We had a child that was over 10 that had no idea how much body wash/conditioner/toothpaste to use. The child went through entire bottles in a week. It’s always amazing the stuff that is never taught that I take for granted.
My mother doesn't teach my little sisters anything. The 8 years old can't put toothpaste on the brush, can't cut her food, can't shower alone, can't brush her hair, cant make a bowl of cornflakes... our mom makes sure that all her kids need her. My brother is 19 and never learned life skills so he needs constant help with everything since he lives alone. It took me 27 years to realise how happy I could be that I visited my dad (I'm his only child with my mom) every other weekend and he thought me basic skills so I'm the only one who's able to life without our mother's help as an adult. We habpve a 21 years old sister who lived with her father and stepmother for 7 years and she learned a lot from her stepmother but is mentally more unstable than my brother and me so that's why she can't live without 100% help (at the moment from our mother but she will kick her out in a month)
Hello! Autistic adult here! I love you videos and shorts because I often find new ways to help accommodate my needs, but also because it helps me to retrain how I “parent” myself in a much kinder and understanding way. Thank you!! Brushing teeth is super hard for me, but I love scent free toothpaste. The brand I’ve used is Cleure and it is a but pricey, but it helps sooo much!
Idk if I am autistic but I do have sensory issues, and I hate mint toothpaste. I've been using Tom's Whole Care cinnamon clove toothpaste. It's nice. You get some cinnamon and clove, but it's not overpowering. (And it actually does have fluoride, which is important to me for a toothpaste. I'm not convinced fluoride-free is the way to go for me.)
I'm 51, and will never forget childhood shame and humiliation in the bathroom. From not knowing how conditioner works to poopy underpants. For contrast, I remember the kindness of a neighbor who taught me how to wash my hands. She was helpful and kind, and she never sneered or laughed at me. The difference that caring makes can last a lifetime.
You’re really inspiring, Laura. I’ve thought a lot about the information you’ve shared in your many videos. The trauma of these kids is immense. Any kid in your care is lucky. Well done you. 🎉
I’m an adopted under x and I was adopted by people who weren’t and aren’t able to even be a parent let alone a parent to someone who endured so much trauma so whenever I see your videos I’m crying because I wish I have had someone like you in my life But I’m also ahoy for all the kids who are able to receive your care Love from the other side of the globe
I've long thought that dimmer switches should be standard in bathrooms. Many of the main activities that happen in there have to do with a person's bedtime routine. Bright lights are great for make up and shaving, but not for brushing your teeth at night. (Not to mention first thing in the morning, when you're slowly becoming okay with light again.) Mood lighting is a great solution.
I can't survive without dimmers in the bathroom, I get chronic migraines and the last thing you need with severe nausea and vomiting is to have the light blazing in your eyes
For anyone who doesn't already know: you also have to think through where medications will be kept. Here in Texas, at least, it wouldn't be enough to have a lock on a cabinet in a bathroom the kids access. Foster homes must keep any medication - including over-the-counter stuff like aspirin or ibuprofen! - under lock and key inside a room/space that is itself under lock and key. So for example, a locked box inside a locked room or a locked closet would qualify. At least, that's what we were told when I took a preliminary training class years ago, and I don't remember being told otherwise at any point when I was training as a CASA volunteer to do monthly visits of a child/sibling group in foster care.
Another toothbrush suggestion is the extra soft toothbrushes with very fine bristles, sometimes they're called filament toothbrushes, sometimes just extra soft. They feel totally different in your mouth to a normal toothbrush.
I love the inclusive bandaids. I'm an adult but I love getting fun bandaids. Welly has some great ones. Including llamas, narwhals, planets, flowers, dogs... So much fun.
i use tooth tabs that you have to chew to activate. i can add a different sensory experience and make it seem a little more interesting than just a hcore. it also helps with measuring how much you should be using because the "serving size" is one tablet. i know when i was a kid figuring out how much toothpaste to use was always a guess. they also sell tablets that kids can hew that turn their teeth/tounge/gums a bright color if they didnt brush well enough that can help them more clearly see what to work on.
i relate so hard to the sensoty issues with toothbrushing! I cannot have mint in my toothpaste, it make my mouth have a burning sensation. Im happy you give the kids options for other flavors!
