I have coined a term and it is family foster care. I have benefited greatly from this. I was raised by two aunts at different intervals of my life. They are my mother’s sisters. My mother worked in Johannesburg and could not live with me. The were difficult times in her life when she disappeared. My father was simply absent. My mother’s family was always accommodating.

In another version of my life, I could have bounced from one foster home to another. I could have even ended up in a home for abandoned children. I was always safe in homes with father figures, cousin siblings and my aunts. This provided a stability that enabled me to finish school and grow into a healthy young woman.

That is the beauty of it all. That I was protected from harm and homelessness. I think that I will consider fostering when I am in a better financial space. I will consider family first. The children of my sister or cousins or distant relatives shall not wander aimlessly, without love and care while I am there and can afford to lend a hand. My home shall be open for their growth and inspiration. In the spirit of Ubuntu, let us take care of each other.