Caregiver. A giver of care. Either way you express it, people who find themselves raising children and youth very often experience elevated feelings of love, family, and togetherness. And being a caregiver can deepen your experiences of community and purpose; it is a meaningful opportunity to extend your love, your parenting skills, and your family.
And there are times when caregiving can feel difficult, and the essence of love and togetherness seem so far away from you and your family. Raising children from other parents can be the most exhilarating experience while also being the most confounding experience. What do you do when being a giver of care has you feeling like you have nothing more to give?
You are not alone. As a former foster parent, I know what you are experiencing. I want to validate everything you are feeling and provide you the support to continue in this important role. Through my own experiences and in training and working with resource caregivers across the state, I have gathered perspectives, skills, and knowledge to share that I believe will encourage you in whatever caregiving role you are in.
In monthly posts that you can access below, I’ll be sharing bite-size tips to enhance your caregiving and build your own parenting resilience. From handling sibling rivalry and grappling with big emotions to understanding odd behavior in typically fun settings, or from building your self-care routine to exploring your own complicated feelings about providing care, we’ll delve into various topics to support you and your family on this rich journey of giving care to the children and youth of Colorado.
Check here monthly, or sign up for the CWTS newsletter to get the link to new tips as soon as they are shared.
If you’re looking for more in-depth courses for caregivers, start here.
If you’re looking for our Foster Parent Learning Exchange (a community of support), find topics here.
School Daze With school back in session, there are additional supports that children and youth in foster care can benefit from. All students can benefit from softer transitioning and preparatory support to ease out of summertime and in to schooltime, however, those who are in out-of-home placements
Love Them One Day at a Time: Letting Go of a Child or Youth As a former foster parent, I was inundated with advice and unsolicited reminders that my time with “Johnny” was to be short-lived and definitely temporary. In my head, I was aware of
Rituals versus Routines: Both Can Keep Your Home More Peaceful If you think routines and rituals are the same, you wouldn’t be alone. Although they share a sense of regularity—a routine is a sequence of actions regularly followed, and a ritual is a ceremony or act performed
Why Fostering Older Teens Matters So Much For those of us who have parented or actively supported the growth of a child or youth, we have all wanted about the same for them: to be self-sufficient, kind, and a positive contributor to their communities. We know
Spring Break: Nature and the Developing Brain “Go outside!” “Go to the park!” “Go to the pool!” We have all been told these directives or said them ourselves. We know that being outside not only gives us space from our children but also offers them a greater
Acting Out! Understanding Seemingly Senseless Behavior in Teens When your teen is behaving in ways that are confusing or irrational, that is the time for you, as a caregiver, to slow yourself down to consider the logical reasons behind their behaviors. Many of our teen’s erratic
Minimizing the Impact of Sibling Rivalry Sibling rivalry is normal. But understanding its roots and how to minimize its negative impacts can both positively affect sibling relationships (and their family) now AND help prevent adult sibling estrangement later in life. Roots of Rivalry: Connection and “Power”
“We cannot selectively numb emotions. When we numb the painful emotions, we also numb the positive emotions.”—Brené Brown Emotions are a necessary part of being human. They help us stay aware of our environment, the people within our environment, and the impact of all of it