Becoming a Foster Mom
From a very young age, I dreamed of being a mother. Alongside that dream was a persistent pull toward adoption. Even before I understood all that adoption entailed, I felt it was something I was meant to do. Over the years, that calling never faded; if anything, it grew stronger. Every so often, I would research adoption options, but I never took serious steps until some of my close friends began fostering. Watching them care for children in need stirred something inside me, and I began wondering if foster care might be the right path for me as well.
At first, the idea seemed overwhelming. I was single, and I wasn’t sure if the system would even allow me to foster on my own. When I began researching, I was encouraged to read the stories of many women who had chosen single motherhood. Their experiences gave me hope. Around that same time, I learned that a woman I knew was pregnant. Something inside me shifted. I prayed for that baby constantly and couldn’t shake the quiet voice in my heart telling me to step forward. By the time the baby was five months old, the whisper had become so strong that I started the licensing process to foster him.
When Jackson was placed in my home at nine months old, life changed instantly. We were both strangers to one another, so the transition was not easy. Thankfully, I was able to take six weeks off from work. That time gave us space to bond him learning to trust me and me learning how to be his mother. I had moments of self-doubt, especially during my home study, when I was asked endless questions about my ability to parent. I had moved away from family, had only a small circle of friends, and quickly realized my “village” would be much smaller than I once imagined. Childcare costs shocked me, and balancing everything felt daunting, but I stayed focused on giving Jackson the stability he deserved.
Our relationship slowly grew stronger. I’ll never forget the first time I brought him to church. I felt every eye on me, though most likely no one noticed. At the end of mass, an older woman stopped to tell me how adorable Jackson was and reminded me I was doing a good job. That little bit of encouragement carried me more than she could have known.
When Jackson was about a year old, his biological parents’ rights were terminated. I knew it was coming, but the reality brought a mix of emotions. While I was grateful for the chance to adopt him, I also felt grief for his birth parents. Adoption always carries both love and loss. A few months later, Jackson’s adoption was finalized on National Adoption Day in 2015. It was surreal to finally hear the words that made him officially my son.
Life with Jackson continued to grow, and when he was three, I opened my home to more foster placements. Over the next five years, nine babies came through our door. Each child brought challenges, but also deep lessons about resilience, love, and the importance of family.they know how to be stay positive motivated being a good child, Taking in sibling sets was especially meaningful, as I felt strongly that siblings should remain together whenever possible. Some children stayed only briefly before reuniting with their families, while others became part of my forever family.
Over time, Jackson gained siblings through both fostering and adoption. Bear and Lilou arrived, followed later by Luca and Auggie. Each placement came with its own challenges medical appointments, therapy sessions, emotional ups and downs but also with immeasurable joy. Together, we became a family woven not by blood, but by choice, love, and commitment.
Today, my home is full, and so is my heart. I was feeling so glad that finally I got my home full of happiness. Parenting six children as a single mom is anything but easy, yet I wouldn’t trade it for anything. My children know they are loved, that they were wanted, and that family is not defined by DNA. Each night, as we remind ourselves that we are kind, important, and made with purpose, I am reminded that this journey, though born from brokenness, has created a family I cherish more than anything.
