Małgorzata and Artur
“When you look into those joyful eyes…”
The thought of becoming a foster family had been maturing within us for a long time. Thoughts kept running through our minds: what if we could not cope with the task, if we did not have enough patience, if we did not know how to help, or even what if we could not learn to love the child. These reflections lasted about three years. During that time, it turned out that our friends were a foster family for a boy while raising their own children. We also met other foster families. And we decided: “we will become foster parents.”
On the day we contacted the local PCPR, after completing the application and having an initial conversation, we learned that a six-week-old boy needed help. He had to quickly find a home where someone would care for him. Once again, doubts arose: such a tiny baby, what about work, so suddenly—were we ready to turn our lives upside down, and what if we ran out of patience? Exactly one week later, when we opened the door and saw the little one, we knew that our doubts were nothing compared with our desire to give him warmth, a sense of security, happiness and love.
As we write this, the little boy is already six months old. Every day after waking up, we look into joyful eyes and see the big smile on his face welcoming us.
Every day we see how he is developing, how the sad, terrified newborn who came to us is changing into a happy boy. We feel how much satisfaction and a sense of purpose caring for him gives us, showing him different things and, in the future perhaps, teaching him how to live in order to be a good person. And we know that the decision we made was the right one.
Iwona and Łukasz
“Not all children who need parents have mothers and fathers. Some have only people who love them.”
We have been married for 18 years and have three wonderful daughters aged 17, 14 and 8—Kornelia, Anna and Weronika.
At a certain stage of our lives, friends who had become foster families began appearing around us. We watched them with interest and admiration, seeing how much joy the children they welcomed into their homes gave them. We noticed how much the children longed for love and attention, for someone to take an interest in them. In return, they repaid it with wonderful smiles. I experienced this myself when one of them called me “auntie” and gave me a huge hug. Something began to smolder in my heart… We often raised the subject in the evenings; the more we talked, the more inclined we became to decide to become a foster family.
One day we learned about Gracjan, who was staying in a children’s home. After speaking with Sister Agnieszka, Gracjan stayed with us on a temporary leave. During that time, we all became attached to one another. For us as parents, Gracjan’s acceptance by our three children was a very important aspect.
We treat being a foster family as a “mission.” We see how important consistency in action is for a child. We want to provide a sense of security, give him our attention and surround him with affection. We want him to have a stable and loving home that will allow him to develop and fulfill his potential. Being a foster family can be difficult and demanding, but at the same time it can be extremely rewarding and bring much joy.
Anna
“(…) be careful, because it may come true.”
Already at the age of twenty, with the example of a wonderful family who had adopted four girls—one of them with a significant disability—I kept saying that I would adopt a child, because so many of them are waiting for a warm, loving and safe home…
At the same time, I kept putting off the decision to start my own family. In the end, fate decided for me: a sudden illness and, as a consequence, the information that I would not become a mother.
Was that really certain?
A visit to the PCPR, training for prospective foster parents and volunteering at a children’s home. She was already waiting for me. Somewhat lost and confused, but smiling and very resourceful—she immediately stole my heart.
Trying to convince myself that I had declared I would help a small child—no older than three—was pointless. After my third visit to the children’s home, I invited five-year-old Zuzia to stay with us and never gave her back. A week later, we celebrated her sixth birthday with a cake, candles, her grandmother and grandfather.
Our life together changed beyond recognition, practically from one day to the next: for me, joy and gratitude, along with the constant doubts about whether I would cope. For Zuzia, shared trips, her first journeys outside the city, her first Christmas tree, first sled ride, first snowman, and new friends whom she could finally invite home and play with in her own room—alongside the recurring uncertainty of whether I would return from work and pick her up from preschool on time… and that I would not give her away—unless it was to her biological parents. This, too, is something we both face every day. Unfortunately, Zuzia remembers quite a lot of the bad moments and, fortunately, even if only a handful, some of the good moments that preceded our shared journey. She remembers and understands that she has a mother who gave birth to her, whom she surely misses. Meanwhile, she is trying to find her way in a new environment, learn new rules, at home and outside it, and finally—what is most important to her at this moment—talk about her own emotions and name them appropriately.
On the surface, Zuzia is a very open girl who absorbs the world around her, is creative and easily makes friends. Unfortunately, she all too often shows her second, or rather former, “self”—insecurity, caution, seeking her peers’ acceptance at any cost, and finally the need to receive and show unconditional love. She has been with us for less than half a year. Six often deeply surprising, challenging, but above all wonderful months!
