[Dance-with-me]

I am a former foster parent - had one foster child for 2.5 years ('01-03), from a few days after her 13th birthday. I had planned to adopt, but her behavior became so manipulative and destructive that as much as it broke my heart, it finally became clear that she wasn't going to be able to stay with me.

A good friend of mine who was inspired by me to become a foster parent is now the proud [single!] parent of three 10 year-olds: One boy who was placed with her an an infant then briefly returned to his mother when he was 18m, and twins who were placed with her when her first son was back with his birth mom.

My state is just now beginning to recognize that placing LGBT youth with even the most well-meaning foster parents who are conservative Christian (as many in this state are) can result in extremely hurtful (either inadvertently or deliberately) environments for those kids, and so they are going to begin recruiting LGBT and ally families for those kids. Once my ex is out of my house and I've given my life the chance to settle down for a bit, I am going to consider doing this.