Julia and Mark's story
Foster carers Julia and Mark reflect on their 11 years as short term foster carers in the North East as they approach retirement.
Here we share the story of short term foster carers Julia and Mark as they approach retirement and reflect on their fostering journey. They talk about their experiences of caring for 27 babies over the past 11 years.
Julia and Mark's story: over a decade of short-term fostering
Julia: It enabled me, I think, to be the person I always wanted to be.
Mark: If we've made a difference to a young person's life, then that is, that is something to behold, I think.
Julia: Now that we're at the end of our fostering journey oh, I just look back on it with such happiness.
Mark: It's an experience that will develop you as a person, you as a family, and for us, it was a very positive step to take.
Julia: We have had 27 babies through our care.
Mark:We have the photographs just pictured on the wall so we can remember their little faces, and we filled the three picture frames nine in each and that's why I know it's 27.
Julia: The memory that sticks mostly in my mind is going to the special care unit when a baby's been born. And just that outpouring of love for that child. Our fostering journey started in 2013.
Mark: We'd recently moved house. Our daughter had moved away. We felt that fostering would enable us to expand our family in a different sort of way.
Julia: We had a two year old little boy with autism who was just a delight. And then not long after him, we followed with a newborn baby. And then from then on, we just tended to get one newborn baby after another.
Mark: The length of time that each child with us did vary. Sometimes it was less than 12 months. Occasionally, it was as long as 18 months.
Julia: For the vast majority of the newborn babies, they were adopted.
Mark: We would have a period of transition with the new families.
Julia: It's one of those bittersweet moments where it's the hardest part of it, but actually it is equally the most joyful part of it, because that's what we want. We want forever families for for all these children. These past 11 years have just been the most fulfilling, I think, of our lives.
Mark: And if we've nurtured them, and if we've been able to put them on a path whereby they can feel attached and loved and know that they are loved, then that will do for me. So if you're thinking about fostering we would say, go for it,
Julia: Absolutely 100% one of the best things we've done in our lives. Just go for it.
Could you care for babies and children like short-term foster carers like Julia and Mark?
Find out more aboutbecoming a foster carer like Julia and Mark by completing aan enquiry. Did you know there are lots of different types of fostering to suit your lifestyle? Read about types of fostering or explore more foster carer stories from the Foster with North East community.
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