Life writes different scenarios, and we do not always make the right choices, which inevitably bring consequences—good and bad. Today, regardless of how our shared journey ends, I believe this is the right direction and the best decision I have made in my life. Of course, I realize that a long road still lies ahead of us. A road that I hope will give Zuzia the chance to develop properly now and have the best possible start in adult life in the future, while giving me the joy of being a mother with all its facets. A mother—even if only, or “as much as,” a foster one!
Piotr
A Foster Family’s Story…
In the quiet of the picturesque town of Bolesławiec, in the heart of Lower Silesia, the story of a man who carries immense love and a need to help others in his heart is unfolding. Piotr, the name of the hero of this story, knew from an early age that he wanted to live for others. As he grew up, he worked to develop his skills and qualifications so that he could best serve people in need. When one day he learned about the shortage of volunteers at the local children’s home, he immediately decided to take on the task. Thus began a wonderful yet difficult adventure with children in need of care and the warmth of a family.
The time Piotr spent at the children’s home did not bring him popularity or fame. That was not his goal. Instead, every day he simply tried to do everything he could to make life easier for children who had found themselves in difficult circumstances. He was often the only person they could rely on. He supported them, listened to them, taught them and helped them. He gave them hope for a better tomorrow. One day Dawid appeared at the children’s home, and everything changed. The boy was terrified and distrustful, while at the same time so desperately in need of warmth and understanding. Piotr felt that he was facing a challenge unlike anything he had experienced before. He had to gain the boy’s trust and build a relationship that would allow him to overcome the trauma of the past. Piotr used all his experience and skills to achieve this.
Yet not much time passed before a younger boy appeared at the children’s home, much more withdrawn and frightened. His past was even more dramatic than Dawid’s. Gabriel, as he was called, was traumatized by rejection first by his mother and then by a caregiver who, after six months, dissolved the foster family where he had been staying and returned the boy to the children’s home. Throughout his life he had felt lonely and neglected, was very aggressive and also had enormous problems with short-term memory. Piotr immediately understood that he would have to become the boy’s support and shelter from suffering. The children quickly formed a bond with Piotr. The three of them tried to spend their free time together: they talked, played computer games, put together puzzles and Lego, rode bicycles, swam and went for walks.
Piotr devoted much attention and time to the children, trying to make them feel safe and happy. Thanks to him, Dawid and Gabriel discovered how wonderful it is to have someone who cares for and loves them. Piotr not only helped the children forget their traumatic experiences, but also taught them how to overcome difficulties and build positive relationships. With his help, the boys began to cope better with their emotions and stopped being afraid of the future. Piotr decided to create a home and family for the children. He rented an apartment and filed an application with the Court and the Powiatowe Centrum Pomocy Rodzinie w Bolesławcu to establish a foster family for the boys. He completed the training, and by decision of the Family Court, from 6 September 2022 he became the boys’ fully recognized Foster Family.
Days and weeks passed, perhaps even months—it is difficult to say when time moves so quickly and so many beautiful things happen around you. Piotr, Dawid and Gabriel now form one happy family, united by bonds of love, trust and respect. Together they enjoy everyday life, taking part in various activities that come together over time like a beautiful, colorful mosaic. The shadow of the young, uncertain man who first crossed the threshold of the children’s home is no longer visible behind Piotr. Now he is a brave and strong man whose heart is filled with extraordinary love for the children he managed to save from a difficult situation. Dawid and Gabriel have changed beyond recognition—they enjoy life and are full of energy and positive emotions. Seeing them play together, enjoy life, explore the world and learn new things together inspires irresistible love and pride. And although the road they had to travel was difficult, they finally found their place on earth—a place where they can feel safe and loved, have dreams and goals, and above all HAVE EACH OTHER!
For me, this is a story about hope, the strength of human love and the fact that there is always a chance for happiness if we only open our hearts and let it move into our lives.
Katarzyna and Tomasz
Foster Family—Our Journey
Ever since we became husband and wife, we had dreamed of a large family. We imagined our life with at least two or three children. A home full of laughter, joy, conversation and love. Just one year after our wedding, our little daughter Zosia was born. After Zosia’s birth, we wanted our child to have a sibling with whom she could spend time, play and grow.
But life writes its own scenarios… After our daughter’s premature birth, the doctor advised us to wait two or three years before a second pregnancy, and in our case preferably to remain with one child. Following the advice, we postponed the decision to give our daughter a sibling by three years. After that time, we began trying for the sibling we dreamed of. Unfortunately, without success. We underwent a series of tests, which did not rule out pregnancy. And from then on we began wondering: what next? Zosia also kept asking what needed to be done to have a sibling. She said that “it doesn’t matter what we draw, a little brother or a little sister”—what mattered was having a sibling.
