We all need time for ourselves especially foster moms. We can so easily get caught up with all the responsibility and drama of foster care. It seems like you are getting pulled in every different direction. Every therapist, caseworker, bio parent, child, school personal, doctor and whomever else, telling how to do things their way, what is wrong with how you do things, and then telling you not to listen to other people. Most of the time you can ignore it, let it go but there are times that it gets overwhelming. This happens to us all at some point. Take the time to recharge yourself physically and emotionally. Sometimes it is easier to just keep going than allowing yourself sometime to recharge.

I know I am guilty of this myself, so I do struggle with this. It seems for me that the things I like doing for myself or where I find time to recharge seems to be the time my children like to spend with me. My best time for myself is to take a bubble bath, my lovely four old daughter has decided that this is her bonding time. I will sneak (ha ha) to take a bath, two minutes after being in there my daughter comes running in buck naked saying, “I am ready for my bath” and climbing right in. I swear this child can even find me when I taking a bath in the dark (which she tells me, “Silly mommy it is dark.” and turns the light on). I also like to escape to my bedroom to my bed to watch television, read, or get on my computer and this is when my oldest daughter likes to get bonding time. She is learning that at times when she comes in I do not want to talk and she will just sit in bed with me (which is kind of nice):)

My four year old is my little shadow that I love, but she can be very draining (she has her own issues that she is dealing with). On top of her issues she has separation issues with me which I am not fussing about since she had major bonding issues. I found that taking her to see my dad and going shopping with her allows me time to recharge.

So, really it is finding a balance that works for you, finding a way to lessen some of the stress maybe not all of it. You must take time for yourself to continue being a benefit to your children. Remember, you cannot continue giving or helping if you are drained.


“Tell me who you love, and I'll tell you who you are.”
Creole proverb