If your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at [email protected].

In this solo episode of the Dream Small Podcast, Jason shares reflections from attending the Every Child Symposium in Central Indiana, a conference designed to encourage foster parents, adoptive families, and churches to care for vulnerable children.

Jason originally attended the event to complete some required foster parent training hours, but he walked away with far more than that. The day included keynote speakers and several breakout sessions that offered honest insight into the realities of foster care.

In this episode, Jason walks through some of the most powerful moments from the conference, including stories from adults who grew up in foster care and lessons that continue to shape how he and Whitney approach fostering.

Breakout Session: Adults Who Grew Up in Foster Care

One of the most impactful breakout sessions Jason attended was a panel discussion with three adults who had experienced foster care and adoption.

Two of the panelists had been adopted, while one man had aged out of the foster care system after spending more than ten years moving between homes.

At one point in his teenage years, he told a judge he was tired of the instability and simply wanted to age out of the system rather than continue moving from home to home.

Hearing that story was a sobering reminder of how difficult the foster care system can be for children who never find permanency.

At the same time, seeing him now as a grown adult with a family of his own showed that a child’s story does not end with the foster care system.

Lessons from the Keynote Sessions

Jason also reflects on several powerful moments from the keynote speakers.

1. The Wilderness is a Place of Formation

Pastor Josh Cortez opened the conference with a message about the wilderness seasons we experience in life.

In Scripture, the wilderness is often where God prepares people for what comes next. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness before beginning His ministry.

Foster care can feel like a wilderness.

It can mean isolation, uncertainty, hospital stays with children who are not biologically yours, and seasons where you don’t know what the future holds.

But those seasons are not wasted. They are often where God forms and strengthens us.

2. Accept Assignments That Outsize You

One quote that stuck with Jason was:

“Accept assignments that outsize you.”

Foster care often feels exactly like that.

From the first “yes” to becoming a foster parent to saying yes to placements that stretch your comfort zone, the journey frequently requires stepping into situations that feel bigger than your capacity.

Jason shares several moments in his own family’s foster care journey that felt like assignments bigger than they were ready for, including:

• Saying yes to their first foster placement

• Expanding the age ranges of children they would accept

• Continuing to foster during Whitney’s cancer treatments

• Buying a giant van to accommodate their growing family

Each one required trusting God with something that felt overwhelming.

3. Don’t Underestimate What God Can Do Through a Submitted Life

Another quote from the conference that stuck with Jason was:

“Don’t underestimate what God can do with a submitted vessel.”

When we say yes to God in obedience, we often have no idea how He may use those moments to impact the lives of others.

For foster parents, that obedience may look like opening your home, loving a child through a difficult season, or simply showing up when things feel hard.

Those small acts of faithfulness can have generational impact.

The “First Chair” in a Child’s Faith Story

One illustration from the conference walked through the biblical genealogy from Rahab to King David, using a series of chairs to represent generations of faith.

For many children in foster care, a foster parent may be the first person who introduces them to a relationship with God.

That means foster parents may be the first chair in a child’s spiritual legacy, something that could shape generations that follow.

Encouragement for Foster Parents

One of the most encouraging parts of the symposium was simply being surrounded by other families walking the same journey.

Foster care can often feel isolating, but events like the Every Child Symposium are a reminder that there are many others faithfully stepping into this work.

And while foster care is rarely easy, the small, faithful acts of love shown to children today may shape stories for generations.

If this episode encouraged you, share it with another foster parent or someone considering foster care.

You can follow the Dream Small Podcast and join the conversation as we continue exploring what it looks like to live a meaningful life through small, intentional acts of love.

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

If this episode encouraged you, please share it with another foster or adoptive family.

You can also support the podcast financially here:

https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

Music credit:

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons

Foster care is built around one painful reality that many people don't talk about: goodbye is the goal.

In this episode of the Dream Small Podcast, Jason and Whitney open up about the different kinds of goodbyes foster parents experience. Some are joyful. Some are heartbreaking. Some come without warning.

From reunification with biological parents to unexpected court decisions, to realizing a child needs a different forever home, foster care is full of emotional transitions that few people truly understand.

