We first heard about By the Bridge on our local radio station.
Fostering was something we had considered since the birth of our twin girls and had always felt that we could somehow help before we had our own. We had a long period of trying to conceive before my wife finally fell pregnant and soon realised we were lucky to have two healthy children of our own.
Fostering was something we had always discussed, if we would have continued to struggled to conceive, so it was always in the back of our minds.
Soon enough we realised that we wanted to give another child a chance to have the same opportunities and safety that our own girls have.
When we first applied to By the Bridge, I remember being nervous and apprehensive. We had read a lot of information online (not from By the Bridge), which, unfortunately, didn’t paint a particularly great picture of fostering. There was also the worry of how our children would react or be influenced by another child in our home.
However, when we started the Therapeutic workshops with Gary (By the Bridge Psychotherapist), we spoke openly as a group, voicing our concerns and potential obstacles we felt we may face. Gary helped us to understand that it’s okay to have boundaries and go through all of the usual emotions that us humans have. He taught us how to work with them, recognise our trigger points to ultimately become better parents.
My wife excelled in the Therapeutic training, as did I, and we have implemented most of the techniques taught to us, even with our own children. Gary had given us the tools to keep control, which is probably the most important thing that we learnt. Being able to handle situations calmly, as well as manage your own feelings/emotions, is key to keeping a safe environment for everyone.
The more workshops we attended, the more we grew as a family. Just like that, we ceased to feel nervous or apprehensive, instead, feeling in control and knowing exactly why were doing this.
I get told daily when people talk to us about Fostering, “I couldn’t do that!” and when we first started this journey, I probably would have said the same, however now I can confidently tell you that we foster because we can!
We have recently welcomed our first child into our home and it has been a great experience. It’s made our whole Fostering journey worth it, yet with everything in life, there are ups and downs. Nonetheless, rest assured that with this organisation, you will never be on your journey alone.
If it wasn’t for By the Bridge and Gary’s Therapeutic workshops, we don’t know if we would have realised our full potential.
Thank you By the Bridge!
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