• Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Become a Foster Parent
Plummer Youth Promise
  • About Us
    • Mission, Values, & History
    • Leadership
    • Fiscal & Annual Reports
    • Careers
    • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
    • Our Future Campus
    • Contact Us
  • Our Approach
    • Overview
    • Our Model
  • Our Programs
    • Residential Programs
      • Group Home
      • Supported Apartment
      • Community Apartments
    • Foster Parent Program
    • Intensive Permanency Services
    • Permanency Mediation
  • Consulting Services
    • Strategic Consulting
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
  • News & Stories
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Leave a Legacy
    • Join Promise Circle
    • Become a Fundraiser
    • Volunteer
  • Donate
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
News & Stories

How I’ll Make It Through the Holidays as a Foster Parent

November 27, 2019

 

Dear Self,

We’ve been through this before. We know that the holidays can be tough for kids in foster care and for people like us (foster parents). So, as “the season” approaches, let’s try to keep a few things in mind:

 

  1. No matter what you do, the holidays may be a time of mixed emotions for your foster child. All of the “happy family, home for the holidays” messages on tv and in social media remind them of the family left behind when they entered foster care. So try to remember to ask about the other families in their life.

 

  1. Go ahead and wonder out loud if they are thinking about earlier holidays and the family they were with then. Do whatever you can to support contact with birth parents, siblings and extended family members during the holidays.

 

  1. The holidays can be emotionally and mentally exhausting for your foster child, too. Remember that even as you feel taxed by the pace of life at the holidays, your foster child may be even more stressed by all that is going on. People get worn out even by the “fun” stuff like parties. Plan down time for your family.

 

  1. Try to make sure there’s some unscheduled time to just hang out each day. Keeping some routines in place will counter some of the craziness of the holidays.

 

  1. Even getting gifts can be complicated for a foster child. Their pure joy at getting something they have desperately wanted may be accompanied by feelings of guilt for enjoying something their parents have not given them. Or anger at their parents for not having been able to provide such a gift in the past. Loyalty conflicts don’t always take a break at the holidays. They may worry about what kind of Christmas their siblings are having.

 

  1. Try to remember that you can’t protect your foster child from these feelings. But you can be aware that they may be experiencing them. This will help you better understand behavior that seems inconsistent with a seemingly happy occasion.

 

  1. Even though there may be some rocky times, the holidays can also bring joy and comfort to your foster child. They can feel part of your family and safe in your care. They can share in rituals that they’ll remember and repeat in the future. And, they can make happy memories that they’ll have forever.

 

  1. Take lots of pictures and videos so your foster child can take their memories with them when they leave your home. Of course, you’ll want copies too so that someday you can look back and remember your special time with this special person.

 

 

by Diane Kindler

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://plummeryouthpromise.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/kira-auf-der-heide-8mj-o2H5PKE-unsplash-scaled-1.jpg 1333 2000 competenow /wp-content/uploads/2023/04/logo-1-1.png competenow2019-11-27 16:15:212023-04-29 07:10:43How I’ll Make It Through the Holidays as a Foster Parent

Latest News

  • Celebrating Foster Care Month 2023
  • Sometimes Love Means Saying Goodbye
  • Plummer Youth Promise Receives $1M in State Funds
  • Abortion bans and the foster care system.
  • How family search and engagement can impact a youth’s path to successful adulthood

Donate

Join Our Promise Circle With A Recurring Gift Or Make a One Time Gift

Donate Now

About Us

Mission, Values & History

Leadership

Fiscal & Annual Reports

Careers

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Our Future Campus

Contact Us

Our Programs

Residential Programs

Foster Parent Program

Intensive Permanency Services

Permanency Mediation

Consulting Services

Strategic Consulting

Our Team

Contact Us

Get Involved

Donate

Leave a Legacy

Join Promise Circle

Become a Fundraiser

Volunteer

Our Approach

Overview

Our Model

News & Stories

Latest News & Stories

Follow Us

Copyright © 2023 - Plummer Youth Promise. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. Web Design by Tomo360.
  • About Us
    • Mission, Values, & History
    • Leadership
    • Fiscal & Annual Reports
    • Careers
    • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
    • Our Future Campus
    • Contact Us
    • Back
  • Our Approach
    • Overview
    • Our Model
    • Back
  • Our Programs
    • Residential Programs
      • Group Home
      • Supported Apartment
      • Community Apartments
      • Back
    • Foster Parent Program
    • Intensive Permanency Services
    • Permanency Mediation
    • Back
  • Consulting Services
    • Strategic Consulting
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Back
  • News & Stories
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Leave a Legacy
    • Join Promise Circle
    • Become a Fundraiser
    • Volunteer
    • Back
  • Donate

    Quick Links

  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Donate
  • Become a Foster Parent

"*" indicates required fields