In this honest and vulnerable conversation, we share:

• The different types of goodbyes foster parents face

• Why loving foster children always carries risk

• How we processed one of the hardest decisions we've ever made

• What happens when a child leaves without warning

• Ways foster parents can process grief in healthy ways

If you're a foster parent, considering fostering, or simply want to better understand the reality of foster care, this episode will give you a deeper look into the emotional side of the journey.

Because sometimes loving a child well means letting them go.

The 5 Types of Foster Care Goodbyes

1. Reunification With Biological Parents

This is the best-case scenario in foster care.

When parents do the hard work and are able to safely bring their child home, it's something worth celebrating.

But even when it's a good outcome, it still hurts to say goodbye to a child you've loved.

2. When the System Sends a Child Home Too Soon

Sometimes the system makes decisions that foster parents struggle to understand.

When children return home before parents are truly ready, foster parents are often left with grief, fear, and unanswered questions.

In those moments, faith becomes a major anchor.

3. Moving to a Pre-Adoptive Home

Not every foster family is meant to be a child's forever family.

Sometimes the most loving decision is recognizing when a child needs a different home that can provide permanence.

This was the difficult situation our family recently walked through.

4. When a Placement Isn't the Right Fit

Foster parents often feel pressure to say yes to everything.

But sometimes the healthiest decision for both the family and the child is to recognize when a placement simply isn't a good fit.

This doesn't mean you failed. It means you recognized your limits.

5. The Goodbye You Never Saw Coming

One of the hardest moments in foster care is when a child leaves without warning.

Court decisions can change quickly, and sometimes foster families don't even get a chance to say goodbye.

These are the moments that often hurt the most.

Processing Foster Care Grief

Even after a child leaves, the goodbye doesn't end immediately.

The empty bed.

The missing car seat.

The quieter house.

Grieving those changes is normal and healthy.

One way Whitney processes this grief is by keeping a journal with:

1. Each foster child's name
2. The time they spent in our home
3. Bible verse for them
4. A personal prayer

We also keep photos of every child who has lived with us as a reminder of the lives we've been honored to be part of.

Encouragement for Foster Parents

If you're a foster parent who has experienced these kinds of goodbyes, remember:

Your love mattered.

Even if you weren't their forever family, you were the family they needed in that season.

And sometimes the greatest act of love in foster care is being willing to open your heart, knowing it might break.

Connect With Us

If this episode encouraged you, share it with another foster parent or someone considering foster care.

You can follow the Dream Small Podcast and join the conversation as we continue exploring what it looks like to live a meaningful life through small, intentional acts of love.

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

If this episode encouraged you, please share it with another foster or adoptive family.

You can also support the podcast financially here:

https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

Music credit:

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Episode Summary

Marriage is hard. Add kids. Add trauma. Add foster care. Add special needs. Now multiply the stress.

In this episode of the Dream Small Podcast, Jason and Whitney talk honestly about what it takes to protect and strengthen your marriage while fostering and parenting children with trauma, disabilities, and high needs.

With divorce rates hovering around 50 percent and dramatically higher among families raising children with disabilities, this conversation matters.

We are not claiming to be perfect. But after nearly 14 years of marriage, multiple foster placements, adoptions, court cases, sleepless nights, and emotionally charged seasons, we have learned a few things that have helped us stay connected.

If you are a foster parent, adoptive parent, special needs parent, or just a tired spouse trying to stay close, this episode is for you.

What We Cover in This Episode

• Why roughly 50 percent of marriages end in divorce

• Why parenting increases divorce risk

• The staggering divorce statistics among families raising children with disabilities

• How fostering stretches your marriage in unique ways

• The number one key to staying connected: communication

• Assuming positive intent in your spouse

• How to check in emotionally during stressful seasons

• What to do when one spouse is emotionally done for the day

• Serving each other instead of keeping score

• Protecting physical intimacy after kids

• Why marrying the right person is the ultimate life cheat code

• Putting Jesus at the center of your marriage

Key Takeaways

1. Assume the best in your spouse.
2. Don’t assume they are against you. Assume positive intent.
3. Communicate daily, even briefly.
4. A simple “How are you really?” can protect your connection.
5. Say when you are done.
6. It is not weakness to admit you are emotionally empty.
7. Parent as a team.
8. Especially in foster care, you must be aligned.
9. Marriage takes sacrifice.
10. Selfishness is one of the biggest marriage killers.
11. Intimacy requires intentionality after kids.
12. It does not just happen automatically anymore.
13. Faith matters.
14. A Christ centered marriage changes everything.

