News

Doing Our Best ~ A Mantra for Fostering Teens

August 11, 2021

Fostering a teen can be a challenge, but it’s also, one of the most rewarding vocations you can ever get into.  It’s very rewarding for us to work with a teen and see them flourish from getting the love, understanding and dignity you can provide. To watch them feeling safe in a place they can now call “home” brings a certain feeling that you’ve made it to the first milestone.  From there, things get easier and better!

During our 32 years of being foster parents, we’ve adopted a mindset of “We’ll Do Our Best.

  • We’ll do our best to help each teen through the difficult times at school, at home, in the community, or with their biological families
  • We’ll help them feel safe, be there for them through the ups and downs of life
  • We’ll do our best to remain strong when it’s time to say “goodbye.”  Time goes fast!

Everyone has difficult days, and we’d be lying if we told you differently. That’s the time to use your support system. Rely on your friends, family, other foster families, your social workers, counselors, etc. They all can help you stay strong. Listen to their advice and apply it where needed.

Being foster parents certainly added fun and excitement to our lives. It was fun watching a teen thrive and develop into a totally awesome adult- ready to face the world being the Best Person They Can Be. What a wonderful head rush! After so many years, we still get a thrill being able to participate in this process.

Our advice to anyone considering the idea of fostering is to team up with a teen, no matter what your age! If you can be non-judgmental, live, laugh, love, and Do Your Best, there is little to lose, and so very much to gain!

written by Patti & Bob Durfee