Building a Family Through Fostering
When Maria was growing up, fostering was simply part of family life.
Her parents fostered children throughout her childhood, and two of her younger brothers joined the family through fostering before later being adopted. Watching the difference that a safe, loving home could make left a lasting impression that stayed with her into adulthood.
After beginning her career as a nanny and later becoming a midwife, Maria always knew she wanted children in her life. When medical treatment meant she couldn’t have children of her own, fostering became the path she hoped to follow when the time was right.
That dream would eventually become a reality with her friend, Carol.
“Maria talked a lot about fostering and the impact it can have on children’s lives,” says Carol. “I’d always wanted a family too, so when the time was right, we decided to apply.”
Today, they’ve opened their home to some of the youngest children needing care, including babies with additional health and developmental needs. Most recently, they welcomed a four-month-old baby alongside a child they have cared for since birth.
Using Their Skills to Help Children Thrive
Both Maria and Carol worked and still work in healthcare and have found that their professional experience has helped them support the children in their care.
As an experienced midwife specialising in antenatal screening, Maria developed extensive knowledge of conditions that can affect babies before and after birth. That expertise has helped them care for children with additional medical needs and has even led to them being matched with babies requiring specialist support.
Carol’s background as a pharmacist has also proved invaluable.
Having worked in both community and hospital pharmacy, including paediatric settings, she brings confidence and experience when supporting children with health needs, recognising signs of illness and managing medication safely.
Together, their skills have enabled them to provide the nurturing, stable environment that vulnerable children need to flourish.
Proving That You Can Foster and Work
One of the biggest myths about fostering is that you have to give up your career.
Maria and Carol’s experience shows that isn’t always the case.
While Maria cares for the children during the day, Carol continues to work full-time. They share responsibilities in the evenings and overnight, balancing work, family life and fostering as a team.
“It can be a challenge,” Carol admits, “but we make it work between us.“
The support they’ve received has also surprised them.
Friends, family and colleagues have all played a part in their fostering journey, and Carol says the encouragement and practical help they’ve received has been far greater than they ever expected, including support from senior colleagues at work.
Their story demonstrates that fostering looks different for every household. While some foster carers choose to foster full-time, others successfully combine fostering with employment, depending on the type of fostering they provide and the needs of the children they care for.
Watching Children Reach Their Potential
Ask Maria and Carol what has made fostering so worthwhile, and the answer is simple: seeing children thrive.
Over the years, they have cared for children with developmental delays and complex medical conditions and have witnessed remarkable transformations.
Seeing children grow, develop and reach milestones that once seemed uncertain has been one of the most rewarding parts of their fostering journey.
From babies taking their first steps to children catching up with their peers, those everyday achievements are moments they never take for granted.
It’s these successes, both big and small, that remind them why they chose to foster.
“The Rewards Are Well Worth It”
For anyone wondering whether fostering could fit alongside their career, Maria and Carol have a simple message.
“If you relish a challenge, love people and want to help children reach their full potential, this could be the role for you. It can be emotional and challenging at times, but the rewards are well worth it.“
Could You Change a Child’s Story?
Whether you work in healthcare, education, retail, administration or another profession, fostering may be more achievable than you think.
There are different types of fostering available, and our team can help you explore the options that fit your circumstances, skills and lifestyle.
Get in touch today to find out how you could make a lasting difference to a child’s life while continuing the career you love.
If you live in Caerphilly, Wales, send us a message, and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
If you live elsewhere in Wales, visit the Foster Wales website, where you can find all the necessary information about fostering and contact details for your local authority fostering service.
