Adoption, foster care, Children's Wi, live your version
At Every Turn > Foster Care > Live your version of your story
Patient Stories Feb 20, 2015

Live your version of your story

Betsy DuKatz, Foster and Adoptive Parent

Others will tell you their version of your story. In fact, many people feel very comfortable doing so without you even asking. Wouldn’t it be great if you could get everyone to tell your version of your story? We can always dream, right?

Without the ability to have others see with your eyes, think your thoughts, have your passion and feel with your heart, that will just not happen.

So why do we waste time and energy listening to the fictional version of our nonfiction best seller? Stay focused and true to what you are writing on the hearts and souls of all you touch, as you provide respite, foster or adopt. Think back to the start of your fostering journey and the reasons you began writing this amazing story. Are those reasons still not ringing true today? Have you listened to so many incorrect or negative versions of your story that you are starting to doubt and believe the fiction?

There is a saying about how you are the average of your five closest people. Do your five share your version of your story? Are they an anchor or a sail on your journey?

Be good to yourself, to your family and surround yourself with people who understand your version, who share your journey, who support or help you with your decisions.

We are here to sit and listen to your story. We are here to support and hold you up. We will not anchor you down with judgment or opinions not asked for. We understand this journey called fostering, and we know you need many sails for when the wind kicks up.

This is not meant to be a solo journey – leave that to the Amelia Earharts of this world. We are a strong, wise, loving family of amazing people who make differences every day in the lives of children! Stay true to your version of your story!

At any given time, as many as 7,000 children are in foster care in Wisconsin. As the largest provider of foster care programming in the state, Children’s Wisconsin offers high levels of support to foster and adoptive families.  View more articles from Betsy DuKatz

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