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By Suzanne R. Schlattman, MSW, MPH 

When our third child was born, our adjustment as parents and siblings was a breeze–thanks in large part to our involvement in Safe Families.

The normal parental concerns and anxieties of having “enough” to support a growing family definitely came up, like: “Will we have enough stuff/time/patience to take care of more kids?” Because of hosting other children through Safe Families, we had already that worked out. We knew we could fit three car seats in our car and had built confidence in doing our daily routine with more kids in tow. The training we completed to become a host family also prepared us for our role and helped us be better parents. Finally, we also had learned to ask for help when we needed it. When we did, we were incredibly humbled by the love and support from Safe Family staff, volunteers and friends who helped us during the hosting and continue to be a source of prayerful love and support to this day.

Our kids also found our experience as a host family valuable and it eased the transition to having another sibling around.Thanks to Safe Families, they already had learned how to share–not just their toys, but their parents’ time and attention. They are more aware of  and grateful for the abundant blessings in their lives and are beginning to live in a way that emphasizes that our house and food and time are gifts from God that must be shared when He calls us to serve.  Safe Families helps us learn to live this lifestyle and be true disciples of Christ.

When we see pictures of the kids we have hosted, our sons gratefully remember their friendships. They look up to those boys, and love to remember stories and jokes we once shared. They always look forward to seeing them again. They enjoyed the experience of being “big brothers” to a little sister. Even in cases where there have been personality clashes or difficulty sharing or taking turns, our kids have gained valuable experience and perspective that have helped prepare them to navigate these situations with their friends and newest sibling.

Finally, being a host family with SFFC has helped us teach our faith to our kids in very concrete terms they can understand and appreciate. When we read stories like the Good Samaritan that call us to “love the stranger” they now know what that means and what it looks and feels like in the world today–making them great big brothers and capable children of God. What more could a parent ask for?

God bless Safe Families!