#fostercareawareness

[onceuponafosterkid]

This last month with my therapist we have been working on trauma. The older I get, the more I realize how much I am still affected by my childhood abuse. I get frustrated with myself for not being able to be “normal”. Little things like getting overstimulated at work because of noise, or people touching me. Having really intense episodes of depression on a weekly basis. It feels like my brain is broken, like there’s something chemically and physically wrong with my brain. My therapist has brought up some really good points that I hope will help me be kinder to myself. First is that when people go through years of trauma, and have complex post traumatic stress disorder, there a chemical shift in the brain. Nobody goes through trauma and comes out the same as they were before or as people who haven’t been through that trauma. So it makes sense that I struggle with things, my brain is different, and instead of being angry with myself for something that wasn’t my fault, I’m learning how to adapt my life to my needs, which is difficult. The second thing is that I was 12 when I left that house. I’m 21 now. I tell myself that it’s been almost 10 years, I should be fine by now, I should’ve healed and learned how to let go of that pain. She said that those twelve years make up 57% of my life right now. The trauma didn’t end when I ended up I foster care. I’ve been on my own as an adult for 3% of my life, meaning I’ve only spent 3% of my life working towards healing from that 57% percent. It sounds silly to say that I should be fine when I hear the numbers. I know that healing doesn’t have an end, there is no maximum amount of healing you can do in your life because to heal is to grow, and to grow is to be alive. I will be healing for the rest of my life which sounds both exhausting and reassuring. I have the rest of my life to heal, I don’t have to, and I can’t do it all right now. I’ve been putting unrealistic expectations on myself and it’s been exhausting. So now I have to learn how to slow down and go at a pace that feels okay because that’s what it takes to truly heal. I can’t bully myself into feeling okay. It sounds stupid but I have to be gentle with myself and love myself while I do this. Maybe you needed that reminder too. Healing takes time and it takes patience. There’s no timeline or due date, it’s just a process and sometimes the process looks different at various points in your life and that’s okay. It’s supposed to. We’re going to get there one day.

[africstyleinitiatives]

Facebook memories..... from one of my previous kids in foster care 🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠 #fostercare #adoption #foster #fosterparents #fosterfamily #fosterlove #fostermom #thisisfostercare #fostercareawareness #fosteryouth #fosteringsaveslives #fostering #adoptionjourney #family #nonprofit #fostertoadopt #love #adopt #adoptdontshop #fostercareadoption #fosterkids #adoptionislove #children #fosterchildren #adoptionrocks #fosterparent #giveback #fosterparenting #community #adoptiveparents https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp2-MO3JUv_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hollymarlow]

Not long til my book reading and signing event at Aylesbury Library! Really looking forward to it! It feels appropriate that it falls during the overlap of #familyliteracyweek and #nationalstorytellingweek 📚 . #adoptionawareness #adoption #fostercare #fostercareawareness #kinshipcare #kinshipcareawareness #adoptionuk #adoptionsupport #therapeuticparenting #therapeuticparent #socialworker #socialwork #adoptionresources #adoptionstories #adoptioncommunity #kinshipcommunity #fostering #fosterparent #fosterfamily #teachingresources #socialworkresources #socialworkreadinglist #library #librarian #adoptionreadinglist #fostercareresources #fostercarereadinglist #books https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnz_PPoMMgK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[official-mddtspeaks]

“ Surviving out of spite.”

[stormyfayethechristianrunaway]

The Good Lord called home my Mama, Mrs. Ardelia Cunningham Swanson, 25 years ago today. 🕊

In her 92+ years of life here on Earth, I give her honor of being a faithful daughter, sister, friend, wife, and mother.

Also, she spent 40+ years of countless untold stories being a mother and grandmother to numerous children, from crying newborns to hardheaded teenagers.

Yeah, she was that woman in the neighborhood. 🏡

Her home was open to those whom God directed to her.

The one who, even the caseworkers showed up unannounced with a kid or two or three, for her care. 💞

Because they knew her home was safe and her hugs were warm and her kitchen table fed an army from that backyard garden.

So I'm asking my social media family and friends, in this closing month of May, for an hour or a day, to please change your profile photo or cover photo to represent Foster Care Awareness Month.

With Love Always, ❤️

#DaughterOfArdelia

May Is National Foster Care Month.

