I have very much enjoyed being a foster parent. I am a relief foster parent. When caring for a child with special needs, some days are more challenging than others but by sharing your home, time, energy and love, you can make a real and lasting difference in the life of a child. The goal is to provide a safe and loving home for that child who is on a journey to reunite with his/her birth family or finding an adoptive family. To be a part of that is a wonderful gift for all involved.
My amazing son was a foster child waiting for an adoptive family – I am so grateful that we eventually became his forever family.
You receive more than you give, when the gift is from your heart.
Mrs. Christine KROKER (Relief Foster Parent)
Greetings to all foster mothers! I am a foster parent for the first time, and my foster child is a two-week-old newborn.
Watching Yan-yan grow and seeing her smile have brought much joy into my heart. I feel that Yan-yan has already become a part of our family, despite the fact that she has only been with us for half a year.
When I first received news that Yan-yan will soon be joining her adoptive family, I did not know how to respond because I did not want her to leave me. Now I feel very happy for her to soon be part of a family who is going to provide her with what she needs and love her forever. I want to wish Yan-yan good health and a very happy life.
After I joined foster care service, I have been exposed to many things which I did not know before. There are so many children in Hong Kong needing a family to love them, and I so wish that each child could find their happiness.
Mrs. CHEUNG (Foster Parent)
I joined foster care service in October, and am already fostering a child for the second time.
During my first foster care experience, I had mixed feelings. I knew that the day would come when our first foster baby would leave us to go and live with her adoptive family. That was hard to accept, especially when I had done so much to care for her. However, as I ponder more about it, I feel so happy that she is now living in a permanent home in the care of a wonderful family.
At times, it is tiring to be a foster mother. However, with this second foster child, as soon as I see him smile, my fatigue goes away. Although it is a lot of hard work to care for a baby, the experience comes with great joy and it's so worthwhile.
Mrs. Ho (Foster Parent)
Ting-ting’s Story
We (the foster family) first met Ting-ting on September 4, 2002. At the time, she was only two years old and was living in an orphanage. We were told that she had been waiting for a foster home.
The first meeting with Ting-ting felt like a gathering with 'old friends'. We were so anxious for her to join our family so that we could share our love and could care for her. It was heartbreaking to know that Ting-ting was unable to be cared for by her birth family at such a young age. We hoped to give her all that we could - to be able to provide her with her needs and most of all, to love her.
Ting-ting had full, round cheeks and a pair of sparkling big eyes. She always wore a sweet smile on her face. She had a lively character, was energetic, and a little stubborn. When she first came, she occasionally wetted her bed and always needed me around for her to feel safe. So I spent a lot of time with her everyday.
All it took was a willing heart to take care of Ting-ting. Through our care, love and acceptance, Ting-ting felt like she was one of us. She began to show confidence in herself and felt secure. Ting-ting had become a member of our family during the one and a half years that she stayed with us, not to mention that she had built a strong and trusting relationship with us.
It is not easy to see Ting-ting adopted because she left us to join a new home. However, we were so thrilled for her as we had always hoped that she would find her forever home.
From the moment when Ting-ting accepted the adoption arrangement till she started a new life with her adoptive parents, we opened our hearts to trust and believe that Ting-ting would have a good life with her adoptive family.
During the early days of preparing Ting-ting to familiarize with her new family, we joined her on visits with her new parents and all of us traveled from place to place together. I also shared as much about Ting-ting's performance, daily activities, likes and dislikes, etc with the new parents. A farewell party was then arranged before Ting-ting went home with her adoptive parents. At the party, Ting-ting knew that she was loved and blessed by our family - her foster family. Our family also made Ting-ting a lifebook - precious memories (with photographs and written details of her life with us) and was passed on to her and her new family.
At last, Ting-ting left this foster home in May 2004 to join her adoptive family. Every time when we think of Ting-ting’s departure, we cannot hold our tears. But we know that our tears are filled with joy and blessings for Ting-ting and her adoptive family. Sometimes in life we have to learn to 'let go', but we know that the love does not go away - it will remain forever.
Months after Ting-ting had adapted to her new life with her adoptive parents, they initiated a 'reunion'. We saw how Ting-ting was growing up so happily and healthily - that feeling was unbelievably gratifying. Her adoptive parents were so thoughtful. They felt for us and sincerely understood how much we loved their daughter. The 'reunion' had helped to bring comfort and closure to our separation with Ting-ting. All we know is that she is now where she belongs.
