Biological mother and foster mother share care of girl for eight years

Donna, the biological mother of a young girl, and Christy, the girl's foster mother, share the care of the child in Belgium.

Donna decided eight years ago that her daughter would be better off in a foster family because her home environment was unsafe. After the child spent one night with Donna in the hospital, she moved into the home of Christy and her husband. The two women maintain a cooperative relationship and meet once a month for a visit.

A foster care counselor helped facilitate the initial meetings and continues to evaluate the situation and answer questions from both parents and the child. Donna says she felt an immediate connection with Christy and felt her child was in good hands. The transition was organized so that Donna could still participate in care, such as feeding the child and changing her diapers during visits. The girl, who is now eight years old, views this arrangement as her normal reality.

To help the child understand her history, a foster care agency creates a word picture story, which resembles a comic strip, explaining her birth and move to a new home. Donna and Christy communicate openly about the child's needs and share phone calls on special occasions like Christmas or Mother's Day. Donna notes that while she initially struggled with the decision and faced social stigma, seeing her daughter happy and well cared for provides her with peace of mind.