Where Does a Foster Child's Hope Come From?

Back in the 80’s an experiment was conducted using two groups of Norwegian Wharf Rats.  The Psychology Department at Duke University divided the rats up into two groups.  They placed the first group into a tank of water with no possible way of escape.  A spray was also attached above to keep the rats from turning over on their backs.   The rats were lowered into the tank and after approximately 16 minutes the last rat had drowned.

They continued the experiment again, but this time as each rat was about to drown, they were pulled from what was a certain death. Dried off, fed, and rejuvenated, these rats had for all intents and purposes…been rescued.

Once again the researchers did the experiment placing the same rats that had been rescued back into the tank.  But this time the rats were able to swim 36 hours before drowning.  The researchers came to the conclusion that the rats were able to last 36 hours because when they had been rescued, they had been given hope.

Once I got past the cruelty part, I came to understand that without hope there is no reason to survive. The researchers concluded that it had to be hope that caused the rats to keep swimming for over 35 hours.  They had hope that they would be rescued again.

Foster care is providing that hope.  A lifeline there for whatever time needed, insuring for the child a safe environment, in a world that is broken.  Providing hope for their future, because without hope there is not a future.

Many children brought into foster care have given up on hope.  As foster parents you will be providing the rescue for a child.  You will be the one that provides the hope.

A social worker called one day looking to see if we had room for a child on his caseload.  As the child was presented to us, it was apparent that this young man had given up.  He wasn’t functioning academically, had no friends and lashing out at everyone around him.  Every day for him was just one more day to get through.

For those that are fostering children make your time count.  Always keep in mind that you as the foster parent may only have a small window of time to make a difference.  What you do and say will have an impact, either positive or negative.  Changing the world one child at a time has incredible rewards.  It has been one of the most rewarding things that I have ever done.