDING UP for your kiddo!! U as a fam, are just awesome-& what fam is ALL about!!!
I’m so glad you were able to share the link for One Simple Wish! You’re making such an impact on Ms A and the entire foster care community. As a counselor and a person I want to just say THANK YOU❤️
The system is so dysfunctional. They obsess over things that are not critical and want to turn a blind eye to situations that are life-threatening to children. It is like dealing with a crazy alternate universe. God bless you guys. Prayers for you!
As a foster kid myself when I was young. I would have loved to have stayed with you. The foster carers I had barely interacted with me. It's daunting enough living with people that didn't know me, eating their food, sleeping under a roof you don't recognise but realising eventually actually I can't hear my mother shouting. I can't hear her having a go at me for taking something that was hers. Even tho I never did take from her, it was understood that she was an avid drinker and she had misplaced her items she blamed me for taking... She used to pinch me under my arms to be quiet when we were in the company of social services. So I was left lying there in this new place with a deathly Erie silence my ears never understood before. I became super shy, would barely eat.
You both have all this figured out. Miss A is so lucky to have you both. I told you my story so you know just how important it is to be extra supportive and encouraging.. it's so key in having a child function normally. X love yas for your kindness ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Im so sorry you dealt with that. :( you're pretty tough, it sounds like. My husband and I are getting our background checks now waiting to start! So nervous but anxious.
I’m so glad I’ve stumbled upon your channel! And even more excited to learn you are local. Fostering has been something on my mind for years and something I’ve been really researching into lately. Finding you guys has made me even more motivated to start the process. Thank you!! Great family doing the right thing 🥰🥰
Thank goodness there are amazing foster couples like y'all! Thank you for being such incredible ADVOCATES for Miss A and her rights - I plan to become a foster-to-adopt parent one day and I look forward to continuing to look to y'all for inspiration! I hope Miss A had a good time at her respite home ... but I bet she will be happy to come back to you.
You two are the best! The kids that come into your care are so lucky, for lack of a better term, to have you on their sides. ❤️
I love watching your videos. We were foster parents and adopted our 2 kiddos out of foster care. It's so crazy to here similar stories and to relive some of the things that we went through while we were fostering them.
I cried watching this. You two are amazing and so strong, she is so lucky to have you two advocating for her
Wow! I'm so proud of you guys for sticking up for miss A and making sure she wasnt forced to do anything she didnt want to go to. Thank you guys for being such amazing people. Loving the video please keep making more! I've learned so much more then I already knew I had no idea what a respite provider was! 💗🥰
Keep up the great job of advocating for the kids! These kinds of rules are why my husband and I opted not to go through the foster care system when we began welcoming homeless teens into our home several years ago. We wanted them to be treated as part of our family. If we wanted to take everyone that wanted to go to the coast with us we could and did do so without the child feeling left out of having to go to a stranger. And, we could do so at the last minute. Not possible in our state where such trips could take months for approval from caseworkers. I applaud you for jumping through all the hoops but I would also encourage people who can to also open their homes to kids who are on the streets. Children in foster care of those having to fend for themselves all need and want love and structure in their lives. "Our kids" are now grown, many with children of their own, are (with the exception of one of two out of 17) productive and respected members of the community. And almost everyone of them continues to stay in touch. We were so blessed by these kids and are so proud of who the have become!
I love the way you are so present and on board with being the child’s voice so she feels secure. You are great parents foster or not. Well done❣️👍
Thank you for standing up for Miss A! You guys are awesome foster parents!!
Love this!!! Belief is very special to many people and it’s so important to respect that and let the kiddos continue to celebrate their own culture. You guys rock!!!
Once again, thank you for sharing your journey with us.
I love reading the comments after your videos ❣️ I’m not one to comment, but I hope you both realize how many comments state how amazing you guys are....your efforts are deeply admired, your passion -> adored and you BOTH are truly A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! Thank you for all that you do, and share!!! 💜💜💜
I wish so badly that there were more foster parents like you guys. You have the right attitude and such a great sense of the child. So awesome to watch.
Seeing you guys and your hearts is so beautiful. My late fiance was raised in the system that truly failed him and gave me such a nasty taste for foster care. I have fertility issues (PCOS and endometriosis) and have made it a serious life goal to love on so many other children through the foster care system, I even if I end up having a healthy pregnancy (hopefully more than one)
Your love is beautiful. For each other and all the kids
You are very considerate of Miss A's feelings. This is a great example not only for those who think about becoming a foster family, but also for anyone who watches your videos. You inspire me to be a better person. That's why I'm in love with your family. Sorry for any grammar mistakes.. Best wishes from Brazil.
