By Jill Rippy Did you know there is an organization that can assist foster children with obtaining free braces? I fostered a youth who was able to...
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By Mary Gemmer, Foster Mother I sat in a school gym tonight feeling so out of place. I felt like I didn’t belong there. After a really rough...
By Jill Rippy The system is broken because humans manage it; don’t use this as an excuse to quit. You knew it was broken way before its attempt...
By Mike Rippy When my wife and I started fostering, I admit, I was somewhat reluctant. We learned pretty quickly that we were not made to foster...
By Jill Rippy Teens tend to be the most feared population of foster children. Without a doubt, the majority of the calls and messages I receive from...
By: Jill Rippy Foster parents tell me quite often they cannot afford to take their family on vacation. Yes, my dear. Yes, you can. Spend your money...
Guest Author: Sarah Michaels I don’t think I could ever accurately find the words to sum up this picture. It’s pure joy and complete pain all in one...
I’m over it…
By Jill Rippy Yes, it’s true. Do you know that teachers are the next best home if a child can’t be placed with relatives...
By Jill Rippy Update: Clearwater Marine Aquarium now offers FREE admission for children in foster care. Just bring your placement letter. If you are...
To One of the Great Loves of my Life, I was your first Mom…the only one you knew for the first year of your life. You were brought to my home a...
Remember the family resort in the original Dirty Dancing? Remember the beautiful, scenery, family activities and secret dirty dancing rendezvous...
You know it…that really stupid policy that says we can’t homeschool our foster kids. We’ve seen the online battles between foster...
August is here! School is starting and electricity is in the air with children buying new backpacks, new clothes and all the necessary school...
Thank you to Indy Aerial Views LLC for the fantastic aerial photos featured in this article. This website may contain affiliate links. Traveling with...
The Frugal Family was born through a foster support group. With a desire to share great deals with one another, a small group of foster parents made...
Inspired by many who have experienced life in foster care. Dear Foster Parent, The day I was taken from my home was the worst day...
The costs associated with traveling to Disney World are enough to make any parent shutter. Thinking about the cost for traveling to Disney with...
Traveling with a large family doesn’t have to break the bank. This Travel on a Budget is in the heart of the breathtaking Wisconsin...
Dear Teacher, Tomorrow, I will put my daughter on a bus and send her off to an exciting new school year. 2nd grade is a year I honestly never really...
So, vacation has come to an end and we are back in reality again. The trek to and from Navarre, Florida with our crew of 8 plus 2 grandparents...
To have a large family means living a frugal life. For our family, we live frugally throughout the year, which allows us to have a more than...
Scary, emotional, unpredictable, scheming, hormone driven, false accusation making, window jumping runaways…who could I possibly be referring to...
Disclaimer: The following information is based on Indiana DCS policy and my personal experiences…but don’t let that stop you. Read...
Many years ago I sat on the deck of a beach house with my step-brother. We were enjoying an adult beverage, watching the sunset and catching up...
Don’t pity my foster children. They don’t need it. Oh, yes, there was a time when I pitied them, but that was short lived. I...
If you want to evoke the passion of a quality foster parent, please spew the phrase, “Foster parents are only in it for the money.” This short...
Making the choice to foster comes with many fears. Fostering isn’t decided upon lightly. Fear is natural when considering fostering. By far...
In a previous article, THOSE CRAPPY DCS CASE WORKERS, I shared some insights into the job of a case worker. I am not naïve to think that though their...
Being a foster parent for a number of years now, I have run into the good, the bad and the ugly regarding DCS Case Workers. My complaints have been...
I hear it time and time again. “I really admire you.” “I could never be a foster parent.” “I don’t know how you do it.” “I wouldn’t be able to give...