Navigating parenthood is no easy feat, but being a foster parent requires a unique level of strength and resilience. Opening your home and heart to a child, fully aware that they might eventually leave, is an experience that few can truly comprehend.
Take, for instance, the heartfelt reflections of a foster mom named Lily Bennett, who recently shared her emotional journey on the Facebook page Love What Matters. In her poignant post, Lily described the heart-wrenching moment when she had to say goodbye to the baby girl who had been a part of her family for six months.
“We lost the battle,” she wrote, “and by ‘lost,’ I mean I didn’t get what I wanted.” It was the first child Lily and her family had welcomed into their home, and now the baby was preparing to join her sisters. Lily’s heart ached as she thought about how this little one would adjust to her new life, wondering if her new family would figure out her unique quirks, like needing a soft pillow to sleep well or her adorable habit of fist-bumping before bed.
Lily had been teaching the baby sign language, and her heart sank at the thought of not being able to continue those lessons. “If they ask her, she’ll sign ‘please’ for them,” she mused. “I hadn’t gotten around to teaching her ‘thank you’ yet, but that was next on my list.”
Expressing her struggles to explain the situation to her biological son, she recounted his confusion: “But we’re her brothers,” he said. In that moment, Lily realized that there was no easy way to make sense of it all. “It just doesn’t make sense. Not to him and…frankly…not to me either.”
In a final act of love, Lily filled the little one’s sippy cup and gave her a soothing lavender bath before saying goodbye. “I told her I loved her and made sure to squeeze her tightly. She loves hugs but hates being held too long,” she noted.
The sadness was overwhelming, and Lily admitted, “The tears just won’t stop. This first loss is more painful than I ever imagined and something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.” Yet, despite the heartache, she expressed no regrets about her journey as a foster parent. “When that familiar number appears on my phone, asking if we can open our hearts again, I already know my answer: Absolutely. Let’s do this! Whether for six months or forever, we’re in.”
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In summary, Lily’s experience as a foster parent highlights both the joy and the pain of loving a child who may have to leave. Her unwavering commitment to fostering, despite the heartache, speaks volumes about the strength and compassion required in this role.