#Mixedfaces 🙄
#In 😶
#Mixedplaces 😵
𝗙𝘂𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗲: 😎
I lived with approximately 100 children as a child growing up in care across 10 foster homes and 2 children's homes. 👀
Yes, there was trauma, yes there was heartache and pain, but was it all doom and gloom? Is the system all bad and ugly with no good?
I don't believe that's the case. I believe growing up around 100 different personalities, 100 different hearts and minds has actually given me a first-class degree in the university of people. 👨👩👧👧🎓
It's far too easy for us to focus on the doom and gloom of the care system—i.e., the trauma. But what about #fortitude? What about #pain2purpose? What about #resilience and #hope? 🌈
Growing up in the care system taught me invaluable life skills that have shaped who I am today:
❤️ 𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒚: Living with so many different individuals, each with their own story, has equipped me with a deep sense of empathy. I learnt to understand and feel what others are going through, even if their experiences are vastly different from mine.
🔄 𝘼𝒅𝙖𝒑𝙩𝒂𝙗𝒊𝙡𝒊𝙩𝒚: Being moved between foster homes and children's homes meant constantly adjusting to new environments, rules, and people. This adaptability has become an incredible asset in both my personal and professional life.
💪 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆:The challenges I faced instilled in me a level of resilience that's hard to come by. Every hardship became a lesson, every setback a stepping stone towards becoming stronger and more determined.
🌍 𝑫𝙞𝒗𝙚𝒓𝙨𝒊𝙩𝒚 𝑨𝙥𝒑𝙧𝒆𝙘𝒊𝙖𝒕𝙞𝒐𝙣:Growing up with children from various backgrounds and cultures has created a deep appreciation for diversity. It has broadened my worldview and enriched my understanding of different perspectives. This was further enhanced by being seen as mixed race, making it easier for me to adapt to multiple cultures effortlessly.
🎭 𝑪𝙤𝒅𝙚-𝙎𝒘𝙞𝒕𝙘𝒉𝙞𝒏𝙜 𝙖𝒏𝙙 𝙎𝒐𝙘𝒊𝙖𝒍 𝑨𝙙𝒂𝙥𝒕𝙖𝒕𝙞𝒐𝙣: Similar to the concept of "code-switching," I developed the ability to change my voice, tone, and demeanour to fit various social contexts. Living in diverse environments taught me how to be a social chameleon, seamlessly blending into different social situations and understanding the nuances of human interaction.
🤝 𝙇𝒆𝙖𝒅𝙚𝒓𝙨𝒉𝙞𝒑 & 𝑪𝙤𝒍𝙡𝒂𝙗𝒐𝙧𝒂𝙩𝒊𝙤𝒏: Navigating through the dynamics of living with numerous children required leadership and collaboration. These experiences have honed my ability to lead, work in teams, and build strong, supportive relationships.
Yes, the care system has flaws, but it's also a space for remarkable growth and transformation. My journey was about thriving, turning pain into purpose. ✨🌟
#Resilience #CareSystem #FosterCare #Adoption #Empathy #Adaptability #Diversity #CodeSwitching #SocialChameleon #Leadership #Collaboration #mixedfacesinmixedplaces
Dr Emma Woodward FRSA Susanna Smith 💛 Bernie Brown
📖 BOOK BEING RELEASED EARLY 2025 📖