In this episode, Bennie shares her family’s powerful foster care journey—how she and her husband felt called to foster, the impact on their biological son, and the joys and challenges of opening their home. She emphasizes the importance of keeping siblings together, the ongoing need for foster parents (especially for older children and sibling groups), and the role of strong support systems in making fostering sustainable.

Bennie’s story highlights the resilience of children in care, the gradual growth of love, and the profound rewards of providing a safe, nurturing home. Her story is one that shows how love can overcome previously held notions of what you think you can handle; she also offers practical, compassionate advice for families considering fostering.

“It has been the most rewarding and fulfilling experience I’ve ever had the pleasure of doing. I would 110%, without a doubt, do it again. I call it The Dream. For me, it’s sitting outside with a cold glass of iced tea in hand, watching my three kids laugh, play, and live out their beautiful little lives. I would highly recommend it to anyone who's thinking about fostering.” –Bennie

What you will hear in this episode:

• Why Bennie and her husband chose to become foster parents
• How fostering affected their biological son’s life and perspective
• The most rewarding moments of fostering—watching children heal and thrive
• Challenges of supporting children who have experienced trauma
• The value of agency support, caseworkers, and foster parent community connections
• Advice for new foster parents: research, prepare, and set realistic expectations
• The urgent need for foster parents for sibling groups and older children
• Insights on bonding with children in care vs. biological children
• What surprised Bennie most about the licensing process
• Her hopes and dreams for her children and reflections on the rewards of fostering

Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction
00:27 – Bennie’s Family and Starting the Foster Journey
02:05 – Deciding to Foster: Influences and Hesitations
04:04 – Parenting Biological Children vs. Children in Care
06:43 – Helping Children Adjust to Placement Changes
08:32 – Most Rewarding Aspects of Fostering
09:41 – Biggest Challenges in Fostering
11:45 – Support Systems for Foster Families
12:58 – Advice for Prospective Foster Parents
14:11 – Current Needs in the Foster Care System
15:18 – Importance of Keeping Siblings Together
17:21 – Reflections on Sibling Separation
19:58 – Foster Care Statistics and Call to Action
20:19 – Adjusting to New Family Routines
24:02 – Encouraging Emotional Expression
24:50 – Loving Children in Care vs. Biological Children
27:49 – Building Bonds and Overcoming Misconceptions
32:07 – Support from Other Foster Parents
33:00 – Most Surprising Aspects of Fostering
35:10 – Would You Do It Again?
36:24 – Openness and Flexibil

Episode Resources:

• Catch up on previous episodes of In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered here: https://chsnc.org/about/podcast/
• For more information about Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, visit: chsnc.org
• To be a guest on the podcast, email: inreallifepodcast@chsnc.org
• To learn more about foster care, visit: https://chsnc.org/adoption-and-foster-care/get-started/
• Let’s be friends! Follow us on social media:
  • Facebook: @chsnorthcarolina
  • Instagram: @chs_nc
  • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/chs-nc
  • YouTube: @chsnc