My name is Emma, and I am one of the two people behind Always Enough Love, an Instagram account dedicated to siblings of foster children. My co-founder, Talia-Rae, and I are both sisters of foster kids ourselves, and through our stories, we hope to inspire and support others navigating the foster care journey.
Our family began fostering when I was 16, though even before that, our home had been a safe landing place for many children. At first, we offered respite care, which allowed us to meet some truly amazing kids. After a year, we transitioned to long-term placements, primarily caring for babies. I instantly fell in love with being involved in their daily care—babies are kind of my thing. Fostering has become such a central part of my life, and I fully plan to continue in a few years. Fun fact: I will be the third generation in a row to foster in my family!
And I’m Talia-Rae! I’m the oldest of seven siblings—four permanent and two foster. Foster care has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Even before our family officially became a foster home, children came to stay with us as a safe place. For many years, we cared mostly for younger kids, with the oldest being around five. But after adopting two of my siblings, we expanded to welcome children of all ages.
In our area—and in many others—the need for foster families for older kids and teenagers is immense. Over the past two years, our home has welcomed several teenage placements. Fostering has shaped me in ways I could never have imagined. It can be incredibly hard at times, yet it remains the most rewarding experience I’ve ever had. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Looking ahead, I hope to pursue a career working with children and continue fostering as an adult.
One of the most difficult moments I’ve experienced came in 2017, when I was 14. We had cared for a little boy we call our Little Man since he was six weeks old. By the time he turned five, he had lived in our home for a total of two and a half years, with the other two and a half spent with his biological family. Even when he wasn’t living with us full-time, he came to church on Sundays and spent at least one sleepover a month with us. When he returned to live with us at age four, I was thrilled—but when the time came for him to transition back to his family permanently, it was devastating.
I remember writing in my journal, feeling angry and heartbroken. As foster families, we’re encouraged to support reunification—but it doesn’t make the goodbyes any easier. The day he left was one of the hardest of my life. He cried, begging to stay. He clung to my dad as we buckled him in the car, tears streaming down his little face. That was the last time I saw him, and it broke my heart.
At the same time, my younger sister—who is now a permanent part of our family—had just moved in. Many people assumed that having her and her brother around would help distract us from losing Little Man. But I didn’t have other teenagers who truly understood what I was feeling. Friends asked questions I couldn’t answer and made comments that, while not intended to hurt, failed to grasp the depth of my grief. Fostering becomes such a core part of your life that the pain, the joy, the losses, and the new beginnings are all intertwined. I (Emma) will never see the world the same way again—and I’ve learned to be okay with that.
For many foster siblings, the hardest part is carrying that pain alone. You don’t want to burden your parents, even as they navigate the complex realities of foster care. I held my struggles silently for a long time, only recently beginning to process and share them. This is where Always Enough Love comes in. Talia-Rae and I met through our personal Instagram pages, and over the past several months, our connection has been such a blessing. Shockingly, we’ve discovered we share so many similar experiences—not only in foster care but in life in general—which has made building our friendship so natural.
Once we started talking, we became fast friends. I’ve learned how vital community is, especially for foster siblings. It’s such a unique experience to find someone who truly understands the challenges and joys of growing up in a foster family. Emma has been an incredible support through the emotional ups and downs of this sometimes overwhelming journey. She provides a safe space to share grief, excitement over new placements, and everyday moments of growth.
I (Emma) started Always Enough Love on a whim, hoping to build a community for siblings of foster children. Before meeting Talia-Rae, I had never met a friend who understood life in a foster family. It was lonely, as so many experiences my friends couldn’t even imagine were central to my life. Many people don’t understand what it feels like to have a sibling leave abruptly—or to welcome a new sibling at a moment’s notice. I remember arriving at church one day with five extra kids in tow, and everyone was shocked. For us, it was just normal. This is why building a community is so important, and why we’re excited to help foster siblings find connection and understanding.
Through Always Enough Love, we hope to give siblings a place to talk about the full spectrum of foster care—the joys, the hardships, and everything in between. We also want to show prospective foster parents that fostering doesn’t hurt biological children—it often enriches everyone involved. Fostering opens your life to people you would never have met otherwise. It strengthens your compassion, resilience, and understanding, and it teaches profound lessons about yourself. While not every foster sibling feels positively about the experience, most of us recognize the incredible blessings that come from a family saying “yes” to fostering.
Connecting with other siblings through Instagram has been life-changing. We’ve made friends from across the world and shared stories of fostering in different countries, households, and family roles. The community has grown faster than we ever imagined, and it continues to amaze us. We love connecting people, providing support, and mentoring younger foster siblings through challenging times. As our page grows, we plan to feature guest posts from other foster families, sharing diverse perspectives on foster care.
Having friends who truly understand is priceless. I (Emma) can share with Talia-Rae the struggles my siblings face without fear of judgment. Many people outside the foster care world see only behavior, not the underlying trauma. But our community understands—it sees the complexity, the love, and the challenges.
Over the last 12 years, I (Talia-Rae) have been part of nearly two dozen full-time placement siblings and around 40 respite or emergency placements. The roller coaster of foster care—hellos and goodbyes, tantrums and laughter, heartbreak and joy—has been intense, yet incredibly rewarding. Having friends like Emma to turn to, who understand every high and low, is a blessing. Instagram has given us a platform to connect, celebrate, vent, and grow together. One of my favorite quotes about foster care is:
“There’s never a perfect time to foster or adopt. Just a lot of opportunities to say ‘yes’ despite the many reasons to say ‘no.’” — Jason Johnson
Saying “yes” has been one of the best decisions our family has ever made. We’ve learned so much, formed incredible friendships, and experienced countless blessings along the way. We are thrilled by how quickly our community has grown and look forward to continuing to share our stories, connect with others, and support siblings of foster children worldwide.
If you’re interested in foster care or have questions, we would love to connect. Always Enough Love is here to share the journey—the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