You guys are so helpful and educational on the things that go on within foster care. I love watching your videos!
You guys are amazing foster parents. I really like how well you advocate for your foster kid. Ms. A is a very lucky girl to have been placed with you. Thanks for sharing your journey and experiences while keeping the confidentiality of your foster kid. Great job!
I love that you guys also go into research mode when mama bear arrives!
My husband and I are starting the process of becoming foster parents. We really appreciate all of your input. Y'all are amazing.
I am enjoying your channel so much! I’ve always been interested in foster care/adopting but I never knew much about it. I love how informative you guys are!
When the mama bear came out I felt that!!!! Yess!!
You two are so sweet! I always really enjoy watching your videos and learning about foster care. 😊
So very proud of you two for protecting Miss A and her best interests. We need more folks like you in foster care!
You guys are just ace and that you really hold in mind that your children (foster and bio) have rights, opinions and that your role is as advocates 💕
I love seeing your guys post! I get so excited every time I get a notification!
I work for FNC in your county! I love being able to experience a foster parents point of view through you guys!
So grateful for you guys and your determination to share your experience!
If you ever have any questions regarding FNC, feel free to reach out to me and I would absolutely be willing to help as best I can!
I love you guys. You are so cool, and these videos are so educational. Foster care needs more parents like you
It honestly gives me so much hope in the world that there are people like you who are so reasonable and accommodating. You act like your foster children are your biological children and it's incredibly powerful to see such simple acts of love and kindness
You 2 are amazing!!! I “get” kids.. I don’t push my opinion because differences make us grow blah blah BUT you 2!! WOW BRAVO...‘you see them. You see people/kids not for what you want to see or what they “should” be but just see them truly see them!!!! when we do it’s incredible for everyone.. everyone deserves to be seen and so few people are..
WOW just WOW!!💫
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I was happily #8 to grant a wish on your landing page. It was really great to be able to honor someone with the donation and send them a note. I honored my last foster mom from 16-17 yrs old and sent her a beautiful note of gratitude. What a beautiful way to pay it forward while also looking back in gratitude 💛
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
Y’all are such amazing people!
I love that Miss A advocates for herself! And i love that you guys back her up and put her wishes first. In a life situation where she does not get a whole lot of choices, this one definitely should be hers!
Thank you for sharing your ethics as a service provider. Miss A is learning to advocate for herself, and having adults that understand the rules and work hard to follow them is important. I like that you shared a rule you didn't know and then explained how you checked the rules to advocate for Miss A. It sounds like some adults don't realize they are providing a service as foster parents. Miss A should have the autonomy to make decisions for herself. She is a woman that is already living without relatives and learning to cope independently. Miss A, you again demonstrated your strength by speaking up. Good for you! And because you spoke up it sounds like you had a better weekend.
I am not sure how I stumbled upon your channel but so glad I did! What an awesome journey you are on and Miss A seems like she is the coolest kid ever, thanks for sharing!!
Thank you for sticking with us after you found us :)
You are wonderful parents. Thank you for respecting and backing Ms A.
We wouldn’t dream of doing it any other way.
I am beyond ecstatic that they actually have this written in the rule book. Forced indoctrination of children is abhorrent and I am SO PROUD of you for going all momma bear and shutting that down.
I'm looking to be foster parents, I appreciate you guys taking the time to share your experience .🤗🤗🤗
The way Mama Bear came out 😂😂😂 I applaud you guys!!! You guys have the kids best interest at heart and it’s obvious and I love that. Thank you guys for protecting Ms A and I doubt she will leave you guys haha
I applaud 👏 you for doing research and always trying to do right by Ms. A. I used to work for a child welfare agency so I know there are many rules. I think no matter how many placements you have, you will always learn something new. The good thing about teens (as you mentioned before) is that they can speak they're needs and they can do things for the sake of normalcy.
You both are great people and very inspiring ♥️
Here in Oklahoma, we have "prudent parenting standard" which is more relaxed in respect to who can watch children and what the foster parent can make the decision on allowing the children to do. For instance, my niece and I trade off watching children overnight on Friday nights (her 4 bio kids and my 1 or 2 foster children) so we each get time to be with adults. She's just 2 houses away from me, so if there was an emergency, I'd be there in moments, but it's just nice to have that little break.
And good job standing up for Miss A's religious freedoms. I do attend church regularly, but I've made a commitment to the kids and if it were a problem, I would figure something out to accommodate them.
