“Now all of a sudden we were her home” : A qualitative content analysis of autobiographies concerning foster parents.

The aim of this study is to investigate foster parents' experiences of being a foster parent. It examines the factors surrounding a placement that stand out in the stories. From an emotional sociological perspective, it examines the foster parents' feelings about the placement and how they feel that they can support and meet the child's needs. The purpose is investigated through a qualitative content analysis of two autobiographies, written by foster parents. Previous research shows that children often sit on trauma linked to previous experiences of lack of care, violence or neglect in the home. Trauma stresses the brain and can lead to later emotional, behavioral and cognitive development for the child. Environmental support can help the child to have resilience, partly through support from the family home. Research shows high stress levels in family homes and emphasizes support and education for a high chance of a successful placement. The child often has a relationship with the biological parent that is fraught with anxiety for them to feel good. Their contact is greatly affected by the family home and the biological parent's ability to maintain contact. The results of the study landed in five themes of distinctive features from the books. "Emotions in relation to the child", "Strategies", "Impact on the family", "Connection to the child's biological parents" and "Support". The foster parents show a lot of feelings concerning the children. They strive to do what is best for the child. The goal of helping is close to their heart. This causes the emotions to fluctuate between good self-esteem and bad depending on the child's feelings and behavior. The foster parents experience that it is energy-intensive but that they succeed in meeting the children's needs to a certain extent. They have their clear idea of ​​what the child needs in terms of boundaries, patience and love. A lot of energy is spent trying to understand the children and meet the needs that exist. The relationship with the biological parents also turns out to be a big part of their everyday life. Emotions surrounding the biological parents are manifested in the form of empathy but also restrained anger and concern for the children