Jaime and Euri were getting ready for their whirlwind tour of Italy when the phone rang with news that the toddler they were fostering had a baby brother in need of a safe, loving home. Suddenly they were trading in their tickets to the Vatican in Rome and Michelangelo’s David in Florence for diapers and formula at the local Target.
The couple didn’t have to go this route. They could have kept their scheduled time for Angels respite care for “AJ,” a toddler, and flown to Italy as planned. But they chose to postpone their trip and invite their first placement’s infant brother “JZ” into their home. “Everything happens for a reason, and we are grateful we were here, or his brother may have been placed elsewhere,” says Jaime. “We are the adults, so we can understand.” Euri adds, “They are the priority.”
After 13 months of fostering, Jaime and Euri are old hands at it. Their home is filled with toys – AJ’s favorites being magnetic building blocks – family photos, and colorful letters of the alphabet clinging to the refrigerator. Their weekday routine includes family meals, playtime, and therapeutic services for the boys. Weekends are for the beach, pool, and park.
Serving as a resource family had a rocky start, though. AJ had behavior issues and became upset easily. The couple was reluctant to call their Angels Clinical Case Manager because, as Jaime recalls, “I figured she was busy, and I should be able to handle this.” Now, he says, he sees that was a mistake. “Angels had resources that helped us communicate better, like getting down to his level and giving him a hug or sitting in the room with him. He used to have tantrums when we turned off the TV, but now I tell him it’s time to go to bed in five minutes and set a timer and he is completely fine with it.”
Euri says it is deeply satisfying to watch the children evolve. “There’s big difference in AJ’s behavior, but also just his face,” which he says was emotionless when he first arrived. “Now he smiles a lot.” Jaime explains that the biggest change he has undergone is his ability to be flexible. “You can’t think that on this day you’ll know everything because, well, you won’t,” he says lightheartedly. Still, the couple agrees, fostering is worth it. Euri continues, “I tell people that fostering is very demanding and will change your life completely, but that includes being rewarding and joyful.”
Jaime agrees. “They do so much for you. When you’ve had a hard day at work and they give you a big hug, it’s amazing.” As for their travel plans, Jaime and Euri’s case allows for continental travel so they have taken AJ to Chicago for a family wedding, where the toddler fared exceptionally well on the plane ride. They also took him to Yosemite, which wasn’t as successful due to the high altitude. As for Italy, Jaime shrugs. They’ll go in the future, he says. Euri adds, “I can still show him my favorite places in Sardinia and Venice.” In the meantime, the couple has a few more trips to make to Target.
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