Readers Respond: How did you successfully include a foster child on your family vacation?

Responses: 3

We've always included our foster children in our family vacation plans. We've always had mixed results when we included our foster children in our family vacation plans. I think it's best when we can learn from each other, especially those who have parented through different situations or events. So, for those who have combined foster children and family vacations and lived to tell the tale - please tell!

If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently. How did you successfully include a foster child on your family vacation?

fostering/vacation

We have fostered since 1989. We have always included our foster children on vacations. Once, we had a young man that had been kicked out of school for talking about school shooting spree. At a restaurant a man came up to our table and stated that is was great to see such well behaved children.(6 children)

—Guest Ralph Sharpe

Providing Respite for Foster Family

When we provided foster care, we were on the other side of the vacationing foster family. We provided respite for two boys (brothers) while the foster family vacationed for 2 weeks. I must say the oldest boy, age 8, was the most affected by the separation. The boys had been with the foster family for a while and looked to the family as their own. The oldest boy felt left out and missed his foster parents. The boys had some issues but I think they would've benefitted emotionally if they were allowed to be with the foster family on their vacation. We tried very hard to fill the gap by taking the boys to our community lake daily and the minor league baseball game. Later on, when the foster family returned, the foster mother told me I did too much. That my compensation wasn't necessary. I felt it was and I was very happy to do it. Foster children are the neediest children. Their feelings, our actions as significant people in their lives must be carefully considered.

—sunfluerhandcrafted

Vacation time with foster children

Most every child I ever had in care came on our vacations. Yes,if one has behavior problems you have to think ahead and know how a child will cope with stress of travel and new people. But we were very blessed with the almost 100 children we have had over a 15 year career in the field. But not everyone can do what my husband and I could do...taking in families came more natural to us. Our expectations were realistic to the child's abilities and medical issues, if any. Not to say every trip was perfect but when are any family trips perfect. We'd be just fooling ourselves if we said that. Success in foster care is largely because we worked with a professional team. Not all agencies are as good and that will determine your success in the foster care system. Good luck to you all. Keep educating yourself in the field. We did and loved it.

—Guest dawnrose51@comcast.net