Heather at Home, I decided to respond before reading the other posts, so forgive me if I'm repeating anything or if this doesn't make sense with what others are saying.
Your post really spoke to me, for two reasons. First, I also waited a long time to have kids. In our case it was because of infertility. We had bio kids first (after costly and taxing medical procedures) and now have a foster child who we hope to adopt. Second, my sister waited a long time for kids because she was unmarried until later in life, then also went through infertility. She and her husband recently received their foster license and their very first placement is a sibling group of young children! I have to be honest, a lot of us in the family wondered whether my sister could be a "real" mother because she's never done it before and on the surface does not exude the nurturing, motherly vibes. But now she has these young kids in her home and believe me, she is Mom and her husband is Dad! I've never asked her, but I have a feeling she may have even wondered herself if she could be "real" mom. I think it's safe to say she's so busy with daily mothering that it's real — oh boy, is it real!
As far as doing both at the same time, it is possible. You might want to be realistic about your time and how well you handle busy-ness and stress.
In my state, licensed foster parents are allowed no more than two children under the age of 1. Two babies at a time would be a challenge anyway, so no problem with me fulfilling that!
I don't know what it's like in your area, but here people are getting calls for young children needing placement right away — like within a month or even before the license is done. (I'm licensed for ages 4 and under just like you said you're interested in.) It seems like getting foster kids in the home is quicker and more of a sure thing than getting pregnant and having a baby! Maybe you'd have a child in the home before you were pregnant and you'd be able to ease into things that way. Or maybe you could get licensed for foster care now, and not say yes to a placement if you were pregnant or too close to the birth — whatever works for you and your DH.
My best as you figure out what works for you!
Your post really spoke to me, for two reasons. First, I also waited a long time to have kids. In our case it was because of infertility. We had bio kids first (after costly and taxing medical procedures) and now have a foster child who we hope to adopt. Second, my sister waited a long time for kids because she was unmarried until later in life, then also went through infertility. She and her husband recently received their foster license and their very first placement is a sibling group of young children! I have to be honest, a lot of us in the family wondered whether my sister could be a "real" mother because she's never done it before and on the surface does not exude the nurturing, motherly vibes. But now she has these young kids in her home and believe me, she is Mom and her husband is Dad! I've never asked her, but I have a feeling she may have even wondered herself if she could be "real" mom. I think it's safe to say she's so busy with daily mothering that it's real — oh boy, is it real!
As far as doing both at the same time, it is possible. You might want to be realistic about your time and how well you handle busy-ness and stress.
In my state, licensed foster parents are allowed no more than two children under the age of 1. Two babies at a time would be a challenge anyway, so no problem with me fulfilling that!
I don't know what it's like in your area, but here people are getting calls for young children needing placement right away — like within a month or even before the license is done. (I'm licensed for ages 4 and under just like you said you're interested in.) It seems like getting foster kids in the home is quicker and more of a sure thing than getting pregnant and having a baby! Maybe you'd have a child in the home before you were pregnant and you'd be able to ease into things that way. Or maybe you could get licensed for foster care now, and not say yes to a placement if you were pregnant or too close to the birth — whatever works for you and your DH.
My best as you figure out what works for you!
