Foster parents provide a safe and nurturing home for children in care, offering stability, guidance,…
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A Foster Journey Rooted in Love
When Amber and Amy became foster parents, they expected to adopt an older child. Instead, they welcomed a toddler whose journey redefined what family could look like.
Meet Amber, Amy, and Abby
When my wife Amy and I became foster parents, we were initially aiming to provide a home for an older child who was already eligible for adoption. We already had two sons, ages 13 and 9, and we intentionally included them in this adoption journey, excited to share our home and family. Our plan, like many prospective foster parents, was to welcome a child who no longer had family able to care for them. When we received our license, we were all anxiously awaiting the placement of a child who was old enough to play basketball in the driveway or ride bikes through the neighborhood. A few weeks later… along came Abby.
That plan shifted when we received a call about a 2-year-old girl named Abby who needed a temporary placement. We agreed to care for her through the end of that week, though we were totally unprepared for a toddler. Our community rallied around us, providing essentials like toys, clothes, and supplies. By the end of the week, Abby had settled in and felt at home.
We quickly learned that in addition to her mom and dad, Abby had an entire extended family who cared deeply about her—siblings, aunts, cousins, and her grandmother. The first supervised visit with her mom was emotional, as Abby was overjoyed to see her but devastated when it was time to leave.
In that moment, we made the decision to prioritize Abby’s relationships with her biological family. Over the next months, we facilitated regular visits, phone calls, and included her family in Abby’s daily life and family outings. We displayed photos of her family in her room and spoke about them often, helping Abby feel psychologically safe and know that goodbyes to her mom and dad were not forever.
We also realized we could support Abby’s parents by helping with transportation, household goods, and ensuring Abby was prepared for visits. As her parents gained stability, their ability to consistently prioritize Abby improved. And as Abby’s family grew to trust us, she was able to thrive even more in our home.
Today, over two years later, Abby has a wonderful relationship with both of her parents. We are able to do things like attend her preschool graduation together, host sleepovers with her siblings, and celebrate milestones as an integrated family. The games may look a little different, but we still play basketball in the driveway!
This journey has taught us that love and care can grow, even when the initial circumstances were unplanned. We’ve learned the value of judgment-free shared parenting, recognizing that a child needs more time with their family, not less. Though our original plan didn’t materialize, we wouldn’t change a thing!
More About Abby’s Story
Amber and Amy have been licensed foster parents with CHS since 2022, when they received placement of Abby. Abby started visiting with the couple for respite placement only, but the placement changed to foster care when her birth parents were not able to physically and financially care for her.
Abby’s parents were so pleased with how the couple cared and demonstrated love for Abby that the couple was awarded guardianship of her with her birth parents’ consent and blessing. Abby’s guardians, birth parents, and extended family have solidified a wonderful parental relationship with one another for Abby’s well-being. She is a happy little girl who has the best of both worlds regarding parents.
Stories Like Abby’s Happen Every Day
Amber and Amy didn’t set out to become lifelong guardians, they simply said yes to a child who needed them. What followed was a journey filled with unexpected joy, shared parenting, and the kind of connection that reshapes lives.
Every foster care story is different, but each begins the same way: with someone willing to open their home and heart.
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