Featuring: The Beucke Family
We would like to introduce you to some of our community foster parents, Nate and Carrie Beucke! Nate and Carrie have been licensed foster parents through Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries since the spring of 2021. In the past 8 months, they have done some respite care and are currently caring for two boys, a 6-year-old and a 13-month-old. Carrie recently took the time to tell us about what foster parenting has been like for her and Nate.
What made you want to become foster parents?
Both Nate and I work/worked in the field of early childhood, where we served a lot of families that were fostering and children who had come in to care. We inquired with Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries last October and took the STARS class in January. We welcomed the first child into our home in April 2021 and he’s been with us ever since. We have three biological children: a 6th grader, 7th grader and 9th grader. They play a huge role in helping care for and serve the children in foster care in our home.
How has your foster parent journey been so far?
The learning curve is steep. No matter how prepared you think you are, you quickly find out you are not. You have to have a high tolerance for uncertainty and be extremely flexible. There are so many unknowns. We are thankful we are able to provide a safe place for a family in need.
Alongside the learning curve, one of the biggest things that stands out to me are the active community members who are behind the scenes, making sure kids coming into care get the things they need. We don’t have to hesitate about saying yes, because we know there are resources and people willing to come alongside us. Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries has made sure that we are able to access those resources and encourages us to utilize them. We could not do this without the support of our friends, family, and neighbors.
What is the best part about fostering?
The amount of joy it brings to our house. The laughter. We have also really enjoyed getting to know the biological parents. We just told our foster son’s mom on the phone how much we appreciate our relationship and ability to communicate openly. It’s awkward at first, but we truly believe our healthy relationship is one of the first steps in bringing healing to the situation. We call ourselves a helper home. We help children and their families. We really strive to support the biological families and their relationship with their child.
The new friends we have made through fostering have been such a blessing as well. The foster community is growing and with it are friendships. Having other families to walk alongside us is a huge blessing.
What is the hardest part about fostering?
The uncertainty. The ups and downs. Over the past six months we have learned that you have to be able to be flexible and extremely patient. Balancing everyone’s needs and juggling appointments is our biggest challenge.
What have you learned being a foster parent?
Before we received our first placement, I read a lot of books and listened to many podcasts, but nothing prepares you for the many emotions that threaten to overwhelm you when a new child arrives. Although we still have much to learn, we have worked hard at cultivating our hearts to come alongside a family in need. The learning curve is steep. I am often overwhelmed with grief. My heart breaks for the biological parents and it sears my soul to hear the longing in our foster son’s voice. He desperately wants to return home. He loves his parents. Honoring that and holding space for his family is very important to us. We are always seeking ways to support a healthy relationship outside of their home while he is in our care.
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