Pickens Adoptive Mom Shares Her Heart

You may not feel called to be an adoptive or foster parent, but you SHOULD be their village.

Can I be honest with you? My village was actually larger BEFORE the adoption. Yep. Sometimes it's hard to be the friend of a new adoptive/foster parent. We have to say no to things A LOT. Parenting becomes even more intense than before. Routines are the best way for us all to survive, so boundaries become firm and non-negotiable.

And sometimes those are hard things to understand outside looking in. I get that.

But, I encourage you to find a way to be the village for an adoptive or foster mom or dad in your life because I GUARANTEE that they are wishing they had one, wishing that a village was

--praying for them daily because they are having a hard time even groaning to God in the midst of stress

--inviting them to join in and being okay with months or years worth of no's but not giving up

--checking in on them with a quick message

--dropping off paper plates, a casserole, hand-me-down clothes, a loaf of bread, a Starbucks gift card, a note at their front door without expecting them to answer

--learning alongside of them about trauma and children from hard places and orphans and the foster system and standing up as advocates as well

--rising up in the church to make sure these families doing ministry in their homes are supported

--recognizing that foster/adoptive parents are not at all saints or super heroes or special in any way

--cheering on their families and celebrating every small win

It's THIS kind of village that will change the future of lots of children and their families.

Guest Blogger: Pickens Mama that adopted from foster care