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Foster son keeps running away

Anon123 July 5, 2021 18:47

My foster son is 13, I've been fostering him for about a month or 2. On Friday, he didn't come back from school and I reported it to the police (it was late by then). He came back at about 12:30 I asked him where he'd been and he told me he wanted to be alone. I told him we would've left him alone if he wanted and he didn't need to stay out. On Saturday, he snook out and he'd packed a bag, I reported it to the police, and they brought him back at about 1am, he was trying to get on a bus but he didn't have any money. I spoke to him yesterday and he told me that he'd be gone soon anyway so I won't need to pretend to like him, he said I'll just give up on him and get rid of him like everyone else. I told him that I won't and I told him I cared about him (which I do). I know this is probably normal, but I've only fostered teenage girls in the past and none of them did this. Any advice from other foster parents will be appreciated

Safia July 6, 2021 09:16

Not a foster care myself - and my children were toddlers when they came - but it sounds like he is sensing that you care for him and is finding it very scary as he can’t trust relationships will last. Sounds like you’re doing all the right things on how you handle it. Can you discuss it with his SW or yours? Or other FCs you know? What do you know of his history? It’s likely he’s had lots of changes and perceived rejections / relationship breakdowns. Just concentrate on the relationship and reassuring him (and showing him) you are there for him

chestnuttree July 6, 2021 13:22

I am not a foster carer either. It is still very early days. I agree with Safia that he sounds scared and does not want to be rejected again. It is great that he is aware of what worries him and that you are having conversations about it.

Could you try to get him some life story work, so he has a better chance of understanding his previous moves? If not, you could look at Life Story Work with Children Who are Fostered or Adopted: Creative Ideas and Activities and try to engage him in some actitivies, some of which are trust building. Some of Margot Sunderland's guidebooks (eg. Draw on your Emotions, Helping Children with Loss) might also be helpful if he is open to this kind of work. If not, Sunderland's Conversations that Matter might be helpful.

Could you create some little daily rituals to create a sense of family, belonging, routine and stability for him? Or just emphasise something you are doing regularly a bit more for him?

ceres November 17, 2021 09:30

Pluto here!

I have a funny story about running away, my son too, second time police involved, he was 14 at the time. So police brought him back around 1.30 past midnight, they talked a bit with him, he a big mouth, guns they carried are not real, disrespectfull etc. Than three days later to my surprise, bang, bang, bang on the door, who was there? The same police, they needed my son. He was very white when he came down, lol, they wanted him to stand against the wall and made pictures of him, front, sides etc. Just incase he ran off again.

It did impress my son but the most funny bit came a few weeks later. We were walking throught the forest and at one point there is a split but both paths lead to the village, he wanted to take the other way, fine to me. Than ones home he said 'ma do you know what happened? I walked in the village and a police car stopped, they opened the window and knew my name! they asked or I had run off again. And do you know what is really weird? I have never seen those two police in my life'. HAHAHAHAHA. I do not think the police are very busy here, lol, they probably ride around with his foto on the dash board. We are 18 months further and he has not done it again, so fingers crossed.

Edited 17/11/2021

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