Davis Family

I became a foster parent because I wanted to become a parent through adoption, however I continued to foster because I knew my home could serve as a temporary refuge for children in need of a safe space.

Fostering has made me more sensitive to the struggles of humanity, and how generational cycles, trauma, and negative exposure influence a person's behavior. I have more compassion for people because I realize there could be factors in play much bigger than them that lead them to make a bad choice in a single moment.

That's why the most rewarding part of fostering has been watching the children who've come through my home grow emotionally, mentally, and physically. From a premature baby gaining weight and exceeding the doctor's expectations to a teenager learning how to prepare meals on the stove - those are my rewards as a foster parent.

Being a single foster parent, I would say to anyone considering it to ensure you have a community willing to support you and the children before you start. Expose yourself to the world of foster care by tapping into resources like reading books and listening to podcasts and connect with other foster parents. I am thankful for my village. My greatest success as a foster parent has been in choosing to parent when I wanted to quit. I try to stay steadfast in my desire to parent to the best of my ability without the pressure of looking for success by way of big changes - in the child, their family, or the foster care system as a whole. I win just by showing up every day as the best version of myself.

That's why I believe the most important role of a foster parent is to be quick to understand and slow to judge - the child, their family and yourself. I've learned to give everyone involved as much grace as I can muster. My role is to provide an environment where a child can heal, grow, and explore in peace, and to feel all the emotions with them

I believe it's important for people to know that foster parents are humans. Our hearts are not "special" so we feel all the emotions that come with fostering - from joy to pain. I am a single foster parent who works full-time and runs a separate business. We need more people (married, single, or otherwise) willing to feel all the emotions and become foster parents.

- J. Davis