Encouragement for Foster and Special Needs Families

The stress is real. The exhaustion is real. The court days are heavy. The behaviors can be overwhelming.

But your marriage can survive it. Not perfectly. Not without hard conversations. But it can grow deeper if you choose to fight for each other instead of against each other.

Connect With Us

We would love to hear what has helped strengthen your marriage.

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

If this episode encouraged you, please share it with another foster or adoptive family.

You can also support the podcast financially here:

https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

Music credit:

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Adoption day is often imagined as a magical finish line. A perfect moment where everything suddenly changes. But the reality is both simpler and deeper than that.

In this deeply personal episode of the Dream Small Podcast, Jason and Whitney share the real story behind the day their daughter’s adoption became official. Just four hours after leaving the courthouse, they sit down to reflect on the logistics, emotions, surprises, and sacred moments that marked the day she officially became theirs forever.

This episode pulls back the curtain on what adoption day actually looks like, from the sudden call announcing the date, to the courtroom experience, to the unexpected realization that in many ways, nothing changed at all because she had already been their daughter in their hearts long before it became legal.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

The Surprise and Waiting Leading Up to Adoption Day

After months of uncertainty, court dates, and waiting on the system, the adoption date finally arrived with only about ten days' notice. What had felt distant and uncertain suddenly became real overnight.

We talk about:

• Living in the uncertainty of the foster care system

• The emotional rollercoaster of waiting for permanency

• How quickly everything can suddenly change

• Preparing your heart and your home for adoption day

What Adoption Day Actually Looks Like Logistically

Many people imagine adoption day as a dramatic life-changing moment. But the reality is often far more practical and surprisingly ordinary.

We walk through:

• What happens at the courthouse

• Who attends and what roles they play

• How the judge interacts with the child and family

• Funny, unexpected moments during the hearing

• The waiting, the photos, and the practical flow of the day

The Small Faithfulness That Changes Lives Forever

Adoption day is not the beginning of love. It’s the recognition of love already lived out in ordinary, faithful, daily moments.

This episode is a reminder that God often works through small yeses, quiet obedience, and everyday faithfulness to change lives forever.

Because forever families are built one small act of faithfulness at a time.

This Episode Is For You If:

• You’re a foster parent wondering what adoption day looks like

• You’re considering foster care or adoption

• You’ve adopted and want to reflect on your own story

• You love hearing real stories of God’s faithfulness

• You want encouragement that small acts of obedience matter

Support the Dream Small Podcast

If this episode encouraged you, you can help us continue sharing stories of faith, foster care, and everyday obedience:

Support the podcast financially: https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

Contact and Follow Dream Small:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Music credit:

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Foster care is hard. Not just emotionally, but practically. Kids often arrive with nothing. Families are stretched thin. Support can feel fragmented or temporary.

In this episode of the Dream Small Podcast, we sit down with Renae, Executive Director of Resources of Hope, a nonprofit based in Whiteland, Indiana, that is quietly and faithfully wrapping around foster, kinship, and adoptive families with the kind of support that actually meets real needs.

Renae shares her own foster care journey, including the painful experience of stepping away from fostering after a difficult placement, and how God used that story to shape her deep empathy and leadership today. From there, we dive into the heart of Resources of Hope and the many ways they are serving families across Indiana.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

Renee’s Personal Foster Care Story

Renee opens up about her lifelong desire to foster, how she and her husband stepped into foster care in 2017, and the difficult reality that led them to step back. That painful season became the foundation for how she now leads Resources of Hope with compassion, understanding, and a deep respect for foster families.

What Resources of Hope Really Does

Resources of Hope exists to wrap around foster families for the long haul, not just in a one-time moment of crisis. Their programs are built by listening to foster parents and responding to what families actually need, not what outsiders think they need.

