During the month of September, we are re-releasing your favorite episodes of all time. Listen along and find answers to your common questions. Whether or not you have heard these episodes before, we are excited for you to be encouraged, equipped, and find hope. You don’t have to journey alone!
It’s not as common that we get to hear the perspective and experience of biological parents in the foster care community, but it’s such an important perspective for us to hear and understand.
My guest, Ashley, found herself caught in addiction after being exposed to narcotic painkillers during a hospital stay for several clots in her brain. When her drug use spiraled out of control, it led to her son being removed from her custody and put into foster care. Ashley’s story is one of brokenness but also one of redemption.
In this episode, you’ll hear about the circumstances that can lead to a child being removed, the unique perspective of a birth parent, the complexity of addiction, and the important role foster parents can play.
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TAKEAWAYS FROM TODAY’S CONVERSATION:
1. Birth parents need empathy and understanding.
As challenging as it can be, we need to remember that everyone has a story. Ashley encourages us to find a place of empathy and put ourselves in the shoes of birth parents. No one dreams of the day they will be so addicted to substances that they neglect their children. But sadly, many of our vulnerable parents are caught in this hopeless trap. Addiction is a disease that affects both the user and their entire family.
“The addiction overpowered all my instincts. I felt trapped. I didn’t know how to get out. I didn’t know what to do. I thought I was the only one.”
2. We have an opportunity to show love.
Addiction doesn’t have to be the end of the story, and in many cases, it’s not! With the love and support of others, it’s possible to find healing. As foster parents, we are in a unique position to show love and support for the parents of the children in our care. We can do this by praying for them, documenting and sharing big and small milestone in their child’s life, inviting them to celebrations when appropriate, helping them access resources, and more.
“They really tried not just to help my child but to also be there for me. I felt really blessed to have foster parents who wanted to have interactions with me. They were my image of love.”
3. Redemption is possible!
The story in today’s episode is just one example of how even through seemingly hopeless circumstances, redemption is possible. Brokenness does not have to be the end of the story. It’s true that trust takes time to rebuild, but healing is possible. Whatever our role is in the foster care community, we get to be on the frontlines to see this happen every day. If you are feeling hopeless today, our hope is that you would find a glimmer of hope through Ashley’s story.
“No matter how far you go, you can be restored. Any situation is redeemable.”
Meet Our Guest
Ashley was caught in the cycle of addiction for over six years after a hospital stay for a blood clot. As a result of her addiction, her son was removed from her care and placed into foster care. After 2 years in the system, Ashley and her son were reunified and she is now a passionate advocate for foster care. Today, her life looks completely different. She has been sober for longer than she was caught in addiction, has received her college degree, and is working on a second one. She is married to Joshua and lives in Florida.
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