#NationalFosterCareMonth #FosterCareAwareness #FosterCareAdoption #FosterCare #FosterYouth #FosterKids #FosterChildren #FosterTeens #FosterSiblings #FosterParents #FosterFamilies #FosterMothers #FosterMoms #FosterFathers #FosterDads #FosterCareMonth #FosterCare

https://www.childwelfare.gov/fostercaremonth/

💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔

🗣🙋🏾‍♀️👥 Stormy Faye The Christian Runaway

Please consider subscribing to @stormyfaye and @stormy_faye or visiting my bio link (https://linktr.ee/stormyfaye).

My tip donations CashApp: $stormyfaye12 and my social links are there.

#StormyFayeTheChristianRunaway

#FaithForTheJourney

[dreamgreatdreams]

absolutely ❤️ this thought. #Repost @finallyfamilyhomes with @get_repost ・・・ The trauma of going through foster care and never finding a family can fill a child with heartbreak, a sense of rejection, and hopelessness... They need to be shown that there's somewhere it's safe to be softened. Then they may just go out and do the same... Making the world a little less cruel and heartless for others Repost @randomactscolorado . Love you, praying for you @lrknost . . . . . . . #ahopeandafuture #lrknost #childhoodtrauma #childrenareourfuture #childadvocate #bethedifference #bethechange #finallyfamilyhomes #positivemessage #fostercare #agingout #agedout #fostercareawareness #fostercareawarenessmonth #fostercareadoption #hopeforthefuture #hopeheals #dojustice #orphancare #youthhomelessness (at Beaverton, Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxsai-PBhfL/?igshid=f2dcqbkp1rh

[thetonycross]

‘As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen’ – Winnie the Pooh. Every child that comes to you in foster care has scars and baggage, it takes time, care, and a ton of love. Why not you? You’ll never regret it. . . . . . . #fostercare #fosterparents #fostermom #adoption #thisisfostercare #fostertoadopt #fostercareawareness #adoptionrocks #adoptionjourney #fosterlove #fosterfamily #adoptionislove #fosteringsaveslives #whynotyou #fosterflorida https://www.instagram.com/p/BuMCtOvHGFn/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1xjkgdkh5hh8w

[morganvegawrite]

♥︎ books featuring foster care ♥︎ . if you know me or have read my book SLEEPING AROUND, you may know I’ve always wanted to foster. I’ve wanted to be a safe, stable person and provide a safe, stable home for children going through the most unsafe, unstable experiences. . so read a book featuring foster care today. two of my faves are WATCH OVER ME by @nina_lacour and WHAT I CARRY by @jenlialongo. and of course, my book ♥︎ . #fostercare #fostercareawareness #yabooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #indieauthor #indieauthorsofinstagram #indieauthors #indieauthorsunited #indieauthorsofig #indieauthorsbeseen #indieauthorsupport #selfpublishedauthor #selfpublished #selfpublish #selfpub #selfpublishing #writersofinstagram #writingcommunity #writing #writer #writersofig #authorsofinstagram #author #authorlife #authorssupportingauthors #authorcommunity #booklove #book #bookish (at Virginia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgnQv1yrjVe/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[parentingpete]

I saw a “foster parents do it for the money” comment this morning. Fine. You know what, you’re right. The $0.64 per hour really makes the drama and the loss and the bottle washing and the driving all around and everything else totally worth it. It’s the money. Sure it is.

Here it is. My motivational #nationalfostercaremonth post.

Also, I got pooped on while writing this.

[tabrownwv]

#flashbackfriday to 2 years ago wearing my @chsofwv essential shirt we got for work 😁 #childwelfare #fostercare #fostercareawareness #adoption #adoptionagency https://www.instagram.com/p/CeERqurODoO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[onceuponafosterkid]