What if a child locks themselves in? Does the agency have a policy for that? It happened to us once on vacation. Four pre-school age kids were having a nap in a bedroom. One of them, being a little too inquisitive, locked the door by mistake, but the kids were too young to understand directions on how to unlock it. They were panicking inside, and in the end, the door had to be broken down.
We only use privacy locks for doors. If a child locks themselves in, we can unlock with a coin from the outside. This was something that our agency required of us.
be careful with the soaps/shampoos on the shower shelf. I used to do that, one slipped off and broke my toe. ideally you have some sort of bar to keep them from slipping off
You are just overall fabulous. I have a question. How do you manage having your husband live in the house with little foster girls that might be triggered, especially during the night?
If you have more than one bathroom (like an ensuite in a primary), do they generally check all bathrooms, or just the ones kids will be using regularly?
There's a whole playlist on her channel with different holidays and tips for those situations, I'm sure you'll be able to find your answer in there! Good luck with the holidays!
I love your videos. I have a question about the locks. So is there like a plan for if kids lock themselves in a room for too long. Thats an idea that scares me a little even though I totally understand the need for privacy
You want to look for locks that have exterior unlock features (like a small slot you can turn with a coin or a little hole you can pop it open with a hairpin or sometimes they come with a little "key" looking thing). Useful in case small humans accidentally lock themselves in and can't get it unlocked.
How does "immediately" adopting kids from foster care work? (Immediately in the sense that only one kid goes through the home and is adopted by said home, only looking for kids who already have TPR or will have TPR if they get an adoption family.) How would meeting the kids go? Ages would be 10+
Call around different agencies. I considered 3, and the third one listened to me and explained there were kids waiting for adoption with them. I loved that the agency I working with is present and so involved with the process. If an agency starts with how much money you get and how much you dont have to report, RUN as fast as you can. For them, it's not about the kids. I'm about a month out from placement of two kiddos who have TPR.
Biotene is a great MILD mint toothpaste. (I have Burning Mouth Syndrome - often triggered by pepperoni, regular mint toothpaste, cinnamon flavored items...etc.)
So this isn't for kids at all, but I HATE mint toothpaste but find Crest Clean Mint to be very nice. It's still minty, but not as aggressively minty as most toothpaste. It's more of a nice refreshingly cool mint flavor. Great for if you're old enough to not use kids toothpaste anymore. As I kid I only ever used bubblegum toothpaste, and it's lame that it's so difficult to get toothpaste that doesn't taste like mint or cinnamon as an adult!
The skin tone bandaids! 🥹🥹 You've truly thought of everything Laura. I've never known a more empathic human. I hope you're blessed with a long and happy life.
We had a child that was over 10 that had no idea how much body wash/conditioner/toothpaste to use. The child went through entire bottles in a week. It’s always amazing the stuff that is never taught that I take for granted.
I feel so called out. 😆 (I do this, I can't even seem to teach myself.)
My mother doesn't teach my little sisters anything. The 8 years old can't put toothpaste on the brush, can't cut her food, can't shower alone, can't brush her hair, cant make a bowl of cornflakes... our mom makes sure that all her kids need her. My brother is 19 and never learned life skills so he needs constant help with everything since he lives alone. It took me 27 years to realise how happy I could be that I visited my dad (I'm his only child with my mom) every other weekend and he thought me basic skills so I'm the only one who's able to life without our mother's help as an adult.
We habpve a 21 years old sister who lived with her father and stepmother for 7 years and she learned a lot from her stepmother but is mentally more unstable than my brother and me so that's why she can't live without 100% help (at the moment from our mother but she will kick her out in a month)
I had a 10 year old boy that also didn't know much about showers/shampoo/conditioner/body wash or hygiene all together.
Hello! Autistic adult here! I love you videos and shorts because I often find new ways to help accommodate my needs, but also because it helps me to retrain how I “parent” myself in a much kinder and understanding way. Thank you!!
Brushing teeth is super hard for me, but I love scent free toothpaste. The brand I’ve used is Cleure and it is a but pricey, but it helps sooo much!
I found that even having non-mint toothpaste made a huge difference for me.
