From Foster to Forever

From Heartbreak to Hope: Martha's Foster and Adoption Stories

Martha Chaput drops some real talk with us today about the rollercoaster of fostering and adopting children. She shares her heart-wrenching experiences of loving and letting go, highlighting how important it is to make decisions centered on the child's well-being, even when it’s tough. We dive into the nitty-gritty of navigating the foster system, the moments of joy, the heartbreak, and the blessings that come from opening your heart to these kids. Martha’s candid reflections will make you laugh, cry, and rethink what family truly means. So grab your favorite snack, kick back, and join us for this heartfelt convo that’s all about love, resilience, and the beautiful messiness of family life!Takeaways:Martha Chaput shares her emotional journey through fostering and adoption, highlighting the challenges and joys, especially that come along with reunification.The conversation touches on the complexities of the foster care system and how it impacts both children and foster parents.Martha emphasizes the importance of being educated about the foster system before diving in, urging others to attend informational meetings.They discuss the heart-wrenching experiences of loving a child and then having to let them go, illustrating the emotional toll of fostering.Martha's story reveals how connections with biological families can shape the future for adopted children, stressing the value of maintaining those ties.The podcast dives into the idea of fostering older children and how that could be a different, yet rewarding experience for families.Fostering can be a wild ride, and Martha Chaput’s journey is no exception! In this laid-back yet deeply engaging episode, host Rachel Fulginiti and Martha dive into the nitty-gritty of foster parenting, sharing laughter, tears, and plenty of heartwarming stories. Martha kicks things off by sharing her initial motivations for fostering, which stem from a lifelong dream of having a big family. The chat quickly shifts to the bumps along the way, including the emotional rollercoaster of her first placements—experiences that left her with more questions than answers and a deeper understanding of the complexities of the foster care system. As the conversation flows, Martha opens up about the challenges of navigating visits with biological parents and the heartbreak of letting go of children she had grown to love. It’s not all sad, though; she also shares uplifting moments, too. Martha’s stories are filled with wit and warmth, making them relatable while shedding light on the real struggles foster parents face. She emphasizes the value of having a support system—mentors who get it and are there to guide you through the ups and downs. Towards the end, Martha offers some solid advice for those considering fostering. She encourages folks to take that first step, attend an orientation, and keep an open mind. The episode wraps up with a heartfelt reminder that, whether for a brief moment or a lifetime, fostering is all about making a difference in a child’s life. Martha’s journey is a testament to the love and resilience that foster families embody, and this episode is a must-listen for anyone intrigued by the foster care experience.Links referenced in this episode:fromfoster2forever.com@foster2foreverpodcast (Instagram)Fostering Families Today Magazine (10% off)Mentioned in this episode:10% OFF FOSTERING FAMILIES TODAY MAGFostering Families Today is a bi-monthly magazine distributed to foster, kinship and adoptive families across the country offering resources, expert opinions, practical advice and information on the latest evidence-based best practices for supporting children and youth who come from traumatic backgrounds. Use coupon code foster10 to receive 10% off your annual subscription at fosteringfamiliestoday dot com. That's fosteringfamiliestoday dot com. FFT

Adopting Six Kids: Buckle Up with Bonnie Johnston Butler

This week, we’re diving deep into the whirlwind journey of foster care and adoption with our guest, Bonnie Butler. She shares her story of going from contemplating stepping back from the foster system to unexpectedly adopting a sibling set of six kids—yeah, you heard that right, six! We talk about the real struggles and triumphs of blending families, navigating trauma, and finding emotional balance in the chaos. Bonnie’s insights on emotional intelligence for foster parents are gold, especially when dealing with the unique challenges that come with fostering traumatized children. So get ready for a heartfelt chat packed with wisdom, humor, and insight.Ever thought about adopting a whole sibling set? Bonnie Butler did, and she’s here to tell us all about it. In this episode, she shares her journey from a family of four to suddenly embracing six new faces—five girls and one boy. Talk about a plot twist! Bonnie’s storytelling is both humorous and heartfelt as she recounts the initial shock and the whirlwind of emotions that followed the unexpected call to adopt. The episode unpacks not just the logistical challenges of accommodating six kids, but also the emotional hurdles that come with fostering children from tumultuous backgrounds. Bonnie reflects on how her family navigated the chaos, learned to set boundaries, and ultimately transformed their lives into one big, messy, loving family. With a blend of laughter and empathy, she discusses the invaluable lessons learned along the way, emphasizing the importance of patience, understanding, and the magic of everyday moments that make the journey worthwhile. It’s a beautiful reminder that every family is unique, and sometimes, the most unconventional paths lead to the most incredible stories.Takeaways:The Universe truly has impeccable timing, as demonstrated by the unexpected call to adopt six kids.Navigating foster care and adoption can be a wild ride, filled with emotional highs and lows.Creating a loving and structured environment is essential for helping traumatized children heal.It's crucial for foster parents to focus on self-care and stress management while fostering.Links referenced in this episode:bonniebutlercoaching.combonnieanniebutlercoaching.comfromfostertoforever.comfoster2foreverpodcast.com

