To my son Charlie

To my Birth Son Charlie,

I am writing this letter to you after receiving a special request from the fostering team to celebrate my birth child and your journey fostering.

You were just two years old when we started fostering! You are now six and you clearly remember every single child we have ever looked after.

Fostering has been part of your family and way of life. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way and I know all of the foster children have all enjoyed meeting and getting to know you too.

I have always marvelled at your warmth of welcome. You have always showed each child around our home with such ease and confidence. From such a young age you have shared your toys and your Mummy! You have seen yourself as the foster carer too and us as a team!

I remember once after a trickier weekend you hugged me after and said that was hard! Like we were two adults at the end of a long day!

I have watched you play and laugh so much with all the children we have had. From your trampoline, to hide and seek, Halloween parties and fun days out….you have been the little star in the middle making each day more fun and amusing everyone with your little antics and funny ways!

I know sometimes you found things difficult, like sharing the TV and compromising on things you weren’t used to having to do. But when I look at all our incredibly happy photos I know the good has massively outweighed anything else.

You’ve hoped at times for a sibling and have said at times that you wished certain children we have looked after was your brother or sister. I have done the same, so I understand the mix of emotions it has brought for you at times. We let ourselves have some quiet time after the children have left our home to settle back and reconnect just us. I think this helps, we love having them but love being just us too.

When I think back to all the children we have looked after, I know some of them feel like family. We have photos of you all growing together and it’s just beautiful to see.

I have always wanted to foster and I always wanted my own child……thanks for making both of my dreams come true. I will always be grateful for you and can’t wait to see how fostering has shaped you as you continue to grow.

You make me proud every day.

Lots of love,

Mummy x