A day in the life of Cheryl

Cheryl and Allan have been fostering for 30 years and, while it has been challenging, Cheryl says she wouldn’t change a thing.

How do your mornings usually start?

Morning greeting, bathroom, make your bed, get dressed for school, breakfast, help with lunches, pack school bag, help clean kitchen, car to school.

What takes up most of your day?

Phone calls—make appointments for medicals, dentist or school, respond to school forms, respond to Child Safety Officer and partners.

Clean house, washing, prep for meals, shopping, pay the bills.

You leave the house, and a child has forgotten something. What's it most likely to be?

Lunch, library book, or homework.

What is your least favourite type of homework?

Maths.

What’s your favourite thing to do when you have free time?

Garden plants on the deck, knitting, cooking, having a cuppa with a friend, foot spa, and nails.

How did you feel when the child/children in your care arrived to stay with you?

If they have stayed before, it’s happy days. If it’s a new placement or a young person that’s new to being in care, it’s a challenge—one I don’t mind. Lots to consider before we say yes to a new placement, including, ‘How will this affect the young ones that are already here?’.

What is the child/children in your care’s greatest strengths or skills?

Willing to learn, following safety rules, some play, sport or dance, while others prefer games.

What are some of the ways you keep the kids connected to family or culture?

If possible, connect with an organisation that know connections to family or culture. Events that refer to their community, e.g. NAIDOC. Where possible, communicate with family members. If allowed, join a group based on their cultural ways.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?

Make home and family safe so they can be at home—that’s where they belong.

If you could have 3 wishes for your child/children in care, what would they be?

• To be happy.
• Feel safe.
• Grow strong.

How would you sum up being a foster carer in one word or sentence?

Challenging at times.

If you could say one thing to encourage other people to become a carer like you, what would it be?

It’s quite a journey. Be a good listener.

Name one thing (or more) a child in your care has specifically thanked you for?

They don’t say thank you in words, just with a cuddle. Return to see you later in life.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I wouldn’t change a thing.