Growing Up in Foster Care, Trauma Recovery, and Finding Hope with Mary Fields

Mary Fields shares her deeply personal journey of resilience and healing on the podcast, emphasizing that kindness can be a powerful tool for change. Growing up in the foster care system, she faced immense challenges that could have turned her bitter, but instead, she found strength in the support of kind individuals along the way. As an author of the memoir "Forever and a Day," Mary opens up about her experiences, including the struggle of reconciling her past trauma with her present as a mother of four. In a candid conversation with host Rachel, they dive into how humor became a coping mechanism and the importance of recognizing the inner child's voice. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of survival, compassion, and the transformative power of kindness, reminding us all to seek and spread love wherever we can.Mary Fields shines a light on the often-overlooked realities of growing up in the foster care system in this heartfelt episode of Foster to Forever. Her conversation with host Rachel delves into her personal experiences, offering listeners a raw and unfiltered look at the challenges she faced while navigating a childhood filled with instability and trauma. Mary’s story is one of resilience, as she reflects on how kindness from others helped her survive a turbulent upbringing. From her early memories in foster homes to the complexities of her relationships with her biological parents, Mary’s narrative is both poignant and relatable. She emphasizes that while she could have become a bitter person, the compassion she received sparked a fire of hope within her, leading to her current role as a loving mother and author.Mary’s memoir, 'Forever and a Day', is not just a recounting of her past; it’s an invitation to understand the intricacies of trauma, healing, and the power of kindness in transforming lives. Throughout the episode, she discusses the misconceptions surrounding foster children, urging listeners to recognize that these kids are often victims of unfortunate circumstances rather than delinquents or bad kids. Mary’s reflections inspire a call to action, reminding us all that kindness can break cycles of negativity and foster a sense of belonging in those who need it most. As she navigates the challenges of motherhood, Mary shares how she strives to provide her children with the love and security she was denied, showing that healing is possible and that every child deserves a chance to thrive.In this episode, Mary Fields recounts her transformative journey from a troubled childhood in the foster care system to becoming a nurturing mother and an inspiring author. The conversation with Rachel is a powerful exploration of resilience, hope, and the profound impact of kindness. Mary's experiences highlight the harsh realities many children face while in foster care, yet her narrative is not solely about hardship; it’s about the healing power of compassion and connection. She reflects on her time in various foster homes, sharing both the struggles she endured and the moments of kindness that kept her spirit alive.As Mary discusses her memoir, 'Forever and a Day', she reveals the irony behind its title—a phrase her mother used in letters despite her failures as a parent. This duality underscores the themes of love, loss, and the journey toward self-acceptance that permeate her writing. The episode emphasizes the importance of advocating for foster children, challenging listeners to confront their biases and support the vulnerable. Mary’s insights on motherhood reveal her commitment to breaking the cycle of trauma by fostering an environment filled with love and understanding for her own children. This engaging conversation serves as a reminder that while the past can shape us, it does not define our future, and that kindness is a powerful tool for change.Takeaways: Mary shares her incredible journey from a challenging childhood in foster care to becoming a loving mother, highlighting the importance of kindness in healing. The episode emphasizes that not all foster care experiences are positive, and Mary candidly discusses her traumatic memories and the impact they had on her life. Mary reflects on her relationship with her inner child, recognizing the need to honor and nurture her past self as a way to heal and grow. Humor plays a vital role in coping with life's hardships, as Mary uses wit to navigate her experiences and find the lighter side of dark moments. Listeners are encouraged to recognize the power of kindness in their interactions, as Mary believes it can change lives and provide hope for those struggling. Mary's memoir, 'Forever and a Day', serves as a testament to resilience, showcasing how she reclaimed her narrative and found strength through her experiences.