I moved in with my foster parents when I was 15. I don’t live with them anymore, but my apartment is five minutes away from their house and I still see them all the time. I don’t always vocalize to my foster mom when I’m struggling because I know she has a house full of kids to worry about, and I don’t want to burden her. I swear she has this sixth sense though, because whenever I start spiraling it’s like she knows. If it’s been a few days since we’ve talked, she’ll call me and check on me, or invite me over for dinner. She’s even driven over here to pick me up to run errands with them and get lunch, just us. Sometimes I look through our texts and it’s impossible to not see how much she loves me, just from those texts. The other day I finally told her and my foster dad a little bit about what I’ve been struggling with, and they just listened to me vent, and they reassured me, and gave me advice. I’m not her blood, but she knows me better than anyone and I think that’s how she always knows, even without me telling her. I don’t know how she does it, but I’m so grateful for both of them. I know that no matter how messy my life gets, I can always come home to them, no questions asked. This is what foster care is supposed to be. I moved out almost three years ago, but they still save my seat at the dinner table. They don’t adopt kids, they never wanted us to feel like some of us were better than others, and they can’t take all of us. In the 39 years they’ve been foster parents, they’ve raised over 300 kids, but they make sure that I know I will always have a place in their lives. So when I think about what love looks like, that’s what I picture, them.

[theadoptionoption]

Congratulations! . #Repost @foster4always --- Hasta La Vista Foster Care, I’ve been ADOPTED!!! We adopted Mikey on April 11th and feel so much relief and joy knowing that we’re his people. Adoption day photos to come later. #fostercare #fostercareawarenessmonth #fostercareawareness #fostercareadoption #fostercareadventures #lovemakesafamily #wearefamily #ohanameansfamily #adoption #adoptionjourney https://www.instagram.com/p/CdMKA5-Omv-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hollymarlow]

Lots of events coming up, and I'm still finalising the details for a few more. Let me know if you have an event coming up that you'd like me to speak at! Hollymarlow.com/events . #adoptionawareness #adoption #fostercare #fostercareawareness #kinshipcare #kinshipcareawareness #adoptionuk #adoptionsupport #therapeuticparenting #therapeuticparent #socialworker #socialwork #schoolsocialworker #adoptionresources #adoptionstories #adoptioncommunity #kinshipcommunity #fostering #fosterparent #fosterfamily #teachingresources #schoollibrarian #senco #socialworkresources #socialworkreadinglist #library #librarian #adoptionreadinglist #fostercareresources #fostercarereadinglist https://www.instagram.com/p/CnAjmfDsGxd/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[official-mddtspeaks]

“ The cycle ends with me “

[stormyfayethechristianrunaway]

The Good Lord called home my Mama, Mrs. Ardelia Cunningham Swanson, 24 years ago today.

In her 92+ years of life here on Earth, I give her honor of being a faithful daughter, sister, friend, wife, and mother.

Also, she spent 40+ years of countless untold stories being a mother and grandmother to numerous children, from crying newborns to hardheaded teenagers.

Yeah, she was that woman in the neighborhood.

Her home was open to those whom God directed to her.

The one who, even the caseworkers showed up unannounced with a kid or two or three, for her care. 💞

Because they knew her home was safe and her hugs were warm and her kitchen table fed an army from that backyard garden.

So I'm asking my social media family and friends, in this closing month of May, for an hour or a day, to please change your profile photo or cover photo to represent Foster Care Awareness Month.

With Love Always,

#DaughterOfArdelia

May Is National Foster Care Month.

https://www.childwelfare.gov/fostercaremonth/

💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔

🗣🙋🏾‍♀️👥

Follow ↪ @stormyfaye ↩

Stormy Faye The Christian Runaway

#StormyFayeTheChristianRunaway

https://www.stormyfaye.com/

#FaithForTheJourney

#NationalFosterCareMonth #FosterCareAwareness

#FosterCareAdoption

#FosterCare #FosterYouth

#FosterKids #FosterChildren

#FosterTeens #FosterSiblings

#FosterParents #FosterFamilies

#FosterMothers #FosterMoms

#FosterFathers #FosterDads

#FosterCareMonth #FosterCare

#Reposted #FYP #May27th2023

[hellaboujie]

On today’s very special episode of TBT: 3 years ago this weekend is when I premiered the latest version of From Foster Care to Fabulous at the Red House Arts Center featuring original music, lyrics, and book by me! This updated version also features a fantastic four piece band and went on to play a successful run at FringeNYC in August of 2016. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of this show! Photo by @genphotos . . . . #playwright #tbt #composer #lyricist #actor #musicalsmusicaltheatre #fostercare #fostercareawareness #fromfostercaretofabulous #redhousearts #newmusicals #orchestration #comedy #nyc #fringenyc #instagay #actorslife https://www.instagram.com/p/BqNkGAmBUsx/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=6lech42iu2m0