Tell Us About an Act of Kindness

Ellen, I’m a number one fan, and DVR your show daily, but I’ve noticed that every year on Mother’s day, you honor expecting mothers, but I’ve never heard a shout out to Mothers who foster and/or adopt.
In honor of Mother’s Day, I thought I would share a story that hits home with non-traditional families… because l know, that YOU believe, that all Moms deserve recognition for their love and sacrifices made for their families.
My sister, Cristen Casteel, is the strongest woman I know. Cristen is a high school teacher in a suburban diverse school district in the outskirts of Cincinnati, Ohio. She’s known since she was young that she wanted a big family, and not just a “biological” family for a lack of a better term. Cristen refers to this as her “calling.” At the age of 23, Cristen decided to take her future into her own hands, and began taking classes to become a certified Foster parent. As her family, we knew that it would be a challenge for her to take on children as a single mom, but we also knew, that there wasn’t a better person in the world for the role. Cristen didn’t specify any stipulations on her foster care forms, which opened the door to our family to a whole new world of experiences and diversity.
I’ll never forget the call on the Sunday morning of November 11th 2007…. Cristen called the house and told my parents that she’d received a call for a foster placement for a female infant, of mixed race and with special cir***stances, needing to be dropped off that afternoon. Unlike expecting moms that have 9 months to plan, foster parents do have to be prepared at all times, but only have hours or minutes to prepare for an arrival. You don’t know the age, size, or needs of the child, but you know that they need you. In this case we had 3 hours on a rainy morning to run out and prepare for the arrival of an 18 hour old baby girl. New to the Foster care system, we couldn’t begin to imagine how the arrival of this blessing would change all of our lives forever.
After my own beautiful mother and I arrived at my sister’s house with a vast array of baby necessities, Baby A arrived minutes after. She was wrapped in donated hand me down blanket, and a stained onesie. One look at her and she had your heart. She was 6lbs, wiry, screaming, and absolutely… precious and perfect. Despite the obstacles faced leading to the temporary custody by the state after her birth, I’m happy to report that she has grown into a gorgeous, funny, smart, and talented 5 year old little girl. The road to permanent custody was a long one, but worth the bumps and bruises along the way. When Baby A “officially” became a member of our family in April of 2009, it was more a formality (with a huge celebration :), because she’d been a member of our family since she arrived, and regardless of the outcome, still would be today. Baby A changed our life as much as my sister changed hers. Cristen and Baby A have now helped to raise and love 5 more babies of different races, backgrounds, and needs; another which is now Baby A’s “official” brother, and another that’s hopefully in the process of becoming part of the family “officially” as well. The three other babies were loved and are still loved by our family, but are now receiving extra love as they’ve been adopted by other families.
Not a day goes by that I don’t look up to my sister, not only as a sister, but as a teacher and a Mother. Cristen’s students participate in “Adopt a Family” charities around the holidays, and “Bags of Love” donations year round. I’m better able to understand some of my own student’s situations and needs better, because of what I’ve seen Cristen go through with the Foster care system. I’m beginning to plan a family of my own, and I couldn’t think of a better role model than Cristen. She’s not only selfless, beautiful (inside and out), and kind, she’s deserving of all of the blessings the world can give back to her. She a single mother, choosing to raise three kids on her own, while teaching full time, and molding hundreds of other children on a daily basis. Cristen’s situation goes to show, that regardless of how much one can give “monetarily” or in terms of a living in a “traditional” family situation, kids can be provided for and receive everything they need. It’s the amount of love that you give and receive from each other that really matters when raising a child (and hers is endless). If you already do (go Ellen!! J), but if you don’t, please consider inviting Mothers who are adopting and or/fostering to your Mother’s Day show. All Mothers are worthy of the same celebrations, and Cristen’s at the top of my list!!