Now, I know this wasn't asked out of disrespect, just curiosity. So, I'll tell you the reasoning as to why we allow our Little Miss H to call us "Mom-Mom" & "Daddy".
It was never something we told her to do, mentioned, or even called each other that (other than I tell my dog's "daddies home!!!" because they know who "daddy" is). This was something that she, on her own, decided she was going to do(from day 1 actually). I would never tell a child, who's in a state of transition and confusion, that they couldn't call us by those names. You don't have to be blood or have birthed the little human to be their mom or dad. I have several older woman that I call "mom". It's also not out of disrespect for the bio-parents that we allow her to do it. I would never push it in their faces that she calls us that (or even mention it- unless they asked). However, when somebody is 100% solely taking care of you, putting you under their wing, providing a home, providing stability, serving food, & cleaning your messes- they're definitely entitled to "mom-mom" or "daddy". Honestly, I think parents who lose their children for a period of time, should consider themselves BLESSED when a child feels comfortable enough to call their caretakers that. Yes, we know we aren't their "mom" & we didn't birth them, but obviously we're taking care of them with everything we have inside us. It's our pleasure to step in and take place of a "mom-mom" or "daddy" when they are struggling and can't take care of their babies. No, we don't tell the kids you don't love them, you hate them, or you don't want them. Foster parents aren't monsters.. If we were monsters, we wouldn't go out of our way to attend classes on work nights, do extensive home studies, and throw our schedules away for little ones who aren't ours. Now, that's not to say that their aren't bad foster parents. In anything, there's always going to be somebody who isn't doing things for the right reasons, but that's not a good reason to throw us all into the category of "monsters". It amazes me at how many people hear that foster parents are so horrible. We all aren't, so please, watch what you say because us good ones- we might be listening & we MIGHT just speak up and correct you. ;)
