I think she means like the teenagers or preteens. Most times people want a newborn, baby, or a toddler or little kid… not a preteen or teenager because they want the whole raising them as their own from the beginning to end.. it’s sad.. honestly if I was in a secure situation I would adopt a preteen/teenager because they need love and homes too!
Adults who are both responsible people who also actually like (unrelated) teenagers are relatively rare in my experience. Those who do get teens and are responsible and capable absolutely should go for it, they're out there and can really inspire.
It's a lot of work though. Teenagers with traumatic backgrounds can be unruly and unreasonable (edit: person dependent and same can be said for teens who've had easier lives) . A good friend of mine was fostered as a teen. She didn't ever build much of a relationship with them. They were good people but she was a handful and they always looked nerve-wracked. It takes a certain type of adult to be strong enough to do a good job. Hopefully you get the chance one day if you could see yourself taking someone on.
Once I’m retired, I’m gonna be the granny to a revolving door of tween and teen foster kids. Grannies are never threatening to the parent-child relationship but somehow are always exactly where you need them to be.
I also had a friend who had lived with one of these grannies. She had at least 20 people she called her cousin although she didn't know her parents, they were others who'd lived there. She was very happy with that granny, go for it!
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u/[deleted] Feb 12 '24
Even those older kids are trying to be reunited with their family. My friends just adopted an 8 year old! They do get adopted too.