Fostering ability
Our story ...32 total reviews
Comment from Jesse James Doty
This is very inspiring and thought-provoking. Jonathon sounds like a wonderful person as are his many supporters who champion for his right to be alive and thrive!
I noticed you used the word 'learnt' and I don't think that is a proper spelling of the word learned. This is only a suggestion, please do not take offense.
Otherwise, this is top-notch and a well-written story about a disabled person coming into your home and being welcomed with open arms.
Thanks for the inspiring and uplifting and persuasive tale that taught all of us the meaning of the word love!
Jesse
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2022
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This is very inspiring and thought-provoking. Jonathon sounds like a wonderful person as are his many supporters who champion for his right to be alive and thrive!
I noticed you used the word 'learnt' and I don't think that is a proper spelling of the word learned. This is only a suggestion, please do not take offense.
Otherwise, this is top-notch and a well-written story about a disabled person coming into your home and being welcomed with open arms.
Thanks for the inspiring and uplifting and persuasive tale that taught all of us the meaning of the word love!
Jesse
Comment Written 25-Mar-2022
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2022
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Thank you very much Jesse for your lovely thoughtful review and kind words.
Yes, I have changed back to "learned" for consistency (both forms are acceptable in Australia but consistency is necessary). Good pick up. Thanks again.
Wendy
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Glad you changed it for consistency's sake. That is important in any country.
Have a great day!
Jesse
Comment from Judy Lawless
This is a very well written and moving story, Wendy. It was so kind of you and your family to take on such a challenge for the first time fostering. I can understand your frustrations and the need for your outburst, but I'm glad you found a solution and could learn to love this child. Good luck in the contest.
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2022
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This is a very well written and moving story, Wendy. It was so kind of you and your family to take on such a challenge for the first time fostering. I can understand your frustrations and the need for your outburst, but I'm glad you found a solution and could learn to love this child. Good luck in the contest.
Comment Written 25-Mar-2022
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2022
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Thank you very much Judy for your lovely review, so very encouraging. I appreciate your support.
Wendy
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You are most welcome, Wendy.
Comment from K. Lang-Slattery
This is a touching and wonderful story. I believe that people like you, who take on and grow into this type of experience are true angels. Many of us would be unable to do what you have done.
Your writing, as always, is excellent though I found several things I would edit or change, mainly word choice, misplaced modifier phrases, and maybe an excess of exclamation points in one place. I think if you read over again, you will find most of these yourself.
I come from a writing group experience where we often made notes of corrections in the margins of members printed out work. I miss being able to this on FanStory as I always found it more helpful than generalizations. If you like, I can send more detailed notes in a message.
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2022
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This is a touching and wonderful story. I believe that people like you, who take on and grow into this type of experience are true angels. Many of us would be unable to do what you have done.
Your writing, as always, is excellent though I found several things I would edit or change, mainly word choice, misplaced modifier phrases, and maybe an excess of exclamation points in one place. I think if you read over again, you will find most of these yourself.
I come from a writing group experience where we often made notes of corrections in the margins of members printed out work. I miss being able to this on FanStory as I always found it more helpful than generalizations. If you like, I can send more detailed notes in a message.
Comment Written 25-Mar-2022
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2022
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Thank you so much for your kind review and thoughtful comments, all of which I appreciate. I do have a tendency to go overboard on exclamation marks, I know. I'll have a look first (probably tomorrow as I have to go out), but if I get stuck I will sing out to you. I would love to nominate you as a reviewer, but I have used up all six. Many thanks again.
Wendy
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Thank you for sharing this contest entry with us. Yes, Jonathan was very lucky to have you, but you and your family were very lucky to have Jonathan. ALL children need love and acceptance. I enjoyed reading.
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2022
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Thank you for sharing this contest entry with us. Yes, Jonathan was very lucky to have you, but you and your family were very lucky to have Jonathan. ALL children need love and acceptance. I enjoyed reading.
Comment Written 25-Mar-2022
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2022
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Thank you. Yes, a mutual blessing. I appreciate your supportive review, and I am glad you enjoyed it.
Wendy
Comment from Verna Cole Mitchell
This is a beautiful story of fostering in what seems an impossible situation. I cannot imagine the patience you must have had to use to accomplish all you did. I admire your loving, giving heart.
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2022
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This is a beautiful story of fostering in what seems an impossible situation. I cannot imagine the patience you must have had to use to accomplish all you did. I admire your loving, giving heart.
Comment Written 25-Mar-2022
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2022
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Thank you Verna, for a very encouraging review. It was not easy, but it was rewarding.
Wendy
Comment from Paul McFarland
You should get ten stars for this. Why does God do this? Many people have answered this question, but I still struggle with this. You are amazing.
reply by the author on 26-Mar-2022
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You should get ten stars for this. Why does God do this? Many people have answered this question, but I still struggle with this. You are amazing.
Comment Written 25-Mar-2022
reply by the author on 26-Mar-2022
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Thanks Paul. Wonderful review and I appreciate the high rating and six beautiful stars. Sometimes these things just happen; they think J had a stroke in the womb. This could have been related to his parents? lifestyle. I don?t blame God but thank Him for helping us make a difference at least for him and his mother.
