"You won't know everything when you start. None of us do."

• Fostering Stories
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When Yvette became a foster carer, she left behind a career she'd spent 20 years building.

"I finished work on the Monday and our first foster baby arrived on the Tuesday!"

For Yvette and her husband Anthony, fostering had always been in the background. Anthony's parents had fostered for many years, and Yvette had watched her aunt care for babies throughout her childhood.

"It wasn't something I'd always planned to do. It just felt like the right thing for us."

Choosing to foster babies

The couple decided to focus on babies and young children.

Yvette's son was 14 when they applied to foster, and they felt caring for younger children would fit best alongside family life.

Yvette also made the decision to leave work and foster full-time.

"If I was giving up my job, I wanted to be caring for a child who would be at home with me."

Learning on the job 

Their fostering journey began with a five-month-old baby boy who arrived shortly after they were approved as foster carers.

Like many new foster carers, Yvette quickly discovered there was a lot to learn, from family time and meetings to daily recordings and working with a wider team of professionals.

"There were definitely things I only really understood once I was doing them."

But with every new experience, her confidence grew.

"It wasn't always easy, but every day I became a little bit more confident."

Growing in confidence

Now, two years into her fostering journey, Yvette can see just how far she's come.

One comment in particular has stayed with her.

"A member of staff who regularly saw me with both children said, 'You're like a completely different person now compared to when the baby first arrived.'"

"I was really proud of that because I knew how overwhelmed I'd felt at the beginning."

Today, Yvette feels much more confident attending meetings, supporting children through family time and advocating for their needs.

Watching children flourish

The first baby Yvette and Anthony cared for stayed with them for over 18 months before moving on to his adoptive family.

For Yvette, some of the most rewarding moments are often the smallest.

"It might be something they've been trying to do all week and suddenly they do it."

"You'll find yourself ringing your partner straight away because you're so proud."

The heartbreak and the reward

Saying goodbye was incredibly difficult, but Yvette remains focused on the difference she was able to make.

"I absolutely love it. Even though there's heartbreak when children move on, it's completely worth it."

Knowing the little boy had moved on to a loving family helped her see the bigger picture.

"Watching a child grow, develop and feel safe is worth every difficult moment."

Yvette's advice

If there's one thing Yvette has learned over the last two years, it's that confidence comes with experience.

"Every child teaches you something new."

Looking back, she's proud of how much she has grown as a foster carer.

Could you make a difference?

Babies and young children need safe, nurturing homes where they can feel loved, secure and able to thrive.

If you've ever thought about fostering, Yvette's story shows that you don't need to have all the answers before you begin.