Think about what makes Christmas special for you. Is it trimming the tree with your kids? Opening gifts from loved ones, and having the pleasure of giving them things you selected with care for them? What about spending the day, relaxing with family and friends?  There are many things that make Christmas magical, but for foster kids, it can be a decidedly unmagical time of year.

Being a stranger in a strange land...

Can you imagine waking up on Christmas morning in a stranger’s home? Spending the day with people you don’t really know (or don’t know at all). What about gifts? Will you get any at all? And if you do, what do these people know about you – how can they give you anything you like when they don’t know anything about you? These kind of concerns are very real for foster kids, and it can make Christmas a very lonely, and very sad time for them.

Divided loyalties can cause a lot of pain…

Foster kids who come out of homes where there are no gifts, no beautifully decorated trees, no cookies and hot chocolate, might find the whole experience wonderful. But enjoying the pleasures of someone else’s home can also lead to feelings of guilt and shame, as kids process their own pleasure as a form of betrayal against their real parents. Conflicted kids who want to have fun and appreciate your family’s celebrations, but also struggle with feeling like their loyalties are divided can have a very hard time at Christmas.

No amount of tinsel and glitter hides the grief…

Foster parents may try very hard to give the foster children in their home the most magical Christmas possible, but in truth, there is only so far that effort will go. (No, we’re not bad-mouthing foster parents, we’re just acknowledging the truth). Children want to be with their loved ones at all ALL times, not just over the holiday season. But the pain and grief of that separation is often more keenly felt during special times. Thoughtful gifts and kindness can help a lot, but nothing will change the fact these children just want to go home to their families.

Foster kids need extra care and compassion during this time…

The holidays can be extremely challenging for kids in foster care, and also for their families. Being away from your loved ones, losing all of your family traditions, and being with strangers during this time, can be extremely hard. So foster kids need all the compassion and understanding possible, while they navigate this emotionally turbulent season. Join us next time for a few suggestions of things foster parent can do to make this holiday season easier for their foster kids, and themselves.

You should be with your children during the holidays…

Here at The Kronzek Firm, we believe very strongly that parents have a right to parent their children as they see fit, and that families belong together. So if CPS has contacted you in any way, for any reason, call us immediately at 866 766 5245. Don’t risk losing your kids this holiday season to government overreach and bureaucratic nonsense. Our skilled and experienced child abuse defense attorneys can help protect your rights, and your future.