The Clothing Boutique (Not Just a Closet)

Their largest program is the clothing boutique, which serves an average of 82 children per month. Children receive up to two weeks worth of clothing, including pajamas, socks, shoes, underwear, diapers, hygiene items, bedding, and more.

Families can return as children grow or change sizes, because foster care is not static. This ongoing access is a lifeline for families navigating constant change.

Teen Connect

A Friday night program for youth ages 12 to 17 in foster, kinship, or adoptive care. Teens share meals, talk through highs and lows, and participate in practical life-skill activities like car care, self-defense, and basic home skills. It is not therapy, but it is meaningful connection and support.

Birthday Blessings

Every child deserves to be celebrated. Resources of Hope provides a full birthday experience in a bag, including new toys, books, clothing or pajamas, party supplies, and a birthday dinner. These bags are intentionally customized and affirm each child’s identity and dignity.

Foster Parent Training and Support Groups

Resources of Hope offers DCS-approved trainings and monthly support groups that count toward required foster parent hours. One huge differentiator is that they provide childcare, removing one of the biggest barriers foster parents face when trying to attend training.

Recharge Events

These events offer foster parents a few hours of childcare so they can rest, reconnect, or simply breathe. Resources of Hope partners with churches and youth groups to make these nights possible.

Butterfly Blessings

Recognizing the lack of support in many rural areas, Resources of Hope launched Butterfly Blessings to bring clothing and resources directly to families up to an hour and a half away. Partnering with churches, they set up pop-up boutiques so families can shop locally and with dignity.

Holiday and Community Events

From the annual picnic to Hope for the Holidays, these gatherings go far beyond a simple event. Families share meals, shop for every child in their home, receive holiday food, and experience community with others who understand foster care life.

Teen Shopping Spree

Each May during Foster Care Awareness Month, teens new to care receive a $200 shopping spree focused on essentials first. Sponsors make this possible by directly funding individual teens.

All In for Foster Youth: Casino Night Fundraiser

Resources of Hope’s largest annual fundraiser is the All In for Foster Youth Casino Night, held each March. This event is not only a fun night out, it is a critical source of funding that supports nearly 25 percent of the organization’s annual budget.

Casino Night is designed for adults to gather, enjoy great food, play casino-style games, and rally around foster youth in a meaningful way.

What to Expect

1. Dinner catered by a local Greenwood caterer
2. Casino-style games including poker, blackjack, craps, and more (no experience required)
3. Professional dealers who teach you how to play
4. Silent auction with high-quality items and experiences
5. Prize drawings at the end of the night
6. Powerful stories about the impact Resources of Hope is making

How You Can Participate (https://www.resourcesofhope.org/casinonight)

1. Purchase an individual ticket or a full table
2. Sponsor the event or a specific program
3. Donate an item or experience for the silent auction
4. Attend, invite friends, and help spread the word

Even if you are not local to Central Indiana, you can still support Casino Night through sponsorships, auction donations, or direct giving.

Why This Episode Matters

This conversation highlights what meaningful foster care support looks like when it is done with humility, listening, and long-term commitment. Resources of Hope is a powerful example of how small, faithful acts can create real stability for families walking a hard road.

Whether you are a foster parent, church leader, volunteer, or someone wondering how to help, this episode offers a clear picture of how community can step in and make a difference.

How You Can Help

• Volunteer your time

• Donate clothing and supplies (quality matters)

• Sponsor a teen shopping spree

• Partner as a church or organization

• Spread the word about Resources of Hope

Connect with Resources of Hope

Renae’s email: [email protected]

Website: www.resourcesofhope.org

Casino Night: https://www.resourcesofhope.org/casinonight

facebook.com/resourcesofhope

instagram.com/resourcesofhope

Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/17077V7EW8QXW/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex

Connect With Us

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Love the show and want to help us keep it going?

Support the podcast here: https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

Music credit:

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

There’s a common myth that foster parents “do it for the money.” In this episode of the Dream Small Podcast, we walk through the real financial support foster parents receive in Indiana, including per diem rates, reimbursements, adoption subsidies, and why none of it comes close to covering the true cost of caring for a child.