Adopting an Older Child with TEDx Speaker Hilary Crowley

In this powerful and heart-opening conversation, I sit down with Hilary Crowley — foster-to-adopt mom, holistic health practitioner, energy healer, TEDx speaker, and author of The Power of Energy Medicine. Hilary shares the extraordinary story of how she followed intuition, courage, and connection all the way to her son — and the unexpected lessons she learned along the way.From discovering the importance of foster-care support groups before certification, to navigating shutdowns, attachment, sibling dynamics, and biological family relationships, Hilary offers deep insight into what it really means to love, advocate, and parent a child who has survived instability and trauma.We also explore the intersection of intuition and fostering, how to recognize an intuitive “yes,” and why older-child adoption is a powerful — and often overlooked — pathway to building a family.This episode is full of wisdom, warmth, and practical guidance for anyone considering fostering or adoption, anyone parenting a child with trauma, or anyone wanting to better understand the emotional landscape of the foster-to-adopt journey.In This Episode, We Discuss:✨ The Power of Support Groups: Why attending a foster-care support group before certification can completely shift your journey.How Hilary built trust with resource workers just by showing up.✨ The Foster-to-Adopt Origin StoryHilary’s longing for a second child and the friend who unexpectedly opened the door to fostering.Her first experiences learning the “lingo” and navigating parenting classes.✨ A Moment of Raw Honesty in Training Hilary’s emotional fear response during training — and the life-changing validation she received from a social worker.✨ Navigating the Needs of Two ChildrenHow fostering disrupted her biological son’s world — and how it ultimately expanded his compassion and resilience.✨ Understanding Shutdowns / Rock BrainWhat shutdowns looked like in real life, what triggered them, and the remarkable strategy Hilary used to help her son feel safe and reconnected. Why “parent as if this may never change” became essential guidance.✨ Biological Family RelationshipsNavigating shifting dynamics and relationships at home.How her sons are now building connections as a young adults.✨ Intuition, Energy, and AdoptionHow Hilary’s work as an energy healer informed her parenting and decision-making.What an intuitive “yes” really feels like — and how to differentiate intuition from fear.Why fostering aligns deeply with the true meaning of the word foster: to encourage, nourish, and support.✨ A Powerful Message for Prospective Foster ParentsWhy older-child adoption (6–10+) is filled with beauty, growth, and meaning — and why these children deserve more visibility and love. Key TakeawaysShowing up and becoming known in your foster community can change everything.Children with trauma need connection and safety more than perfection.Saying no to a placement can be an act of love and alignment.Intuition is a real, accessible tool for navigating uncertainty.Adoption is deeply transformative for the entire family.

Hey Fam! Quick Catch Up on the show!

Life's a wild ride, isn't it? Kind of like fostering and adopting, which is the heart and soul of our podcast, From Foster to Forever. We dive into the ups and downs of non-traditional families, sharing heartfelt stories that are anything but ordinary. In this latest episode, I pop in to give a shout-out after a little break from the mic. I know, I know, it’s been a minute, but hey, life (and surgery!) happens. Whether you’re a new listener or a seasoned vet, I’m stoked to have you here with me. I also take a moment to thank all you lovely folks who’ve been tuning in and leaving those golden five-star reviews. Seriously, they help get our stories out there for others who might need a little hope or support. Plus, I’m super excited to announce that I’ve joined the ranks of columnists at Fostering Families Today, a sweet publication all about foster care. My first piece drops online soon, where I discuss how my CrossFit journey helped me tackle the tough times during fostering. It’s all about that mental toughness, and trust me, it’s a game changer. So, stay tuned, because I’m gearing up for season three and I want to hear from you! Got a story to share or know someone who does? Hit me up. Let’s keep this conversation rolling and make some magic happen!Takeaways: This episode welcomes newcomers and reminds longtime listeners about the journey so far. Rachel expresses gratitude for every review, emphasizing their importance in spreading awareness. The podcast announces a new column by Rachel in Fostering Families Today Magazine, a must-read for foster care enthusiasts. Rachel discusses her first article, which ties her personal story of fostering-to-adopt, with her passion for CrossFit and mental toughness. Listeners are encouraged to share their own foster to adopt stories for potential podcast features. The episode wraps up with Rachel's summer wishes for health, safety, and joy for all listeners.