First time foster parent vs experienced foster parent

[deborahholland]

These poor precious little babies. My heart just hurts..I wouldn't have even thought about the smell of home and the need for something like a shoe to comfort a traumatized child. Thank you for your loving treatment.

[etcetc]

"... have the scents of their parents..."
I've never thought of that. ❤️

[skellbo]

I wasn't in real foster care, but had a family who knew my parents before their addiction and my dad being sent to prison, they took me and my sister in for a year. My sister and I would take turns wearing my dad's flannel the whole time. I'm so glad the mother didn't make us wash it for literal months. It still smelled like old spice and cherry cigars. Like my dad. We needed that, and her kindness I'll never forget. She understood that even if our dad hurt us that we still missed him so much. Now tbh, I miss her more than I miss either of my parents. I would give anything to be able to see her again and hope that she's proud of me.

[thebeloved]

You just helped me realize why I cried every time my blanket was washed when I went to a new foster home. Thank you for making these videos 💖

[lalenaferguson]

...Or do you want me wait? Damn that hit home. Every foster kid needs that. Much love to you.

[bbsclosetcreations]

The fact that in the 2nd example she gets down to the child's level ❤🥰

[miacooley]

I used to carry a blanket with me to every friend's house I ever spent the night at. One time a friend's mom took it while we were playing, washed it, and didn't get it back to me before we were told to go to bed. I cried for hours specifically about the smell being washed away. To make it worse she told me she did it because it smelled like urine. It likely smelled like cats and cigarette smoke, the smell of my childhood home. The fact that this memory sticks with me over a decade later says a lot.

[alissaschilling]

Had me sobbing 😭 I wish this was normalized, I remember growing up in foster homes or crisis nurseries they would wash my stuff immediately, and it always sucked that first night without my dads hat or my stuffed animals smelling normal. Thanks for posting this ❤

[KCsFunHouse]

As a former foster kid, now adult, thank you! Smell is the strongest scent tied to memory and some of us end up with very few things to truly call our own. Taking the time to ask can really make or break the entire experience for us. I’m glad you took time to understand that. You’re doing a great job and on behalf of foster kids thank you for opening your home to us.

[judyjimenez]

When my son was 4 his social worker threw away his new spider-man shoes. He is now 13 n still gets sad when he remembers. This is so sweet of u to actually CARE about the childs feelings. Ur amazing.

[jazelynnmarie]

I really appreciate this when I was young I was placed in foster care as a child I was terrified being placed in a strangers home. The day I was taken away from my home it still haunts me. But my foster mother who adopted me made me feel comfortable and gave us lots of love she fostered 75 kids throughout her time being a foster parent me and my sister are truly grateful for her.

[TheLexieWilson]

I’m a former social worker and this means a lot. As a child, I never entered foster care but I was often cared for by other people and they wouldn’t really care about my feelings when it came to my things.
When I became a social worker - I always tried to bring as much comfort to my kids as I could when I was transporting them to their new placement. And I would pray for foster parents like you. So thank you not only for doing this but for teaching other parents how to do the same. 🖤

[Mrs.WyldRice]

I was sent to my aunts briefly when I was a kid, while my mom was getting over a drug addition. I didn’t know her at all, and everything was so scary. I was so grateful for my stuffed animals. Without them I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through.
I’m almost 40 and those same stuffed animals are still in my room. Always with me.

This video made me tear up. Thank you for being so sensitive to your foster kids.

[AmateurAdvenurer]

As someone who has been in over 9 foster homes in the 10 years I was in foster care, Iam in tears over this simple act, I wish some people weren't in it for the check but to nurture the spirit of the child they're helping raise. Brought a bucket of tears to my eyes watching this.

[mousebexley]

As an adult who has past trauma from being put in Foster care, it brings me joy to see the care and consideration you show children who wind up in that situation.

[kenya]

This is so kind. After my mom died my grandmother insisted on washing everything and to this day when I smell my mom's blanket I feel a little sad. Because she didn't have to wash it she just wanted to.

[a.munroe]

My goals involve being stable enough to do this for someone.

[Isabella-czfp]

Giving kids autonomy over their bodies and own things is such a huge thing, especially in foster care. Kids are not given choice, they are dictated to over and over again about what is going to happen with them and their things. Setting the relationship right from the start, like what this wonderful lady is doing, is huge. It sets both you and the child up for success. It won’t be perfect, it won’t always be sweet and cute and it will break your heart every day what these kids go through, but if your able, do it.❤

[FearlessLeis]

Uh oh... that first mom would have been me.

[natashamiller]

As an ex-foster kid, thank you for being sensitive to that! And also, thank you for being real and using a trash bag in this.