COLUMBIA- Lily Hamlet and her husband have been taking in foster children for the past six years and have loved every part of it.
The first night
Scared. There was no knowing what it was going to be like or how it was going to make her feel.
It all began in a moment, much like the one now. It was short, brief and unnerving.
The fear of chaos and utter disorder. The boy wasn’t what she expected. Even after all of the prepping and training she and her husband had undergone.
Lily Hamlet wasn’t ready for her first foster child. The first night was restless; she paced to the floor between her and husband's room and the child’s room for the majority of the night.
"After the first night, when I realized that he slept through the night because of the medicine, after that I didn't get up at night.” All of Lily’s fears and worries were put at ease the next morning.
The first night was over. The first challenge was faced.
Over time
It has been six years since Lily and her husband took in their first foster child. Over the past six years they’ve opened their home to over 10 foster children.
It all began after she saw an advertisement early in 2006 about how to become a foster parent. She called her friend, and she too had considered become a foster parent.
It was decided, she and her husband were going to try it. “So many of them need help,” Lily said.
Through the years she has taken care of children as young as 3 weeks old to 7 months. The oldest that she has take in was 11.
On average they keep children for up to a year, but with one of her current foster children, Jake who is autistic, it will be his third year coming up soon.
Garage Playdates
On any given warm day, the garage door will be wide open with a Magic Mesh screen keeping the bugs out and the cars be parked in the driveway. Just enough space to the kids for the kids to play and be watched.
Laughter was a faint in the air from down the street. The air was crisp and sky was clear. Those were good days.
Walking through the screen, Lego figures, Thomas toy trains and other assorted toys lay scattered on the concert floor, as the kids throw and pick them up.
Lily would sit in her fold up chair watching from a distance, as her babies play; even though she's getting older she enjoys taking in. They keep her young she says.
Jake and Clay
The sound of the TV came from the kitchen. A little blonde and a little red head sat at the table, eyes glued to the colorful screen.
Clay, the blonde was the youngest. Jake, the oldest was the red head.
The two got along pretty well, beside their backstories, they were just little boys. Jake likes Thomas the Train and Clay loves all toys in general.
Jake was quiet and content with all of the trains. (While Clay was more likely to answer).
“I got a bag,” Clay said about what he likes most about living with Lily he said. Candy was in inside of the bag.
Making her a better person
Taking in these kids has allowed her to help them become better people and in the process she has been able to take a look as herself.
After years of taking of foster children she is no longer scared and is very much at ease.
She believes that she has fulfilled one of her purpose in society by taking in foster children.
