Lucy Stevens - 28th April 2018
Hi, I’m Tracey. I’m from Suffolk. I’m a single mother to 3 adult sons and I’ve been fostering for 2 years.
Fostering was something I always wanted to do. I’d worked with troubled teens for most of my career and recognised that a warm, nurturing home could really have an impact on the lives of the most vulnerable.
I raised my own 3 sons to adulthood, and through work as a Behaviour Mentor at an Upper School, had been able to support teens,so I knew that I had plenty of relevant experience. Once my boys had flown the nest, there was nothing to hold me back. I talked at length with my sons and my boyfriend, who were all fully supportive, and went for it!
I think my heart has always been with teen boys and whilst I have fostered girls, it should come as no surprise that I now care for 2 teenage boys. The house is always full of noise and laughter – just the way I like it!
My sons and boyfriend play a really vital role in our fostering – they are good, solid male role models and we’re able to model positive, healthy relationships.
I think the really important qualities that you’d look for in a foster carer are warmth, an ability to nurture, to listen and communicate. You need to be resilient too. Undoubtedly, life becomes more complicated but the rewards of fostering are so precious. When you establish trust and a good relationship and start to see your child respond and grow in confidence, it’s a wonderful thing.
I’m so glad that with the support of my family and friends I’ve been able to foster. When you see glimmers of the difference you are making it’s such a good feeling. Of course, there are always storms to weather, as any parent will tell you, but it’s all worth it in the end.
As a single carer, my family and friends and other carers are really valuable to me. I get very good support from Eastern Fostering Services and their community of carers and this is really important for positive fostering experiences.
If you want to find out more about fostering, visit us at www.easternfosteringservices.com or come along to one of our events in Essex, Suffolk or Cambridgeshire.
Eastern Fostering Services - The small agency with a strong family feel