Idk if I am autistic but I do have sensory issues, and I hate mint toothpaste. I've been using Tom's Whole Care cinnamon clove toothpaste. It's nice. You get some cinnamon and clove, but it's not overpowering. (And it actually does have fluoride, which is important to me for a toothpaste. I'm not convinced fluoride-free is the way to go for me.)
@@Aelffwynn oooh that might be a great option for me! I’m gonna try that when I finish my toothpaste!! Thanks!
ADHD adult here who has hated mint all my life: Hismile has a huge variety of flavoured toothpastes for adults and I'm obsessed with them!
I'm 51, and will never forget childhood shame and humiliation in the bathroom. From not knowing how conditioner works to poopy underpants. For contrast, I remember the kindness of a neighbor who taught me how to wash my hands. She was helpful and kind, and she never sneered or laughed at me. The difference that caring makes can last a lifetime.
You’re really inspiring, Laura. I’ve thought a lot about the information you’ve shared in your many videos. The trauma of these kids is immense. Any kid in your care is lucky. Well done you. 🎉
I’m an adopted under x and I was adopted by people who weren’t and aren’t able to even be a parent let alone a parent to someone who endured so much trauma so whenever I see your videos I’m crying because I wish I have had someone like you in my life
But I’m also ahoy for all the kids who are able to receive your care
Love from the other side of the globe
I'm sorry that you have to go through this. Kids deserve to be safe and in tranquille environment
I've long thought that dimmer switches should be standard in bathrooms. Many of the main activities that happen in there have to do with a person's bedtime routine. Bright lights are great for make up and shaving, but not for brushing your teeth at night. (Not to mention first thing in the morning, when you're slowly becoming okay with light again.) Mood lighting is a great solution.
Or if you wake up in the middle of the night really having to pee!
I can't survive without dimmers in the bathroom, I get chronic migraines and the last thing you need with severe nausea and vomiting is to have the light blazing in your eyes
For anyone who doesn't already know: you also have to think through where medications will be kept. Here in Texas, at least, it wouldn't be enough to have a lock on a cabinet in a bathroom the kids access. Foster homes must keep any medication - including over-the-counter stuff like aspirin or ibuprofen! - under lock and key inside a room/space that is itself under lock and key. So for example, a locked box inside a locked room or a locked closet would qualify. At least, that's what we were told when I took a preliminary training class years ago, and I don't remember being told otherwise at any point when I was training as a CASA volunteer to do monthly visits of a child/sibling group in foster care.
Thank you for sharing! This was great.
I'd love to see how you guys organize your crafts for the kids.
Uhhh I would LOVE to show this 😂😂 we are definitely a craft home. I’ll try to make something!
Another toothbrush suggestion is the extra soft toothbrushes with very fine bristles, sometimes they're called filament toothbrushes, sometimes just extra soft. They feel totally different in your mouth to a normal toothbrush.
so true!! we got one of those from a dentist once, it was really helpful!
I love the inclusive bandaids. I'm an adult but I love getting fun bandaids. Welly has some great ones. Including llamas, narwhals, planets, flowers, dogs... So much fun.
Did you ever get your foster status renewed? I know you had a problem because you had a swimming pool.
I hope she did. She is the type of person you'd hope foster moms are, but many people do it for the money.
Didn't she say she wasn't renewing?
Toothpaste - there are brands that sell flavour free, non foaming toothpaste which can be helpful for some people!
yes!! those are amazing options!
i use tooth tabs that you have to chew to activate. i can add a different sensory experience and make it seem a little more interesting than just a hcore. it also helps with measuring how much you should be using because the "serving size" is one tablet. i know when i was a kid figuring out how much toothpaste to use was always a guess. they also sell tablets that kids can hew that turn their teeth/tounge/gums a bright color if they didnt brush well enough that can help them more clearly see what to work on.
i relate so hard to the sensoty issues with toothbrushing! I cannot have mint in my toothpaste, it make my mouth have a burning sensation. Im happy you give the kids options for other flavors!
Amazing content 💕 Thank you for providing a safe home for these kids!
