Bio Children's Reactions (sorry a bit long)

[minniemonster]

Hi Mama Friends,

We are doing our FIRST foster care placement. It's a respite placement for 10 days. Two boys, 1 and 3. They are a handful, nothing naughty, just busy.

My question was to experienced foster parents. How did your biological children react to having "strangers" in the house? My older DS is a little freaked out about it, even though he was the most excited about it beforehand. My younger DS is still a bit young to understand everything, just that we are having friends stay with us. That seems fine.

My older DS's reaction just magnifies the little voices in my head from friends and family that say we should really think hard and long before we open our house and family to strangers. They are worried that "the experience will damage our biological children, who should be our first priority." Well, of course they are! We are hoping that the experience will teach them that we all have a responsibility to care for each other.

Any other stories of biological children's reactions to new kids in the house?

TIA.
Minnie

[Polliwog]

Don't be too quick to judge the foster parents (if in fact, you are.) You don't know where the children started. The way they are falling asleep could be huge progress. When fostering there will be lots of things that you will do with/for the foster kids that you wouldn't necessarily do with/for your bio kids. That's just the nature of the life.

My son's adopted but has been with me for as long as he can remember. We've only had one foster chld since then (my soon-to-be-adopted daughter) and it was an easy transition. We have done some day/weekend respite and it's just like an extended playdate. We don't consider them to be strangers. They are new friends.

How old are your children?