Our first FPA meeting

We went to our first FPA (Foster Parent Association) meeting last night. We met several foster parents -all of whom seemed nice. Many of the stories about children that were placed with them were sad. A couple of families have multiple siblings placed among at least two families.

I just don't get it, why does the county/state continue to let these people continue to have children only for them to end up in the system. This one woman has had 5 or 6 children, all of whom have been adopted except for one. I just don't get that...

Many of the foster parents looked at us as if we were oh "so green" to the fostering world. And while we are in many ways -in many ways we are not. Having had a family member placed within our family for 15 mths we are very aware of what to expect yet so unaware at the same time. We now have very limited contact with this family member that had been placed within our family and our hearts are still filled with sadness. However, no one can take away our prayers for this child....

We shared some of our experience with this family member after asked to do so at this meeting. I don't know if they could really understand as no one said they has experienced this type of kinship placement. I know they have all felt loss and pain but somehow to me it seems different. At least it seems that way to me today when we do not have a child placed with us but I am sure I will be singing to a different beat in the future.