With locking doors and little ones make sure you have one of those little keys incase they ever get stuck incide but only uses it if they get stuck
I’m a new foster parent what do you do when they hate/refuse to get their shots
What if a child locks themselves in? Does the agency have a policy for that? It happened to us once on vacation. Four pre-school age kids were having a nap in a bedroom. One of them, being a little too inquisitive, locked the door by mistake, but the kids were too young to understand directions on how to unlock it. They were panicking inside, and in the end, the door had to be broken down.
We only use privacy locks for doors. If a child locks themselves in, we can unlock with a coin from the outside. This was something that our agency required of us.
@@foster.parentingwe have those in our house! 😊 they have been used for an adult as well!! Brilliant
@@foster.parenting Interesting, I had never heard of those!
@@foster.parentingIn Germany this is the normal lock for a bathroom door.
be careful with the soaps/shampoos on the shower shelf. I used to do that, one slipped off and broke my toe. ideally you have some sort of bar to keep them from slipping off
You are just overall fabulous. I have a question. How do you manage having your husband live in the house with little foster girls that might be triggered, especially during the night?
Thank you for the subtitles
Love your content 👏
If you have more than one bathroom (like an ensuite in a primary), do they generally check all bathrooms, or just the ones kids will be using regularly?
What happens if a foster child didn’t celebrate holidays and how would you react or do in that situation bc I have the same issue anyways love u laura
There's a whole playlist on her channel with different holidays and tips for those situations, I'm sure you'll be able to find your answer in there! Good luck with the holidays!
I love your videos. I have a question about the locks. So is there like a plan for if kids lock themselves in a room for too long. Thats an idea that scares me a little even though I totally understand the need for privacy
You want to look for locks that have exterior unlock features (like a small slot you can turn with a coin or a little hole you can pop it open with a hairpin or sometimes they come with a little "key" looking thing). Useful in case small humans accidentally lock themselves in and can't get it unlocked.
@dutchvanl thanks!
I hate mint too, thanks for thinking of that
How does "immediately" adopting kids from foster care work? (Immediately in the sense that only one kid goes through the home and is adopted by said home, only looking for kids who already have TPR or will have TPR if they get an adoption family.)
How would meeting the kids go?
Ages would be 10+
I think for that you'd contact an adoption agency, you wouldn't sign up to be a foster parent!
@Janne_Mai okay 😄
Thanks 🥰🥰🥰
Call around different agencies. I considered 3, and the third one listened to me and explained there were kids waiting for adoption with them. I loved that the agency I working with is present and so involved with the process. If an agency starts with how much money you get and how much you dont have to report, RUN as fast as you can. For them, it's not about the kids.
I'm about a month out from placement of two kiddos who have TPR.
@@Miksit1818 yeah I don't want an agency that doesn't check on the kids.
Adoptuskids is a great resource, assuming you're in the United States. You can find out what the requirements are in your state.
What is a non slip bra and why does it have to be on the ground?
I believe it may be another term for a non-slip mat? This is just a guess as I have no idea.
The captions are wrong, she pretty clearly says "rugs" 0:10
@TorstynKarlinsey Yes that's why actually proofreading the ai-generated captions is important before posting 🤦♀️
Even with proof reading I miss many things. You’ll find a mistake in every video I’m sure 🤦♀️ I do my best
@@foster.parentingit made me laugh so there's that!
Thankntou for your advice
Biotene is a great MILD mint toothpaste. (I have Burning Mouth Syndrome - often triggered by pepperoni, regular mint toothpaste, cinnamon flavored items...etc.)
Non stick bras on the ground 😅 0:10
Hi Laura ❤❤❤
So this isn't for kids at all, but I HATE mint toothpaste but find Crest Clean Mint to be very nice. It's still minty, but not as aggressively minty as most toothpaste. It's more of a nice refreshingly cool mint flavor. Great for if you're old enough to not use kids toothpaste anymore.
As I kid I only ever used bubblegum toothpaste, and it's lame that it's so difficult to get toothpaste that doesn't taste like mint or cinnamon as an adult!
The captions spelled rugs wrong, it put bras ROFL!
Nonslip bras?
She probably used auto generated captions. Obviously she said rugs
You're a good egg!
The skin tone bandaids! 🥹🥹
You've truly thought of everything Laura. I've never known a more empathic human.
I hope you're blessed with a long and happy life.