Tim sits down with a friend and foster parent named Jim to talk about building a blended family with foster kids and bio kids. Jim and his wife Melanie are foster parents in Washington and have a unique story. Wendy says this is the episode to have your husband listen to.
Our podcast announces some big news as well. Our first official sponsor and our own foster agency!
OLIVE CREST FOSTER & ADOPTION AGENCY
1-800-74-FOSTER (800-743-6783)
http://www.olivecrest.org
If you live in Southern California, Southern Nevada, or the Pacific Northwest, give them a call and tell them you heard about them from us.
Also, if you want to know what we think of you doing your own podcast, the answer is “we’d love it”.
I’ve got to laugh, I must have just asked you like 2 days ago who your agency was, and now they are official sponsors… Too bad we’re not in California… Anyways, I’ve finally made the plunge through every episode, and have gained much through it. It only took me about 2 weeks, a record for listening to so much… You have made the path to becoming a foster parent alot clearer. Thank you guys for everything!
Just wanted to say THANK YOU for taking time out of your very full lives to share your story with the world! I’ve spent the past few weeks listening to every episode and wanted to thank you for sharing your ups and downs so honestly and openly.
As an adoptive mom, I’m learning as much as I can about talking to young children about adoption, attachment issues and birthparent relationships. We’re ready to begin the process of adopting a second child. Your podcast touched my heart and challenged my fears about foster parenting. Perhaps foster parenting is the path we’re being called to take?
Please know that your podcast efforts touch more lives than you may realize. Thank you & bless you as you move forward to officially adopting Andrea & Linda!
Julie in MN
Tim and Wendy- We are in the last phase of being certified as foster parents- it should happen next week, and we are hoping for our first placement soon afterward. My question is- can you or any of your listeners help us with thoughts on how to prepare our 3 1/2 year old bio son (loin kid to use Tim’s word!) understand the new arrival in a way that he can understand. We found books and classes to explain a new bio sibling to a preschooler, but not much at all on how to explain fostering. While we are certianly excited to be helping our foster child to be, we want it to be a good experience for our bio son too!
Thanks so much for the podcast- your show has taught us far more than the 40 plus hours of required training we have attended.
Hi Kim,
Congratulations on becoming foster parents! This would be a great topic for an upcoming episode. I’ll put it on my working list. (Yes, there is actually a list, but that is the FULL extent of how organized I am! One list on the bulletin board.)
In the meantime, I’m hoping another listener will see your comment and chime in. I’ve seen a book at the library called “Emma’s Yucky Brother.” I believe it dealt with adoption of a preschooler (from what I remember). This topic might be a little closer than what you’ve found for bio-siblings.
Wendy
Wendy — and actually Kim…
My husband and I are looking to start the process to bring in foster children sometime next year. Our son will be about 4 years old by the time we will be certified. I was wondering if y’all have had any more luck in finding books to prepare a preschooler for foster care/adoption sibling
My worry is that my ideas to explain… their mommy didn’t know how to take care of them, etc. could plant fears that he could be taken away from us as well.
looking forward to the some day episode!
Longtime listener, firsttime poster. Making my way through the archive.
Wow, I wish I could express how annoying it was that Jim kept referring to his biological children as “our own.” He did it over and over again, without any apparent consciousness. And Tim didn’t call him on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m sure he’s a wonderful father, he certainly says “the right things” about equal treatment of his children. But how can we know when his language choice is so poor?
Wonderful episode! I have to bio daughters age 8 and11. They are both looking forward to our first placement but I know they may feel differently once reality hits. I have done and said everything I can think of to prepare them. we may have some tough times but we will get through it together as a family. Now if only the phone would ring with that awaited call so we could get started!!
We have had our fost/adopt boys for 3 months now. We have 4 birth kids, 15, 8, 6 and 5. Our new boys are 15 and 14. It was hard at first, but things are settling down. Everyone thought we were nuts when we said we would take older kids, but it is what we felt the Lord wanted us to do. Comments like, “Haven’t you thought about your OWN kids?” drive us nuts! We are slowly becoming a family and working on a new normal. Some days there is lots of love and others… My youngest son said it best when I asked him how he thought it was going, “It’s hard Momma, but just cause it’s hard doesn’t mean they should leave cause they need a home too!”
I really enjoyed hearing Jim’s heart when speaking about the abandonment necessary to love these kids..”love them like Christ loves”. Definitely a Spirit-led moment. The gem in this episode.