Points of View

We had our dear friends, Rachel and Matt, over tonight for dinner, and with them came their 3 kids (2 of which are newly placed foster children). As the years of their fostering have past, we have seen many sweet faces pass through their care.

As an educated adult, I can barely wrap my head around the foster parent gig that my friends have chosen. Andrew has tried to understand the process, too; however, we don't really explain it all that well. I just have told him as his playmates come and go through the Clarke house that Mattie and Rachel help take care of other people's kids when those people can't. Mattie and Rachel are these kids' mommy and daddy when they need them. He seems very accepting of this.

Tonight, I saw two very different points of view of this process. Long after dinner and playtime, it was time to clean up (after two 3 year olds, a 6 year old, and a 15 month old-Yeesh). The very verbal and smart 6 year old stops cleaning and asks me, "Why do you have kids?" Slightly taken aback, I paused to reflect on such a deep question. Before I could answer, she continued, "Do you foster them?" I said, "Nope. I don't foster them, but I am surely living the dream." What do I say to that?

About 5 minutes later, we all finished our clean-up efforts and joined Chris, Rachel, and Andrew in the kitchen. As we were saying our goodbyes, Andrew said to Rachel, "Thanks for getting some new kids."

Matt then turned to the 6 year old and said, "That's why they have kids. Because they are funny."

In Andrew's mind, having foster kids as your best friends means always getting to have new friends.


I like that. So, thanks Mattie and Rachel for getting some new kids. (Although we all know it's much more than that. )

:)
Anne