A spark of hope appeared again in 2021, when our neighbors Patrycja and Mariusz became a foster family. They showed us what foster parenthood means. After many conversations, we decided to meet Sister Agnieszka from the children’s home. Sister Agnieszka directed us to Ms Alicja at the PCPR. That meeting rekindled in our hearts the hope of expanding our family, something we had always dreamed of. After speaking with the coordinators, we decided that we wanted to become a foster family. Despite realizing the enormous responsibility that would rest on us, we decided to take this step. On my husband’s birthday, we received a call from the PCPR asking us to come in for a conversation. That day we learned that a nine-month-old girl needed to be placed in foster care. The question was: what did we think? We were enormously surprised because we knew our lives would change dramatically in every respect. Without thinking for long, we answered that of course we agreed and welcomed the tiny girl into our family.
The child quickly bonded with us and our daughter. Every day we watch her blossom and make enormous progress emotionally and socially. Our daughter is very proud to be an older “sister” who teaches Diana and discovers the world with her. The girl is changing from a small, shy, frightened child into a beautiful butterfly spreading her tiny wings. Despite our many worries and fears, we know it is worth it. The love and security we give the little one bear fruit every day.
Looking through the lens of these months spent together and the way our lives and Diana’s life have changed, we know this was the best decision we could have made. It is wonderful to watch how, thanks to kindness, love and security, our daughter and little Dianka open themselves to the world and enjoy it while learning new things.
Jadwiga and Łukasz
We are the biological parents of two wonderful sons, Mateusz (17) and Klaudiusz (22). We had always dreamed of having a large family, and above all, we very much wanted a daughter. Although we had two wonderful sons, we still felt that something was missing. Fate brought wonderful people into our lives who were foster parents. We watched them and saw how much joy and love the children they welcomed into their care brought into their lives. Yet we continued to hesitate. A visit to the children’s home gave us the impulse to act. We were asked whether, during the holiday period, we would like to take a girl home because she had no family. The other children had gone to relatives, while she was left alone. We agreed without hesitation.
It was a wonderful Christmas.
Immediately after the holidays, we spoke with our sons and together decided that we wanted a girl to join our home. We went to the PCPR to collect the appropriate documents for foster-family candidates. At first, we were thinking of a girl about four years old. In October, we began training for prospective foster parents. Toward the end of October, we were informed that a tiny girl in hospital was looking for a loving home. Naturally, doubts arose as to whether we could manage. After all, we would have to reorganize our entire lives. We panicked. So many things had to be arranged and prepared for welcoming such a little one. There could be only one decision, of course: we decided to care for the baby and give her love and security. We had only a few days to prepare to welcome the little one home. Here, as always, our friends, acquaintances and even complete strangers proved reliable. Within just a few days, we had everything necessary at home. We are grateful to them from the bottom of our hearts.
And so God blessed us with a tiny spark of light named Julia, whom we brought home from the hospital when she was two weeks old. Since then, although our life has been “turned upside down,” we have been very happy. None of us can imagine life without Julia. The boys love their little sister dearly and are caring older brothers. And it is not we, as some people say, who are a gift to her; it is definitely she who is a gift to us. New life, full of joy and smiles, has entered our home. What makes us happiest is that little Juleczka is the apple of the eye of our entire large family.
Dear parents and all of you who are hesitating, “keep your chin up.” The procedures are not complicated at all, and the wonderful ladies at the PCPR are always ready to offer advice and help. Think about the fact that somewhere there is a child waiting for you who does not expect much, only a little love and attention.
Bolesławiec County:
On Foster Care Day, we would like to thank all Foster Families and those running Family Children’s Homes for their commitment and the effort of raising another human being, and for the care you provide to the children entrusted to you every day. On this occasion, we wish you every success in your personal lives and satisfaction from fulfilling such an important role, as well as perseverance and patience in continuing to perform it.
Those considering taking on the role of a foster caregiver are invited to contact the staff of the Powiatowe Centrum Pomocy Rodzinie w Bolesławcu by telephone at 75 612 17 81–89 or in person at the Centre’s headquarters at pl. Marsz. J. Piłsudskiego 2 in Bolesławiec (the so-called round building).
We also encourage you to visit the website: https://pcpr.boleslawiec.pl/, where detailed information about foster parenthood is available.