Foster Poem

At our meeting last night, one of the foster moms said that she read a great poem and that we should use it for recruiting new fosters.  I've read lots of these things and usually I find them to be cheesy and trite.  This one actually brought tears to my eyes!  So read it and consider opening your heart to a poor sole that has no where else to go.

Dear Foster Mom
There I sat, alone and afraid,
You got a call and came right to my aid.
You bundled me up with blankets and love.
And, when I needed it most, you gave me a hug.
I learned that the world was not all that scary and cold.
That sometimes there is someone to have and to hold.
You taught me what love is, you helped me to mend.
You loved me and healed me and became my first friend.
And just when I thought you'd done all you do,
There came along not one new lesson, but two.
First you said, "Sweetheart, you're ready to go.
I've done all I can, and you've learned all I know."
Then you bundled me up with a blanket and kiss.
Along came a new family, they even have kids!
They took me to their home, forever to stay.
At first I thought you sent me away.
Then that second lesson became perfectly clear.
No matter how far, you will always be near.
And so, Foster Mom, you know I've moved on.
I have a new home, with toys and a lawn.
But I'll never forget what I learned that first day.
You never really give your fosters away.
You gave me these thoughts to remember you by.
We may never meet again, and now I know why.
You'll remember I lived with you for a time.
I may not be yours, but you'll always be mine.

by Barb Lieberman

This is especially true to me at the moment dealing with Sasha, the pregnant cat.  She was so afraid coming here, but last night she started showing signs of wanting to get to know me and so I held out canned food and she came and ate it while I petted her.  She'd go "munch, munch, growl.....  munch, munch, growl....hiss, munch"  This morning she's meowing and asking for attention.  Hopefully she'll fully trust me before the babies come. It'll make life much easier for both of us.  Right now I can't even scoop her box, but that should be changing very soon here.  The good news is that she loves her new bed for having the kittens in and spends all of her time in it.  It has a very soft blanket folded over a few times to make a pillow.  It's probably been a long time since she's known any comfort or security.  All cats come to see my house as a good place to be.