A day in the life of foster carer Michelle, who works in a school and fosters too

Michelle cares for a younger child through short term fostering that turned long term and also does regular short break care for a child with additional needs. She's relatively new to fostering but has found a rhythm as someone who fosters as a single parent and works full time too. Michelle works in a special needs school and along with her foster children, she lives wih her 14-year-old son and their cockatoo, Teddy. She has two adult children who they all see frequently.

                                                                                     Get a fostering information pack

My morning as a foster carer

I start my day early by getting the children up for school. While I am helping them get dressed and ready, other members of the household are beginning their own morning routines. Once everyone is organised, I take the children to the school breakfast club. After that, I took some time to walk the dog, enjoying a bit of fresh air before the rest of the day began.

 My morning looked like this...

6:00am - Up and straight into mum mode
6:30am - Kids up, breakfast sorted, uniforms on
7:15am - Quick coffee (finally)
7:30am - Walk the dog and get some fresh air
8:00am - School drop-off done!
8:30am - Head to work and start the day

Busy, but we made it 

My afternoon looked like

My afternoon looked like this...

4:30pm - Finished work and head for school pick up
4:45pm - Picked everyone up, parents evening then headed home 

After school, it's nothing fancy, just the moments that matter most. On a nice day, we'll head to the park and let off some steam. Otherwise, it's cosy vibes at home - a bit of art, crafts, and just being present together.Evenings are our time. We make tea together, then just slow things down...

My evening looked like this...

Around 6:30 pm, the children have their baths and get dressed for bed. After that, we always have a little bedtime snack together, which gives us a chance to wind down from the day. We then choose a bedtime story and spend some quiet time reading before they settle in for the night.

The children usually go to bed between 8:00 and 8:30 pm. Once they're asleep, I take some time to tidy up around the house and get a few bits of housework done. I also catch up on my daily recording sheets and make sure everything is in order for the next day.

After that, I head to bed, ready for the next day ahead.

The evening wind down routine

Some of the foster carer tasks I did today are:

• Completed weekly recording sheet, including updates on children's wellbeing, routines, and any notable events.
• Met with Mockingbird hub leader to catch up, share updates, and discuss any support needs. 
• Took care of the children's day-to-day needs, including care, supervision, and emotional support.

Some things my foster child(ren) and I did today was:

Today, the children and I enjoyed a variety of activities together. We spent time doing arts and crafts, which they love doing and encourages their creativity and self-expression. We also read a story together, supporting their literacy and imagination. Later, we went to the park where they had the opportunity to play and be active. We finished the day playing in the garden and having fun together.

Something my foster children said to me today was:

We always ask each other how our days have been and at bedtime, we always say good night sweet dreams to each other.

• "Can I make tea with you tonight?"

The best part of my day was...

The best part of my day was hearing at parent's evening that the child I'm looking after has settled well and is happy at school, and this is being reflected in his schol work.

Something I found tough today was: 

I find it tough sometimes working full-time and juggling being a foster parent with all the training and meetings fitting around a full-time job can be really tricky and demanding and today was a busy day.

Some things coming up this week are: 

This week is set to be particularly busy and full. Alongside working full-time and my ongoing responsibilities as a foster carer, I have some other commitments to meet.

I will be attending team calls throughout the week, as well as completing safeguarding training and memory box training. These are important parts of my professional development and role, but they will add to an already demanding schedule.

Balancing work, training, and fostering responsibilities means I will need to stay organised and take things one step at a time. It is likely to be a tiring week, but a structured approach should help me manage the workload and maintain focus on what needs to be done each day.

Since becoming a foster carer, the biggest way my days have changed is:

Since becoming a foster carer, the biggest change in my days has been the new sense of responsibility and routine that comes with caring for a child. I am really enjoying the experience. It brings a lot of love and the chance to support a child who needs help and stability. There are definitely extra early mornings and added responsibilities, but overall it has brought a lot of fun, happiness, and purpose to my daily life.

I mostly find that as a foster carer

Today, as a foster carer, my day followed its usual routine and was very busy. There is a steady rhythm to the tasks and responsibilities, and although it can be demanding, it keeps me focused throughout the day. Looking after the children in my care requires constant attention, structure, and patience, and the day moved quickly from one task to the next.

Even with the busyness, there is a sense of purpose in the routine. It helps provide stability for the children, and that makes the effort worthwhile.

My number one tip as a foster carer is:

My number one tip for adjusting to life as a foster carer is to keep a daily diary. Recording small moments helps you track progress, patterns, and your own feelings. It's also important to establish a consistent routine, as this gives children a sense of safety and predictability. Above all, take time to listen to the child and remain calm, even in challenging situations, as this helps build trust and stability.

                                                      Read a life in the day of long-term foster carers Lesley and Stephen