We are excited to publish a guest post by Veronica on our blog! Having personally experienced the foster care journey, Veronica brings a unique perspective and understanding of issues faced by those in the system. Her experiences within foster care positively impacted her life. Her desire is to share those impacts and lessons learned with others. She also wants to inspire foster parents to own their gifts of care and influence. She had amazing foster parents who did (continue to) shape the person she is today.

Veronica is a passionate learning and development consultant with a knack for inspiring growth and unleashing potential in others. When she isn’t developing training content or learning programs, she enjoys travel, movies, reading, and volunteering.

I was raised in the foster care system – from the age of 1.5 years old. My entry into the system was not the typical route…but that’s a story for another time. However, I can say that my experience, unlike most foster kids, was a good one. I’ve even said that if I had the choice to do it again, I would.

I was raised by two amazing older couples. Did they have their flaws? Of course, they did. But I will say I wouldn’t be the person I am today had I not experienced such wonderful people who prepared me well for adulthood.

So, enough about me…let’s get started…lol.

All I needed to know about fiscal (financial) responsibility and managing my home, I learned from my foster parents, specifically my second foster mother. She showed me the importance of paying my bills on time, having a good credit reputation, and managing a home. She prepared me for life on my own. She was a 65+ year old woman, with only a first-grade education. She was what society considered illiterate.

However, I watched her prepare and execute a plan that kept our home and finances running smoothly. She always said… “I can’t read/write, but I can count money.”….lol.

Whether you’re a biological or foster parent, I believe the most important gift you can give to your child is the ability to manage their life well. This doesn’t mean mistakes won’t be made. However, it does mean they will have the tools they need to learn and thrive from mistakes.

Higher education, or even trade school, is not always the path for many of us. I was blessed to be able to go to college after graduation. However, many of us must enter the workforce right after graduating high school. So having tools to manage finances will be the key to survival in the early stages of adulthood.

Don’t get me wrong, they will need these tools even if they do decide to go to college.

As their parent, you are a direct tool and resource from which they can glean and learn. Your finance planning and home management process doesn’t have to be perfect to be a good start for them.

You are more equipped than you realize.

Here are some things to consider as you prepare for (or continue) the conversation….

Here are some ideas to get us started:

“Money is safe with me.” Let them know they can trust themselves to do the best things with their money. It is okay to have and keep money. They get to decide how they spend their money. Share this truth with them. Depending on their age, provide examples of how they can responsibly spend and save their money.
“We do what we see.” Each month I saw my foster mother sit down with her daughter and pay her bills. She always paid her bills on time. She instilled that in me. So, let your child(ren) see you do the work. If you don’t have a current process – develop one. You can develop one with them. The main thing is that they see you practicing what you tell them.
“Seek and you will find.” If you aren’t well-versed in finance, there are resources out there to support you and your child(ren). Be sure to expose them to these resources. You can start with your local bank. Financial advisors are available to explain the ins and outs of financial management. They can show your child(ren) how to open accounts, manage accounts, etc. They can also assist with explaining investments and retirement strategies.

It’s never too early to start preparing…lol.
“Budgets are our friends.” Show them the importance of budgeting and managing their money. You don’t have to have a lot of money to begin managing it well. You and your child(ren) can set up savings goals and create games/activities to reach those goals. Our money needs a purpose other than to just leave our pockets. Help them set these intentions and direct their money towards them.
“Your reputation precedes you.” As a child, I watched my foster mother walk into the bank and get whatever amount of money she wanted. The president of the bank knew her, and she had a reputation of paying things back on time. Be sure to instill in your child(ren) the importance of a good financial reputation (e.g., creditworthiness, etc.). When you respect your money and your relationship with money, it shows. People know they can trust you to honor your word concerning money – whether it be repaying a loan or making a charitable donation. Let your child(ren) know it’s still cool to live within your means. Let them see you honoring your commitments as it relates to finances.

You’ve been blessed to not only provide a safe space, but also to impart knowledge into the beautiful souls you are choosing to raise. A significant part of this is showing them how to be financially responsible adults. No matter the length of time they are with you, you can make an impact that changes their lives forever.

The invaluable lessons I learned 30+ years ago, from my foster mother, have carried me up to this point in my life. I get to live life and still take care of home. It hasn’t been a perfect journey, but I have the tools I need to reset and get me back on track when needed.

Remember – you are a valuable, impactful part of your child’s life. They will remember the care you gave…the love you showed….and the lessons you shared. How will you be remembered?

How will you be remembered?

Thank you very much to Veronica for sharing her writing with us! We are always looking for written and audio guest posts. Want to contribute? Check out our story call-out or email emmy@justasspecial.com. We’re always open to hearing your ideas!

Starting to think about how to become a foster parent can be overwhelming. But you’re not alone! Helpful resources are available, such as our foster care resource database for the state of Colorado that was created in partnership with Cobbled Streets.

These resources address the challenges and triumphs foster families face every day while honoring diversity. Know a resource that should be included? Let us know!

Want to help out but becoming a foster parent isn’t the right decision for you right now? Consider donating or becoming a virtual volunteer with Just As Special! We’re always looking for aid from people who want to help support kids in care and foster families.