Foster The Future
Nathan and Amber Story
Amber and Nathan
Amber and Nathan fostered a baby girl during the pandemic and formed a bond with the girl’s mother when she needed it most.
Amber and Nathan became certified to foster children in 2019, expecting to open their home to kids who needed love, support, and a safe place to live. What they weren’t expecting was the mentorship they would offer to parents who hoped to reunify with their children someday.
The couple’s first foster was a baby girl who lived with them for about six months before she reunified with her mother. Outside of Child Protective Services, Amber said the mother lacked the support she needed to be able to reunify with her daughter.
“Still to this day, we babysit when mom works,” Amber said. “They come to family and holiday gatherings with us. We are like an extended family for them. It’s good for the kids too that they don’t have to lose out on those they love and can remain in their life.
“I guess the overall experience was just learning that foster care isn’t just about caring for and supporting the children, it’s about supporting the parents or family members as well.”
The baby was a welcome addition to the otherwise childless household and it was easy for the couple to love a child who wasn’t their own.
“Honestly, the bond was pretty immediate,” she said. “It actually comes a lot easier than you expect it to.”
Since then, Amber and Nathan have fostered a brother and sister. The boy, who was 1-year-old when he first came to them, is still in their care.
Fostering licenses are only valid for two years. Amber and Nathan are coming to the end of their license and fully intend to recertify.
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Q/A
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING WITH THE FOSTER PROGRAM?
Two years
HOW MANY CHILDREN HAVE YOU FOSTERED?
Three children, including one infant and one sibling pair.
WHY DID YOU BECOME A FOSTER PARENT?
Adoption is something that I’ve always been interested in since I was a teenager. Adoption was something my husband and I always discussed and it worked out that the timing seemed right to us. We have the home for it, we have the ability and space so why would we not open our home to those that need it?
WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING PART OF FOSTERING?
Seeing the positive changes, not only in the kids but in their family as a whole.
WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING?
Always be prepared for the unexpected. Things are always changing from day to day. Each case is different and they’re always evolving depending on how the kids are doing and how the parents are doing.
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO WELCOME A NEW MEMBER TO YOUR FAMILY?
It certainly can come with its challenges because the kids don’t know you, they don’t know if they can trust you, so it does take time to build that trust. So, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows from the get-go. It’s easier than you expect it to be to love on them.
WHAT IS A MOMENT YOU REFLECT ON FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE?
When we first got licensed, I don’t think we realized how much it was supporting the family as a whole, so we try to keep that in mind.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE CONSIDERING FOSTERING?
Do your research and make sure that you are emotionally prepared for everything that comes along. Everyone talks about when the kids go home, how it’s sad to not have them in your home anymore, but just any time the kids are upset. Being supportive of them — just to see your kids heartbroken is heartbreaking to you and to be a positive support to them despite the heartache.
HOW HAS FOSTERING CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
We are definitely on our toes a lot more. We didn’t have kids before, so life is definitely more adventurous on a daily basis.
WAS THERE ANYTHING YOU DIDN’T EXPECT THAT HAD A BIG IMPACT ON YOU?
You do go into knowing there’s going to be a focus on the kids, but you don’t sometimes realize how much you’ll be interacting and supporting the family as well.
Amber and Nathan fostered a baby girl during the pandemic and formed a bond with the girl’s mother when she needed it most.
Amber and Nathan became certified to foster children in 2019, expecting to open their home to kids who needed love, support, and a safe place to live. What they weren’t expecting was the mentorship they would offer to parents who hoped to reunify with their children someday.
The couple’s first foster was a baby girl who lived with them for about six months before she reunified with her mother. Outside of Child Protective Services, Amber said the mother lacked the support she needed to be able to reunify with her daughter.
“Still to this day, we babysit when mom works,” Amber said. “They come to family and holiday gatherings with us. We are like an extended family for them. It’s good for the kids too that they don’t have to lose out on those they love and can remain in their life.
“I guess the overall experience was just learning that foster care isn’t just about caring for and supporting the children, it’s about supporting the parents or family members as well.”
The baby was a welcome addition to the otherwise childless household and it was easy for the couple to love a child who wasn’t their own.
“Honestly, the bond was pretty immediate,” she said. “It actually comes a lot easier than you expect it to.”
Since then, Amber and Nathan have fostered a brother and sister. The boy, who was 1-year-old when he first came to them, is still in their care.
Fostering licenses are only valid for two years. Amber and Nathan are coming to the end of their license and fully intend to recertify.
-----------------
Q/A
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING WITH THE FOSTER PROGRAM?
Two years
HOW MANY CHILDREN HAVE YOU FOSTERED?
Three children, including one infant and one sibling pair.
WHY DID YOU BECOME A FOSTER PARENT?
Adoption is something that I’ve always been interested in since I was a teenager. Adoption was something my husband and I always discussed and it worked out that the timing seemed right to us. We have the home for it, we have the ability and space so why would we not open our home to those that need it?
WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING PART OF FOSTERING?
Seeing the positive changes, not only in the kids but in their family as a whole.
WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING?
Always be prepared for the unexpected. Things are always changing from day to day. Each case is different and they’re always evolving depending on how the kids are doing and how the parents are doing.
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO WELCOME A NEW MEMBER TO YOUR FAMILY?
It certainly can come with its challenges because the kids don’t know you, they don’t know if they can trust you, so it does take time to build that trust. So, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows from the get-go. It’s easier than you expect it to be to love on them.
WHAT IS A MOMENT YOU REFLECT ON FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE?
When we first got licensed, I don’t think we realized how much it was supporting the family as a whole, so we try to keep that in mind.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE CONSIDERING FOSTERING?
Do your research and make sure that you are emotionally prepared for everything that comes along. Everyone talks about when the kids go home, how it’s sad to not have them in your home anymore, but just any time the kids are upset. Being supportive of them — just to see your kids heartbroken is heartbreaking to you and to be a positive support to them despite the heartache.
HOW HAS FOSTERING CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
We are definitely on our toes a lot more. We didn’t have kids before, so life is definitely more adventurous on a daily basis.
WAS THERE ANYTHING YOU DIDN’T EXPECT THAT HAD A BIG IMPACT ON YOU?
You do go into knowing there’s going to be a focus on the kids, but you don’t sometimes realize how much you’ll be interacting and supporting the family as well.