Life can become so busy that we forget to take the time to spend time with our family. Spending time as a family does not mean you have to spend a lot of money.

1. Gardening as a family can be a very bonding activity. You can even get inexpensive children's gardening tools at Wal-mart or the Dollar Store. Children love digging with their own tools and playing in the dirt.

2. Going out for ice cream can be a sweet treat for everyone.

3. Making a picnic lunch and heading for the park can create some great family time and wonderful memories. Do not forget the camera.

4. Having a cookout with hamburgers and homemade ice cream along with playing outside games... more

Being a foster mother can be very stressful. Every time you turn around someone wants paperwork, information, conferences, and the list goes on. At times it can be overwhelming being pulled in so many different directions by so many people. Remember you cannot do everything and some things can be cut out if need be. Below are some ideas to help you deal with stress and demands of fostering.

1. Do not give up the things you enjoy because of a busy schedule. Doing something that you enjoy can be therapeutic and can give you food for your soul whether it is scrap booking, reading, shopping, gardening or anything else that you enjoy doing.

2. Light some nice scented candles,... more

1. Set up time to spend with your child away from your foster children. This does not have to be a major deal. It can be as simple as going to the grocery store, running errands, get your nails done together (this was my daughter’s favorite), etc.

2. Let them have time away from the house without foster siblings.

3. Do not make them give up their activities because of the added scheduling of foster care.

4. Allow them to have their feelings even if at times if they do not like the foster children that are in your home.

5. Always let them have a voice. Let me know they can come to you any time. Remember, your child may be aware or see a problem happening... more

1. Luggage and a nice duffel bag

2. If you know that they will be attending college. A gift card to the campus bookstore would be a great idea and very useful.

3. Gift certificates to restaurants, especially fast food places.

4. Household items – microwave, small dorm refrigerator (for college students), bedding (pillow, comforter, sheets,) bath towels, laundry basket with laundry supplies maybe a jar of quarters, small bookcase, throw, lamp, clock, and inexpensive chair. These things can be used to independently living or dorm living.

5. Gift cards to stores to help get them started in life. (Remember about transportation to the store may be an issue.)

6. Gift... more

1. Toothbrushes – You can never have too many of them with foster children. Especially when strep throat, the flu or anything else cycles through your home, you need to stock up when they are on sale.

2. Suitcases or Duffel bags – If your foster child comes with anything besides the clothes they are wearing, most likely their belongs will be in trash sacks. So, it is helpful if you can stock up on suitcases and duffel bags for when your foster children need them.

3. Hairbrushes and Combs – Every foster child should leave your home with one. So, get them when you can.

4. Backpacks and School Supplies – I have only one child come with a backpack. So you will always... more

1. Allow them to cry and grieve for the loss of their bio families, the connection to their past, and everything that has been familiar to them.

2. Allow them a place in their room to have a family photo or other things that are important to them. Even give them a little box or have them make a box (decorating a shoe box works well) to keep all their little treasures from the past and the future.

3. Finding a good therapist or play therapist can really help some children process their feelings and get beyond the pain of their life.

4. Do not judge what a child may feel, may not feel or how they deal with their feelings and things that has happened to them.

5. Should... more

1. Playing board games with your foster children and maybe even starting a family game night would be a great benefit.

2. Have a family member or family friend have the foster child over for a play date with one of their children. Age does not necessary have to be important in the beginning, a few years older or younger is not going to matter. In the beginning you are just allowing them a safe place to learn what children do and how they play.

3. Having a get together at your home with people that have children. This can be more comfortable for the foster child because they are in their turf... more

1. Have pets put up. A large number of foster children are afraid of pets, so they need the time to adjust slowly.

2. I try and always have my other children around, so this helps ease the tension. My children usually will give the tour of the house showing the important things like toys, tv, movies, and the outside toys:)

3. We have an age appropriate movie and tv show on the tv, this seems to be comforting for them. It also helps when you are trying to do all the paperwork.

4. Have something ready for the children to drink (sippy cup if toddler) and sometimes a light snack.

5. If you are dealing with older children, give them a shelf to place their personal... more

1. Make some time for yourself even if it is only a long bubble bath. Do not give up the things that make you who you are (gardening, scrap booking, reading, painting, etc.). Mostly likely these activities that are important to you can be a great stress relief for you.

2. Do not let what people may say or the inappropriate questions that they feel is okay to ask you, get to you.

3. Prepare for a crisis by lining up a someone to help with the care of the children, if you should need it. With foster care it is probably more like when it will happen. You can almost that there will be a crisis (child falls needs stitches, a spouse gets hurt, a child has a super melt down or... more

1. The adventure of not knowing who, and how many will be at the dinner table every night.

2. The rewards that you receive from your foster children. You may have to really look but most likely they are there. It could be a smile, to overhear them talking about you as the mom to someone else (you might not have ever realized they thought of you as mom), to see them developing skills that you have been working on (in the beginning under their breathe they mumbled how stupid it was), for them to ask to do errands or help you with chores (you then know they do not see spending time with you as a punishment), a hug and to see a tear running down their cheek when it is time for them to... more