Liz & Ed’s Fostering Journey

When one door closed another one opened for Liz and Ed. After closing their family business, they had the excellent opportunity to try something new. For Liz, a former teaching assistant, fostering had always been a dream, and with their 16-year-old son growing more independent, the timing finally felt right.

In August 2024, they joined Flourish Fostering North and welcomed their first foster child. While they didn’t know exactly what to expect, the experience has been life-changing in ways they never imagined.

Why did you decide to become a foster parent?

Fostering was originally Liz’s idea. She used to work as a teaching assistant, and she often wished she could take some of the children home to care for them. She saw firsthand how children in foster care thrived in a loving environment, and that sparked her desire to foster. However, as a single parent at the time, it wasn’t the right moment.

After she and Ed closed their business last year, Liz brought it up again, saying, “Now that we don’t have the shop, maybe we could be foster parents.” Ed didn’t have any strong expectations at first, but they had the space, and Liz had such a caring nature that it felt like the right thing to do. They also considered their 16-year-old son and wanted to make sure there was enough of an age gap, so he still had his own space and independence without too much overlap.

What has surprised you about fostering?

Liz was amazed by how quickly she bonded with their foster child. The moment he arrived, she saw how withdrawn he was and immediately felt the urge to care for him.

“As soon as I read his profile, I knew he needed to be with us. But I didn’t expect to feel so strongly so quickly—I thought it would take time to develop that connection.”

For Ed, the biggest surprise was the amount of support available. He initially thought it would just be them and an occasional visit from a social worker. Instead, they’ve found a whole network of people through Flourish who are there to help. Liz also appreciates the wide range of training and support available.

“Flourish has been amazing—there’s so much training online, plus in-person sessions on different topics. And knowing there’s always someone at the other end of the phone if we need advice is invaluable.”

What moments have made you feel proud or emotional?

Liz admits she feels emotional every day. “He’s just incredible.” When he first arrived, he was nonverbal, but now he can say a dozen words and make seven different animal sounds. She gets emotional every time he reaches a new milestone. “The other day, he waved for the first time, and I just teared up.”

Both Liz and Ed have worked hard to help him come out of his shell. Ed recalls, “At first, he would just move toys from one side of the room to the other, but now he interacts and plays imaginatively.”

“Pretty much every day, he does something new that makes us smile. There hasn’t been just one emotional moment—there have been so many.”

Liz believes their foster child’s progress is proof that all he needed was the right environment to thrive. In just four months, the changes have been remarkable.

Has fostering changed your perception of mental health?

Liz had postnatal depression after her first daughter was born, so she knew that parenting wouldn’t always be filled with happiness. Wanting to help others as she had been helped during this time, she decided to train as a person-centred counsellor. This made her more self-aware and attuned to both her own emotions and those of others.

For Ed, fostering has been eye-opening. He hadn’t fully realized how deeply a child’s mental health is shaped by their early experiences. The training has helped him understand how past trauma—sometimes things a child might not even consciously remember—can impact them in profound ways.

He also acknowledges that fostering requires a different kind of mental energy compared to parenting. Because of this, he makes sure to take time for himself when needed. Liz and Ed support each other by taking short breaks throughout the day. “You’ve got to make time for yourself,” Ed says. “Liz goes out every day to see her daughter, and if she needs a breather, she’ll just say, ‘I need 15 minutes upstairs,’ and I’ll take over.”

Despite the challenges, they both agree they wouldn’t change a thing. Fostering has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and they’re loving every moment of it.

If you’re thinking about becoming a foster parent, please contact us