Do I count as a foster kid?

[Anonymous]

I was never in the foster care system, but growing up I had a very rough bouncing to family house to family house and I relate a hell of a lot to foster kids and adopted kids experiences and I know officially I don't count as a foster kid, I'm not asking that, but I'm asking... Is it selfish for me to say I identify with that? Is it selfish of me to do any of that? I don't know... I never had a real family and every family I've been in was a shitty one. Hell, I got disowned and forcibly moved across the whole damn country because of my "family". I'll always put my privilege of not being in the system over top of my childhood life being akin to it, but I can't help but question if I have any right at all to say "I get it..." is any of this making any lick of sense? Whatever- just- does it count... that's all I wanna know...

[SueShe]

You are right. As per the definition of "foster child", you don't qualify but in terms of what has been propagated by glossy magazines, newspapers and other TV shows or movies about life in foster homes, you would probably qualify.

However, I am not sure that all foster homes are as grim as they are being depicted in all those media and I am sure that the majority of them do take good care of the children they have the responsibility for.

I am sorry for you that you had such hardships during your childhood but hope that you will find peace with yourself. No child should have to go through what you had to endure.

[Asker]

I was mostly speaking from what I know from foster friends and people I know IRL, I know Hollywood does the Hollywood thing with everything

[Anonymous]

No... You do not. I spent a majority of my childhood in foster care, yes I did bump from home to home, and group boys home to group boys home. The level of abuse I suffered at the hands of foster care staff still gives me nightmares.

[Avicenna]

No, it's understandable that you'd feel that way. It may even have been worse for you.

[Iron_Man]

I'm sorry to hear that when ypu become a father I'm sure you'll make things totally different with your family

[In_Trance]

What does it matter now?