This Children of Foster Carers’ Week we’re celebrating birth and adopted children of foster carers and the incredible role they have in fostering families. In this blog, foster carer Amanda shares the experience of her son Dantai - how he proudly tells people he wants to become a foster carer when he’s older and his amazing ability to help the children joining their family feel understood.
My son, Dantai, is nearly nine. We adopted him at sixteen months, long before we became foster carers, but fostering has become a huge part of his identity. We started fostering almost three years ago, and from the very beginning, Dantai proudly called himself a foster carer too. He even stood up at his school’s end‑of‑year assembly and told everyone that he plans to become a foster carer when he’s old enough. He meant every word.
In those three years, Dantai has welcomed more than fifteen children into our home. He has shared his parents, his toys, his time, his routines, and his space. It hasn’t always been easy, he has had moments of frustration, he has butted heads with children who were struggling, and he has had his heart broken when little ones he loved moved on to their permanent homes. But every single time, he has shown resilience, empathy, and a depth of understanding far beyond his years.
One of the most remarkable things about him is how openly he shares his own story. If he thinks a child might feel comforted by hearing about his early life, he will sit beside them and talk about being fostered, being adopted, and what helped him feel safe. He has an incredible ability to make other children feel 'normal', understood, and less alone.
He also maintains a beautiful relationship with his own foster carers and their children. He asks thoughtful questions about his time with them, and I truly believe he does this so he can better understand what our foster children might be feeling. Even when those conversations are emotional for him, he chooses connection over avoidance.
Last year we adopted our daughter, Darcie, who is now one. From the moment she came home, Dantai adored her. Their bond is something special, she calls for him first thing in the morning, and he gives her the last kiss at night. Watching the way he loves her is one of my greatest joys.
Dantai is, in every sense, a superstar. He embodies kindness, compassion, and courage. He makes my heart smile every single day, and I am more proud of him than words can ever fully capture.
