One of the best ways to bond with your foster child is to work with them on a craft that will help boost their sense of creativity and self-esteem. Parents know the joy of seeing their child proudly showing off a macaroni necklace or hanging their latest finger painting on the fridge. Of course, not […]
If anyone knows about the ups and downs of fostering, it’s Brian Blythe and John Kristiansen. Adoptive fathers to four little girls, these men have learned a few lessons on their way to Adoption Day. We recently caught up with them to learn about their transition from ordinary joes to foster care superheroes. After meeting […]
Many parents hit a point while raising their children when they need a weekend to themselves to relax and restore their sanity. For parents raising their biological children, a weekend alone can be as easy as dropping their son off at the grandparents. For foster parents, extended time away from their foster son requires the […]
School can be stressful for any child between homework, tests and making friends, but for foster children it can be particularly difficult. Along with facing the typical challenges of the school year, your foster daughter must do so while coping with her past and possibly worrying about her future. This additional burden can shift her […]
After welcoming your foster son into your home, you noticed he seemed unreceptive to every attempt you made to form a connection with him. At first you probably thought, “Maybe he’s afraid of strangers.” As time goes by and his disposition doesn’t change, concern or even fear may lead to you discovering reactive attachment disorder […]
Trying to understand what a child is thinking can be difficult. Without the ability to express themselves, or if past trauma has affected their ability to do so, handling grief and trauma can become a major obstacle for foster parents. Whether it’s attachment issues, stubbornness, or acting out, behaviors you experience with foster children may […]
With the hustle and bustle of the school year coming to a close, you’ve probably started wondering what you’ll do now that your foster child’s day isn’t filled with school, practices and homework. The possibilities are endless and vary widely from one child to the next. After seeing all of the possible summer activities for […]
There are many conversations parents never look forward to having with their children, such as answering why the family pet is no longer with them, who you love more and where babies come from. Along with the usual battery of questions, foster parents also face another one that is even more daunting: Why am I […]
Although we’ve discussed it briefly in our blog “Top 5 embrella Services You Aren’t Taking Advantage Of (But Totally Should!)”, the Heart to Heart Mentoring Program from embrella is so valuable that we decided you should take a closer look. At first, it might seem intimidating to be matched up with another foster parent but […]
“In the hood, being untouchable and feared earned you points and it attracted me. I liked the respect they got from people and how they protected each other. They always seemed to have each other’s back. If one of them needed to go somewhere, even if it was just to the store, they would […]