I love your approach with the foster kiddos!! ❤️❤️❤️ Love that you guys are so open minded and look for what's best for the individual person!! That's how people should treat one another!!! Awesome! 👍 😃 (Also you are following the rules, so that's a plus too!!)
Our state has changed rules in the past few years...up to a certain number of days (7?), the children can stay with an informal caregiver like a friend or relative. It makes things much easier, the kids can be with familiar people and they can go to friends houses and stay the night like their friends. There is a chart I can send you if you're interested in showing it to your agency!
I never knew about this. Glad I turned on my notifications! I wish more celebrities would adopt since so many of them choose to have designer babies or suragates. Glad Ms.A is doing well:)
Enjoy your weekend. (Likely you’re back) but you made the best decision for Ms. A. Everything happens for a reason. My kids are ages 5-12 and even I wouldn’t push church on any of them.
Something you might want to check into with your CW is school field trips. Foster kids used to miss out on field trips if the field trip was outside of the county and they didn't get approved to leave their county. Thankfully, that's changed in MO now.
Thank you for sharing your videos!
Good point, I'm almost positive that falls under "prudent parenting" and therefore we would be able to sign the forms for it need be.
You guys are AMAZING! I love how you are accepting of who your children are and allow them to have a choice in their lifestyle. I was in KY's system for 6 years and religion was forced on me in various ways. I went to a home that was so religious that the day that I arrived there they made me pack my "ungodly" things into boxes and keep it in their storage building outside. That included any books that weren't the bible or required for school, CD, posters and even my art that I had made if it didn't have something to do with God it wasn't allowed in THIER home. My case manager stood up for me and said that they couldn't do that, I used my music and art to cope in a healthy way and denying me that was a violation of my rites as a person. To this day I don't like organized religion and it really upsets me when someone tries to preach the bible to me. I was a cashier shortly after I left the system and a pastor came into the store where I worked and he started preaching how I MUST go to church and I can't let satan in my heart and so on and I had a mental breakdown. I thought for sure that because I was out on my own I could like my own lifestyle and never have to feel forced into something again but that was like a wake up call to me. Someone will always be there trying to get me to drink their koolaid. I went through 7 homes and there were only three that weren't emotionally abusive or force their views on me.
Great video. Spot on information. I have taken one placement before but I did respite this summer. I met about 10 different kids who all loved coming to our home. I enjoyed meeting the kids and respite also helps you to see what type of placement you would feel comfortable with. My initial ages were 0 to 10 but I was asked to take a 13 year old for about a week and I enjoyed him. My boys loved him. Now my ages are 0 to 13. 😊
Amazing!! Thank you for being flexible and open with the kiddos :)
You are amazing advocates for Miss A. You all are lucky to find eachother.
You guys are doing an amazing job fighting for Miss A and her rights! I hope you were able to relax and enjoy your time at Railbird. Totally would have said hey if I say you guys!
Miss A is very fortunate to have you as foster parents. You two are the most caring and thoughtful foster parents. Thank you for all you do for the kids in need. I'm going to go browse the One Simple Wish page.
Oh, I found the PERFECT wish to grant. I'm a crafter and I LOVE multicolored pens, so that's the wish I granted. I had tears in my eyes reading all of the wishes. I wish I could grant them all.
Thank you for granting a wish!!!
Good job Mama. Stand up for your baby.
I’m a nurse x 24 yrs. I’m constantly shocked at the bureaucratic ideology over common sense.
Wow it’s interesting to hear and learn about your laws you guys have about the foster kids religion... I’m not sure if it’s the same way everywhere but I was always forced to go to whatever church my foster parents were going to when I was in the system as a teen. I love how you allow miss A to voice her opinions and advocate for herself! You’re helping her in more ways than one, most people don’t listen to what foster kids want or desire, you guys may be the first pair of foster parents that are allowing her to truly be a “normal” kid ❤️
This family could've missed just one weekend of church. It isn't going to hurt you. Having Miss A wasn't a permanent thing. I can't believe this.
As a foster child, there are so many things that need changed with the system. It's disgusting what I went through in the system.
I donated to one simple wish today.
Thank you!!!!
Such beautiful people!
You guys are so amazing .... hank you so much for how much you care... #adoptivemomoftwo
Person centered care/service!! I love it!!
Omg thank you so much for standing up for miss.A & her religious views 😭 I’m crying, I was forced into church & almost givin to a cult as a child I cannot thank you enough for sharing your experience & standing up for her rights 🤷🏼♀️❤️😍