Supporting a Family Through Their First Christmas

We asked a handful of our Project 1.27 families things they would like their Support Team to know for their first Christmas as foster parents.

• Please ask us how we’re doing! After the first couple of months as foster parents, people stopped initiating conversation with us about fostering. I don’t know if it’s because we’re positive people, but we still like and need to talk about how things are going in our lives.
• We may need some “quiet” time as a family. We love having our friends and family include our children in playdates and activities. Since the holidays tend to bring up memories and sometimes painful emotions for foster children we might want to withdrawal a little from festivities to give them the time and space to process. It would be helpful for our Support Team to check in with us about getting together, but not have expectations for our involvement.
• Too much sugar isn’t just fun and games for our kids. Please check with us before giving our foster child sugary treats. Sometimes too much sugar can lead to them becoming dysregulated. Excitement, activity, and the effects of sugar can lead to feeling overstimulated, which then results in a meltdown. Protein snacks are our friends!
• Our challenges don’t go away over the holidays. While other families are decorating trees and visiting Santa at the mall, I still have questions circling in my head about whether or not my foster child is attaching to me. I’m trying to learn how to manage my emotions when my child is throwing a tantrum. On top of it all, I’m trying to figure out how I can be a blessing to her biological parents during the holiday season. Please understand that I may not experience the jolly holiday spirit as others think I “should” be. Please love me where I’m at and encourage me with empathy as you’re able.

Kids in foster care need you! Please consider financially supporting the recruiting and training of more families for kids in foster care through your tax-deductible gift to Project 1.27. We are so thankful for your faithful love and support of foster and adoptive children and families! Blessings for your Christmas as we celebrate One who first loved us and adopted us through our Savior.

For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will— to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. Ephesians 1:4-6
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By Megan Magel