27/12/2023
For kids in foster care, the holidays can be tough. Visiting new houses and meeting new people…sometimes you are the only one that doesn’t know everybody. You aren’t with YOUR family. The traditions are different, the food is even different, and maybe the religion or culture is unfamiliar too! You overhear adults talking about you with comments like “she is so lucky” or “oh that’s wonderful”. You feel like you are expected to have fun and feel grateful.
You may love all the fun, the new kids to play with, the gifts you open, and the things that make the holiday feel magical. And also…
You don’t feel lucky and it’s hard to be grateful. You feel sad. You miss YOUR family. You wish your mom or dad or grandma was watching you open presents. It’s enough to make you feel all mixed up inside.
With the big excitement also comes big tears. Foster care is: allowing for both. Holding space for all of it. The holiday surprises, the joy we love to share with others and the hard stuff we keep to ourselves. Still learning over here.
