Holly's Foster Care Journey
Donation protected
As many of you know, I am currently in training to become a foster parent for the state of Tennesee. Next week will be the end of my classes, and this means I start on the final step of this process and begin the home study. (!) By mid-summer, I will be welcoming a child (or children!) into my home.
There is a lot to do between now and then, and there will be even more to do when this sweet little soul actually arrives. Right now I am baby-proofing and getting the house as ready as I can, but because I have no idea what age or gender the child (or children) will be, I also have to be ready at a moment's notice to go out and buy everything I need all at once.
Best case scenario the foster children arrive with a bag of clothing, but I'm told that often even this is not the case. This means I have to be prepared to provide everything they will need to thrive and heal despite the horrible the trauma that will have brought them here. This includes clothes, toys, books, bedding, car seats, and possibly even diapers and formala. (Everything all children need, but I have to be prepared to provide it at a moment's notice.) Someone the other day compared this to being "Parenting, Level Expert," and it certainly feels like it right now!
I have had mixed feelings about reaching out for help as I face these huge expenses, but it's been pointed out to me over and over that most new parents have a baby shower for this exact reason, and there is no reason I shouln't as well. Nothing about this process has been "traditional," so I am looking at this a non-traditional shower of sorts. It's going to be so expensive to get everything ready and get the kids settled, and as a single parent, I know it'll be even harder. This is when it takes a village.
If you feel inclined to contribute to this little baby shower fund for my upcoming foster journey, know that I am incredibly grateful. This all feels huge and crazy and beautiful, and I am so hopeful about the future for both myself and the sweet children I will bring into my world.
There is a lot to do between now and then, and there will be even more to do when this sweet little soul actually arrives. Right now I am baby-proofing and getting the house as ready as I can, but because I have no idea what age or gender the child (or children) will be, I also have to be ready at a moment's notice to go out and buy everything I need all at once.
Best case scenario the foster children arrive with a bag of clothing, but I'm told that often even this is not the case. This means I have to be prepared to provide everything they will need to thrive and heal despite the horrible the trauma that will have brought them here. This includes clothes, toys, books, bedding, car seats, and possibly even diapers and formala. (Everything all children need, but I have to be prepared to provide it at a moment's notice.) Someone the other day compared this to being "Parenting, Level Expert," and it certainly feels like it right now!
I have had mixed feelings about reaching out for help as I face these huge expenses, but it's been pointed out to me over and over that most new parents have a baby shower for this exact reason, and there is no reason I shouln't as well. Nothing about this process has been "traditional," so I am looking at this a non-traditional shower of sorts. It's going to be so expensive to get everything ready and get the kids settled, and as a single parent, I know it'll be even harder. This is when it takes a village.
If you feel inclined to contribute to this little baby shower fund for my upcoming foster journey, know that I am incredibly grateful. This all feels huge and crazy and beautiful, and I am so hopeful about the future for both myself and the sweet children I will bring into my world.
Organizer
Holly Jennings
Organizer
Nashville, TN