Posts by tesla
Social Stories for Reunification: Helping Kids Understand Going Home
If you’ve spent any time in foster care circles, you’ve probably come across “social stories” before, usually the kind that help a child understand what it means to enter foster care. There are dozens of these floating around: stories for a child removed from mom, from dad, from both parents. They’re genuinely useful tools. But…
Read MoreGlobal Cuisine: Honduran Chayotes Maria
Chayote is a squash grown across southern Mexico and Central America. It is a great lower carb alternative to potatoes. The chayote in this chayotes Maria dish really allows the sauce and spices to shine through. What is chayote? Chayote is a variety of squash. It is green on the outside and a greenish-white on…
Read MoreMexican Chimichurri for Pizza
Accepting foster placements from different countries means learning a lot about different foods. I recently learned about a Mexican chimichurri that is specifically for pizza. Below is a recipe for this chimichurri that will change your pizza eating experience. What is Mexican Chimichurri? Mexican chimichurri is a sauce that is typically used for pizza. It…
Read More14 Questions to Ask Before Foster Placement
Before you accept a foster placement, there are SO many questions you may have rolling around in your head. Here are 14 of the questions my agency (or friends) suggested I ask prior to placement. Biological/ Previous Family Questions What can you tell me about biological family involvement? You will want to know this so…
Read MoreDIY Foster Care Welcome Basket
When a child enters foster care, they often lose SO much. A foster care welcome basket is a great way to welcome kids into the home and ensure they have some items of their own. In this post, I’ll show you the welcome baskets I made for my new foster teen and baby and what…
Read MoreFAQ: The Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Program
The Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) program refers to a subset of kids in foster care who come from other countries without a parent, guardian or any relationship with someone in the United States. When I told my friends I’ve decided to foster kids in the URM program, they had a lot of questions! Here are…
Read MoreBecoming a Licensed Foster Parent (in Colorado)
When considering whether to start the process of becoming a licensed foster parent, it can be important to know the timelines and processes for each step. This post discusses a general timeline and outlines the process (in Colorado). I chose to go through an agency (rather than county). Check out this post to explore the…
Read MoreThe Different Types of Foster Care: How to Choose Your Best Match
Like me, you may have been unaware that there are different types of foster care. This post helps to tease out the differences. Hopefully, it will help you (and me!) to make the best choice for your situation if you are considering foster care. Traditional Domestic Foster Care Traditional foster care supports children and families…
Read MoreHow to Make DIY Fidget Toys
Pop Its and Fidget Spinners have become all the rage recently, but they come with a hefty price tag. In this post, I discuss some homemade options for DIY fidget toys that have just as much success as those spendy fidgets. What is a Fidget Toy? A fidget toy is an item (not necessarily a…
Read MoreThe Ultimate Wish List for Foster Parents
Foster parenting requires a lot of “stuff”. This post discusses some of the wish list items foster parents and biological parents alike have found useful in their parenting journeys. You won’t find clothes, diapers, or other basics on this list. Why Develop a Wish List for Fostering? When I was first starting out on my…
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