Dear Reader, this is the first in a series by a 54-year-old single, childless woman who is in the beginning stages of pursuing foster-to-adopt. She is excited. She is scared. She is also a midlife woman. We will follow her journey to the end! To that aim, she will remain anonymous until it unfolds. We will then reveal her name, her child’s name and any other details necessary to complete her story.
I made the call today. I have been thinking about it for five years.
I have thought about becoming a foster parent ever since I moved to my state. But there were always reasons to wait. My dad was sick, I was in school, and most importantly, I did not have a partner – a man – in my life. I always wanted to create a family, in the traditional sense. Five years later, still no man. I am now 54. My dad has passed away, my mom recently passed as well. My brother’s family had also been my extended family and greatest supporter. Now he is divorced; my nephew has moved away to college; my youngest niece is living in another state with her mother.
There is a large void in my life. I want to stop waiting to create my family.
Recently, I made the call. I Googled “foster parenting” and found the local number. I willed myself to call. It’s just (only) a phone call right?
I spoke to a woman who told me that in ten days someone would call me from the social service agency in my county. She e-mailed me a brochure. It raised more questions. I need to be financially self-sufficient (I barely am) and as a single person I will need a support system. Do I really have people who will help? I’m not so sure.
If I think about this and all it will require of me I think I do not know how I will do it. But I can handle today. Today, all I had to do was make a phone call. I can handle this…in baby steps.