Many of the descriptions used for foster children are negative, so we wanted to find some positive traits that will serve to inspire current and former foster children to cultivate and use them to create bright futures for themselves. This week, we are focusing on compassionate and great counselors.
Foster children are compassionate - One of the most important skills learned by foster children is compassion. Not only do they use their own experiences to put themselves into the shoes of others in their situation, but they learn compassion for people in situations they have not experienced, because they are able to realize how that situation would make THEM feel.
Foster children are great counselors - When children have lived their whole lives feeling unheard, they tend to grow up to LISTEN to others and try to give others a voice. They listen to problems without trying to fix things, in most cases, which makes them great friends and counselors.
Being listened to and being heard is an experience that doesn't happen terribly often. To listen compassionately or nonjudgmentally to another person - not to get too heavy about it - but I once heard somebody say that was a form of real prayer.
- Gabriel Byrne
We hope you enjoyed Positive Things About Foster Kids. If you think of a trait we missed, please let us know. We will add it to future lists!