You know you are a foster parent when...

You go to a locked box to get medicine or vitamins. Let's just say I had a hard time remembering to take my vitamins before I was a foster parent.  Now that they are locked up, I'm doing good to take them once a week.

You know you are a foster parent when...
Finding a babysitter requires a back ground check and a letter of reference.

You know you are a foster parent when...
A night without the children feels like a special occasion.

You know you are a foster parent when...
Taking continuing education classes is not only required but looked forward to as time off.

You know you are a foster parent when...
Mother's Day and/or Father's Day isn't just about you.  It is also about the bio family of your children.  When I buy a card for my own parents, I'm getting one for a person I've never met.

You know you are a foster parent when...
A doctor's visit requires a form three pages long to be filled out.

You know you are a foster parent when...
You have to have difficult conversations with little ones about why they aren't with their bio family.  This one will never cease to be hard for me.  No matter whether the child is 10 or 2, they want to know why they can't be with the ones they love.

You know you are a foster parent when...
You have to tell a child who you absolutely love and who loves you back that once they leave you, you will probably never see each other again.

You know you are a foster parent when...
Your social calendar is filled with appointments with case workers and other decision makers and not your friends.

You know you are a foster parent when...
The site of uncovered outlets makes you very nervous, even if children aren't around.

You know you are a foster parent when...
All forms of discipline that you grew up with are not allowed to be used.  Well, maybe not ALL but most.

You know you are a foster parent when...
You find yourself saying bed time prayers with your children and they ask you to pray for their family members whom you have never met.