I named the main character in my first novel after my foster brother. I wanted him to know he was never temporary.

I was 10 years old when my parents decided to become foster parents. I was 28, married, and with a child of my own when they took their last placement.

Throughout those years, my parents adopted five of our foster siblings through the foster-to-adopt program.

But not every foster sibling stayed.

As a family, we mourned every placement’s end, whether a child was placed with a different foster family or with biological relatives. Saying goodbye was one thing. Not knowing whether their next home would be safe and loving made it much harder, especially since we had no control over the court’s decision.

Nathaniel was part of our first foster placement

Read the full article at BUSINESSINSIDER.COM