Those of you who have experience in foster care, how can the rest of us be good friends/partners? [x-post from r/AskMen]

I have not started foster care yet, I’m in training now and the plan is to be certified by June. But I just actually thought about the fact that other than my husband and I the only people (we know) we can leave our foster children with for any period of time are my parents. We can leave them with respite foster care workers but those are strangers. I had a hard enough time leaving our foster dog with a stranger! In my county anyone you have watching the foster child has to be a certified foster care provider, or has to complete 2 training classes and a background check. It’s about 4 hours of training and all of it is free, but my brother has 3 small kids and doesn’t seem to want to take the classes despite offering to watch if needed. So my point: if you really want to help, especially with small children, look into what you have to do to be a babysitter if they need it. Even if it’s so they can get a coffee or go to the grocery store without kids in tow!

/r/fosterit Thread