If you’ve ever wondered:

1. Do foster parents get paid?
2. How much money do foster parents receive?
3. Is foster care financially sustainable?

This episode gives honest, firsthand answers based on real-life experience.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Foster Care Per Diem Rates in Indiana

Foster parents receive a daily per diem intended to offset basic living expenses. Rates vary by age and level of need determined by a CANS score.

Approximate daily rates:

- Level 1: $27 - $35

- Level 2: $36 - $43

- Level 3: $48 - $55

- Level 4: $72 - $79

These funds cover essentials like food, clothing, and hygiene items, not income.

2. Initial Clothing Allowance

Indiana provides a one-time $200 clothing voucher when a child is placed, helping cover immediate needs like clothing, shoes, and baby supplies. No sales tax applies.

3. Annual and Special Allowances

1. $300 annual personal allowance per child
2. $50 birthday allowance
3. $50 Christmas allowance

(Some agencies may supplement these amounts.)

4. Medicaid and WIC

All foster children receive Medicaid coverage. Children under five may also receive WIC benefits to help cover formula and basic nutrition.

5. Adoption Through Foster Care

Adoptive families may continue to receive:

1. Ongoing per diem support
2. Medicaid coverage
3. Partial adoption legal fee coverage
4. A federal adoption tax credit

6. Kinship Care vs Licensed Foster Care

Kinship caregivers often receive fewer benefits unless licensed. Licensing unlocks additional financial supports.

7. The Big Takeaway

Foster care payments are reimbursements, not income. Families who do foster care well almost never break even.

Who This Episode Is For:

1. Prospective foster parents
2. New foster families
3. Kinship caregivers
4. Anyone curious about foster care finances

If this episode was helpful, please consider sharing it with someone who has questions about foster care or who may be considering becoming a foster parent.

You can support the Dream Small Podcast by following, rating, and reviewing the show on your favorite podcast platform.

To financially support the podcast, visit: https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Music Credit:

“Paradise Found” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Some weeks feel like a year. And for foster and adoptive families, those weeks often come with sick kids, missed church services, packed calendars, emotional exhaustion, and moments where you wonder how everything is going to get done.

In this episode, Jason and Whitney invite you into one very long, very real week in their home. From fevers and stomach bugs to basketball games that start early, overlapping school schedules, missed Bible studies, and late night cleanup, they walk listeners through the day by day reality of life in a large foster and adoptive family.

But this episode is not just about the hard stuff.

It is also a heartfelt reflection on the beauty and necessity of community. Jason and Whitney share powerful examples of people who stepped in during this exhausting week and made a tangible difference. A former teacher pouring into their son’s creativity, church members offering transportation and childcare, and friends quietly showing up in faithful, practical ways.

This episode is raw, honest, and deeply encouraging. It offers a realistic glimpse into foster care life while reminding listeners that no family is meant to do this alone. Whether you are a foster parent, adoptive parent, part of a church community, or someone wondering how you can support vulnerable children and families, this conversation will help you see that small acts of faithfulness truly matter.

In this episode, you will hear:

1. What a typical overwhelming week can look like in a foster and adoptive home
2. How sickness and packed schedules multiply stress for large families
3. Why authenticity matters when sharing foster care stories
4. Real examples of community stepping in and serving in meaningful ways
5. How people can answer the biblical call to support vulnerable children without fostering themselves
6. Encouragement for parents who feel exhausted, unseen, or stretched thin

This episode is a reminder that dreaming small looks like showing up, lending a hand, and being faithful in the everyday moments.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider following the podcast, leaving a rating, and writing a review. These small actions help the podcast reach other families who may be looking for encouragement and hope.

If you would like to support the Dream Small Podcast financially, you can do so here:

https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

We would love to connect with you.

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Music credit:

“Paradise Found” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What does it actually take for a church to support foster and adoptive families well, not just in theory, but in real, practical ways?

In this powerful episode of the Dream Small Podcast, Jason and Whitney sit down with Deidra, a mom of 12 children (a mix of biological, adopted and foster) and a leader in a thriving foster care and adoption ministry. Deidra shares her family’s incredible story and sheds some light on how a grassroots church effort grew into a fully supported, staff-led ministry that has changed the lives of countless families.

