Join us behind the scenes as we explore and gain an insight into the daily life of a foster parent, delving into their routines and everyday experiences. Welcome to a day in the life of foster parents Angie and Paul.
I like to get up early, I always get up before the children, Paul is also up as he is going to work. So we'll get up, put the coffee machine on and we'll have a coffee, a bit of a chat about what we’re going to do that day and what we've got to do that evening, any activities etc. I’ll let the dogs out and feed them.
Paul goes to work and as the children are in bed still, I will use this time to be productive, I'll either be getting stuff ready for the day or doing my ironing or paperwork.
If it is a school day, the children wake up at 7:45am. One of the children has a clock sleep trainer so he doesn’t get up until his clock goes green. I will wake the girls because they're always asleep. They come down and we all sit together at the table for breakfast and then the children get dressed and ready for the day.
If it's a nursery day I drop the youngest off at nursery first then the two eldest at school. I'll come home, walk the dog, do some housework, washing, cleaning and get things ready for the evenings’ activities. We have activities most nights, if it's not one swimming, it's dancing or trampolining.
About 2.30pm, I set off to do the pickups. When we arrive home one of the children has what we call a ‘sensory half an hour’ in the lounge, I’ll put the TV on for him and he has that time to help him unwind from the day and give him a break. Then I'll make dinner and while I'm making dinner, the kids will be playing, doing any homework. We have a kitchen / family room with a sofa which is all open plan so I can see everybody.
Paul usually comes home for about 5.15pm, he'll come in and the house just goes into chaos. The children all scream because they all want his attention at same time.
On Friday nights Paul always takes one of our children swimming, it is something they do together and whilst they do that the girls and I will take the dogs out for a walk.
For us Saturdays are a normal family day where we do stuff together, we'll go out somewhere maybe the park or day trip somewhere in the car. Then on a Sunday, all the children go dancing, so we all go.
Our night time routine consists of the usual bath, bedtime story and settling down. By 9pm Love Island is on and I'm ready for sleep and that's it our typical day.
