Issue link: https://fredparent.uberflip.com/i/507123
www.FredParent.NET • • • • 15 • • • • • • • 15 • • 15 Alexandria Gryder is a freelance writer and blog- ger who studied English and Film at the University of Mississippi. Her work has appeared in The Daily Mississippian, The View from Ventress Newsletter and Emerge the Magazine. Annie and Joseph Faulk want to help children transition, but they explained that it can be difficult to bring kids into a new and unknown environment. "They are often very mad and sad that they have lost their parents and that things have changed," Annie Faulk said. However, the couple quickly expressed that fostering is a worthwhile endeavor and there is always a need for foster families. They said the emotional attachments they create with the kids are nearly impossible to prevent. "It's an emotional rollercoaster. We had a teen- ager once, and I pray every day that her life is the best that it can be for her," Annie Faulk said. "We really do want the [biological] parents to fix their problems and get their kids back, but it's hard to not become attached." The Faulks explained that most foster kids do not get adopted, but if the opportunity to adopt presented itself, they would adopt the children they foster themselves. That opportunity became a reality in 2014 when they were able to adopt their daughter, Abby, and their sons, Grayson and Matthew. Annie Faulk explained they were able to become an instant family then. "We got Abigail when she was 3 weeks old, and she's in the "Terrible Twos" stage now," Annie said, laughing. "She's a little stubborn." brothers Grayson and Matthew were wary when they arrived at the Faulk's home, and Annie and Joseph explained the bond between them is strong. "Grayson loves to play, and he's very passionate and protective of Matthew," they said. "Matthew is very shy, and he had a hard time opening up to us." The couple agrees that fostering and adopting their children has been the most rewarding expe- rience of their lives. Annie Faulk explained that getting her children to trust her has been her greatest achievement as a parent. "It's a rollercoaster. I've said that before," she said, "but it's the best rollercoaster that I've ever been on." Rappahannock Area Foster Families Team is a program with the Spotsylvania Department of Social Services. According to its website, its mission is to recruit, train, approve, and support foster, adoptive, and resource parents who can provide safe and loving homes for foster children. If you're interested in learning more about fostering, to RAFFT at 540-507-7898. "Yes, taking a bath without me asking is a great Mother's Day gift. Turning the water off would make it even better."