From care communities and support groups to closets, meal trains, and trauma-informed training, this conversation offers a clear, hopeful blueprint for churches wondering how to step into foster care ministry, and for foster families longing to know they’re not alone.

Whether you’re a foster parent, church leader, volunteer, or someone simply asking, “What can I do?” - this episode will challenge and encourage you to dream small, love intentionally, and show up faithfully.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear:

1. How Deirdre’s family grew from 8 kids to 12 through foster care and adoption
2. Why foster care is impossible to sustain without community
3. How a foster care ministry can start small and grow over time
4. What “care communities” are - and why they matter
5. Practical ways churches can support foster families beyond good intentions
6. Why many foster families quit after the first placement, and how the church can change that
7. Encouragement for churches and individuals who feel overwhelmed but willing

Key Takeaway:

You don’t have to do everything but you do have to do something. Foster care ministry works best when the church commits to walking alongside families for the long haul.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it, following the show, and leaving a rating or review, it truly helps more people find the podcast and encourages us to keep going.

Want to support the Dream Small Podcast financially?

👉 https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

Connect with us:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

X / Twitter: @DreamSmallShow

Music Credit:

“Paradise Found” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Foster care comes with paperwork, training, and background checks, but no one really prepares you for the surprise rules. In this episode of the Dream Small Podcast, Jason and Whitney pull back the curtain on the unexpected, confusing, and weird rules they’ve encountered throughout their foster care journey.

From needing court approval to take a foster child out of state, to regulations around haircuts, ear piercings, medical appointments, and even sleepovers, this conversation is equal parts informative, humorous, and eye-opening. If you’ve ever considered fostering, support foster families, or are already licensed and nodding along thinking, “Yep… that happened to us too,” this episode is for you.

The Smalls also explore why these rules exist, how much they vary by state and county, and how experience, relationships, and caseworker discretion often shape what actually plays out in real life. Along the way, they share real stories, from a surprise ear-piercing during a visit to the logistical headache of documenting every single dose of Tylenol.

In this episode, we cover:

1. Why you often need court approval to cross state lines with a foster child
2. The surprising rules around haircuts, hairstyles, and ear piercings
3. Medical appointment restrictions you might not expect
4. Medication rules (yes... even over-the-counter meds)
5. Why foster care regulations vary so widely by state, county, and caseworker
6. How trust and experience can impact flexibility
7. The emotional toll of navigating constant regulations while parenting kids from hard places

Whether you’re a current foster parent, considering fostering, or simply want to better understand the foster care system, this episode offers honesty, perspective, and plenty of “wait… WHAT?” moments.

Contact Us:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Support the Podcast:

If you’d like to help us continue sharing stories that encourage faithfulness in the small things, you can support the show here: https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

🎶 Music Credit:

“Paradise Found” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What does it really mean to parent fairly?

In this episode of Dream Small, Jason and Whitney dive into a powerful parenting truth that came straight from one of their own kids: fair doesn’t always mean equal. Inspired by an insightful conversation with their son Benny, they unpack why different children, especially those impacted by trauma, autism, ADHD, or other forms of neurodiversity, often need different responses, expectations, and support.

Through personal stories, humor, and hard-earned experience, Jason and Whitney explore:

1. Why parenting every child the same can actually cause harm
2. How trauma changes the way kids experience authority, correction, and safety
3. The difference between fear-based parenting and trauma-informed parenting
4. Why connection must come before correction
5. How shame shows up in kids with impulse control challenges
6. Why “different” doesn’t mean favoritism - it means love

They also share practical, real-life examples - from chores and video games to food insecurity and emotional regulation - that help explain how trauma-informed strategies don’t just help kids with big needs… they often benefit everyone in the family.

This episode is especially helpful for:

1. Foster and adoptive parents
2. Parents of kids with autism, ADHD, or trauma histories
3. Parents feeling guilty for parenting kids differently
4. Anyone who wants to lead their family with more grace, understanding, and wisdom

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re doing it “wrong” because your parenting doesn’t look equal across the board, this episode is for you.

Contact us: [email protected]

Follow us:

1. Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast
2. Facebook: Dream Small Podcast
3. Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow

Support the podcast:

https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support

Music:

“Paradise Found” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/