Last year, as I sat in church at Mother's Day, I was confused when they called all of the mothers to the front of the church to honor them with a gift. I wasn't sure if this included me. I had been caring for my foster son for over a year, but I knew I wasn't his biological mother, or even legally his mother. My confusion was compounded by the fact that our pastor had just finished speaking about how baby's know their mother's voice before they ever leave the womb, how mother's protect their babies while still in the womb, and love them before they are ever born. So, I asked, "Does this include me?", and I was assured that it did.
Since then, I have come to realize some things about being a foster mom. If you are putting healthy food on the table for your child, encouraging them to eat, giving them their bath each night, putting them in their pjs, reading them their bedtime stories, tucking them into bed, singing them lullabies as they drift off to sleep, you are Mom. If you are up with them in the middle of the night when they are sick, have had a bad dream, or scared from a thunderstorm, you are Mom. If you are getting them up in the morning, helping them get dressed, gently helping them comb through their tangled hair, making sure they brushed their teeth, have their backpack and homework, and get to school on time, you are Mom. If you are called to school when there is a problem, advocating for them so they succeed in school, helping them with their homework, sitting in meetings, scheduling and taking them to doctor's appointments, you are Mom. If you are putting a cool cloth on a fevered brow, kissing and tending to an injury, drying their tears and listening to their fears, you are Mom.
Whether you serve in this role for only short period, a few years, or it turns into forever, for now, in this moment, you have been entrusted to be their Mom. So, to Foster Mother's everywhere, All For Family would like to wish you a Happy Mother's Day!
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