Editor’s Note: For privacy reasons, names and certain details have been changed. These stories are shared by former houseparents who have served at various children’s homes to offer insight, encouragement, and prayer for those considering this role. To respect the privacy of the children in these stories, we use artistic depictions rather than real photos.
Senior Night: Walking Beside Him
Senior night is a milestone—one of those moments where a child steps into the spotlight, celebrating the years that led them there. For our foster son, it was about more than just marching across the football field before his final band performance. It was about family—the one he was born into and the one that stood beside him now.
My husband couldn’t be there that night; his commitment to refereeing varsity football had him at another game. So, I walked out with our son—but I wasn’t the only one. His biological father stood on his other side.
It wasn’t a simple situation. His dad had his struggles—deep ones. But our son cared about him, and no matter how complicated their relationship was, it mattered to him that his father was there. It mattered that he wasn’t walking alone.
For years, I had worked to navigate that balance—maintaining open communication with his father even when it was hard, encouraging our son to build a relationship with him in a way that was healthy and safe. It wasn’t always easy, especially because I had grown close to his biological mom’s family after she left when he was young. But I knew then, as I know now, that loving him meant supporting the relationships that mattered to him.
That night, I saw something so simple, yet so powerful. Our foster son wasn’t forced to choose between the people who loved him. He didn’t have to wrestle with guilt or feel like he was betraying one family by embracing another. He could be proud of the love he had for his dad and the love he had for us.
He walked across that field not just as a senior but as a son—to his father, to me, to my husband who wished he could be there.
And that was enough.
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the moments that remind children they are deeply loved. We pray for those navigating complicated family relationships, that they may find peace, stability, and wisdom in knowing they are not alone. Lord, we ask for new house parents to step into this calling—to open their homes and hearts to children who need guidance, support, and unconditional love. May more homes be filled with parents willing to stand in the gaps, walk beside these children, and love them through every milestone. We pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.