Wendy
Comment from Wayne Fowler
Well written. Error free - I think.
Had you used a semi-colon in 'Author's Notes' following the 'from scratch' you would have 'batted the circuit', used every single punctuation mark (properly).
Your sense of humanity is profound.
God bless you.
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2022
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Well written. Error free - I think.
Had you used a semi-colon in 'Author's Notes' following the 'from scratch' you would have 'batted the circuit', used every single punctuation mark (properly).
Your sense of humanity is profound.
God bless you.
Comment Written 25-Mar-2022
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2022
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Thank you Wayne! That's high praise. I will go back and use a semi- colon! (I don't like semi-colons much. I don't know why.) I greatly appreciate your review.
Wendy
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smiley face here
Comment from lyenochka
I remember your story! Thanks for sharing about your time with Jonathon. Do you still visit him now and then? Probably not during the pandemic. But what a great lesson for your whole family to learn to not judge by external factors and to grow in love by giving love!! Best wishes in the contest!
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2022
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I remember your story! Thanks for sharing about your time with Jonathon. Do you still visit him now and then? Probably not during the pandemic. But what a great lesson for your whole family to learn to not judge by external factors and to grow in love by giving love!! Best wishes in the contest!
Comment Written 25-Mar-2022
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2022
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Thank you Helen. Before the pandemic he would visit regularly. Now it's mostly video calls between us and him with a carer to give his news, show what he has been doing etc, and they also send emails and photos. Every so often a carer gets Covid and isolation resumes for all, but so far only one client has had it and it has never spread. Thankfully, as they are all so vulnerable. Thanks so much for your lovely review! I appreciate your words, always.
Wendy
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So cool! You are such a blessing!! 💖
Comment from LisaMay
Respect! What a wonderful family life you created for Jonathan to experience, while adding immeasurably to your own and the children's also. The difficulties you overcame show such dedication, patience, open-heartedness.
It makes an uplifting story and is very well told... there are many interesting details, BUT... you are going to have to edit it, because the contest requirement has a word limit. When you scroll down you will come across this rather arbitrary statement (which is rather annoying because so much will be lost):
"The voting booth will include this summary of the contest:
Prose only. No poetry allowed. 300 - 700 words."
Correction:
...brother for our son Joe, so that the [delete the] Joe could be the same as his sisters...
reply by the author on 24-Mar-2022
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Respect! What a wonderful family life you created for Jonathan to experience, while adding immeasurably to your own and the children's also. The difficulties you overcame show such dedication, patience, open-heartedness.
It makes an uplifting story and is very well told... there are many interesting details, BUT... you are going to have to edit it, because the contest requirement has a word limit. When you scroll down you will come across this rather arbitrary statement (which is rather annoying because so much will be lost):
"The voting booth will include this summary of the contest:
Prose only. No poetry allowed. 300 - 700 words."
Correction:
...brother for our son Joe, so that the [delete the] Joe could be the same as his sisters...
Comment Written 24-Mar-2022
reply by the author on 24-Mar-2022
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Oh bother! That's half the size! I'll have to rewrite it completely! How did I not notice that?!! When I am always looking for RULES!!! Thank you so much, firstly for noticing that, secondly for a super review, and thirdly for the amazing rating with six stars!! I value it enormously, especially as you had to read twice the amount. Well, there goes my afternoon, in between shopping and picking up kids from school. Lol. I so appreciate your letting me know, especially as you will be in the same contest.
Wendy
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I would've been happy to read three times the length... it's a wonderful story.
I didn't think it was fair to have such a low word limit. Adoption/fostering stories are often complicated.
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You are right - they are very complicated. A whole book could be written about Jonathan, and situations that arose, often with government departments, either useless or interfering or clueless. Or other bureaucracies.
Nevertheless I have cut it right back (already! I amazed myself!) and left out all non-essential detail. My relationship with his mother is another whole story ... maybe one day a story will pop out. I had to remember the focus was to be on fostering, not the disability aspect, although in this situation they were inextricably entwined. Thank you again!
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You've done an excellent job on editing this. You are right - the relationship with his mother is best kept for another day.
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Thanks so much!
Comment from JPGeo
This inspiring and beautifully told. I come from a long line of caregivers with hearts as big as Dallas. I did not get the gene that is loving, caring and absolute in its giving and so you have my utmost respect. I hope this wins the contest just because you had the guts to love Jonathan.
Cheers,
John
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reply by the author on 25-Mar-2022
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This inspiring and beautifully told. I come from a long line of caregivers with hearts as big as Dallas. I did not get the gene that is loving, caring and absolute in its giving and so you have my utmost respect. I hope this wins the contest just because you had the guts to love Jonathan.
Cheers,
John
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 24-Mar-2022
reply by the author on 25-Mar-2022
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Wow, John, thank you for your very kind words! A lovely review. A reviewer reminded me of the word limit - so I have had to cut it back severely for the contest. I think you saw the long version - so many thanks for your time and willingness to read such a long piece.
I appreciate it greatly.
Wendy