Navigating the journey of parenthood is challenging, but the role of a foster parent demands an extraordinary level of resilience. To foster a child means embracing them wholeheartedly, fully aware that there may come a day when the precious little one you’ve grown to love must leave your home.
Lily Thompson has faced this heartache firsthand. In a poignant post shared by the Facebook page Love What Matters, she opened up about saying goodbye to the baby girl who had been part of her family for six months. “We didn’t get the outcome we hoped for,” she reflects, “and by ‘didn’t get’ I mean I didn’t receive what I wished for.”
Lily recounts the bittersweet experience of fostering a baby girl, her first child in the program. Now, that baby is set to reunite with her sisters, and Lily is left wondering how this child, whom she has cherished, will adjust to her new surroundings. “I hope they recognize that she needs a soft pillow to feel at ease and sleep soundly at night,” she muses. “Otherwise, she’ll toss and turn, waking up frequently in search of comfort. I also wonder if they’ll discover that she enjoys fist bumps and blowing it up just before settling down for the night, which always makes her giggle.”
As she had been teaching the baby sign language, Lily feels a pang of sadness at the thought of not being able to continue those lessons. “If they ask, she’ll sign ‘please’ when she’s hungry and let them know when she’s done eating. I planned to teach her ‘thank you’ next,” she shares with a hint of nostalgia.
Explaining this difficult transition to her biological son proved challenging, especially as he struggled to understand why the baby was leaving. “But we’re her brothers,” he responds, highlighting the emotional complexity of the situation. Lily admits that, at this moment, she can’t find a silver lining. “I could see the confusion on his face; my attempt to explain fell flat. It just doesn’t add up—not to him, and honestly, not to me either.”
In her final moments with her foster daughter, Lily showers her with love, filling her sippy cup and giving her a soothing lavender bath. “I told her I loved her and made sure to give her a hug that made her squirm because she loves hugs but dislikes being held too tightly,” she writes. “I wonder how long it will take her new family to learn that.”
Her heartfelt words resonate deeply, and it’s understandable if Lily chose to step back from fostering after such a painful experience. “The heartbreak is overwhelming tonight. The tears just keep flowing,” she confesses. “This first loss is more excruciating than I ever anticipated, and it’s a pain I wouldn’t wish on anyone.”
Despite the emotional toll, Lily emphasizes that the love and joy foster parenting brings are worth the heartache. She expresses no regrets about her choice to foster and is ready to embrace the journey again. “So, when I see that familiar phone number appear on my caller ID, asking if we can open our hearts to another child in need, I already know my answer,” she affirms. “Absolutely. Let’s do this. Whether it’s for six months or forever, we’re in.”
In summary, Lily Thompson’s heartfelt story illustrates the profound emotional experience of saying goodbye as a foster parent. Despite the pain, she remains committed to fostering, willing to embrace the challenges and joys that come with loving a child, even if only for a limited time. For those interested in fostering or exploring family options, resources like this article on the IVF process can provide valuable insight, while you might also want to check out this home insemination kit for additional information.