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Elizabethton mothers say being a mom is 'more than blood'
Elizabethton mothers say being a mom is 'more than blood'

Yahoo

time12-05-2025

  • General
  • Yahoo

Elizabethton mothers say being a mom is 'more than blood'

ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL)—Mother's Day is a time to honor all mother figures in our lives, including those who became mothers in a nontraditional way. The idea of a mother has changed throughout the years. 'A mother is a person who loves, cares for and takes care of,' Elizabethton resident Angie Odom said. 'And it is a woman who shows a lot of strength, a lot of effort every day, day in and day out.' 'Someone who's willing to fight for, stand up for, advocate for, protect, love and nurture a child,' Elizabethton resident Ronda Paulson said. Odom is the founder of the TLC Community Center, which supports mothers and those seeking to adopt. She stated that the distinction of motherhood belongs to both families. 'Many times we'll say, 'Oh, you're a wonderful person because you adopted,'' Odom said. 'But I still feel like these mothers that have chosen adoption are wonderful individuals.' Odom has biological and adopted children. She said there is no difference in her love for both of her girls. 'I've heard people say that before, that there's no difference in between,' she said. 'But there truly isn't at all. You love them just the same. And there's extra protectiveness even sometimes there.' Paulson also has biological and adopted children and has experience as a foster mother. 'It's a bit of a roller coaster,' she said. 'And I know a lot of people are apprehensive about becoming a foster parent. But it was one of the biggest blessings that my husband and I have ever received.' Paulson founded Isaiah 117 House in Elizabethton, which provides housing for children awaiting their foster care placement. On Mother's Day, Paulson said she often thinks of the mothers of her adopted boys, and the mothers who step up. 'Mother's Day, it's tricky for a lot of women,' she said. 'Mother's Day is tricky for me as an adoptive mom. I think about my adoptive sons' mother today. Foster moms, I think of them on Mother's Day. Some of them they're being advocates for children that they believe are not in a safe environment.' Odom and Paulson said being a mother is about more than blood. 'It's really just about the role that you're playing and showing up,' Odom said. 'I think a lot of it is those that show up.' 'When you sign up to be a foster parent, what you're actually saying yes to is a child that needs a parent,' Paulson said. 'Needs a stand-in when they have no one.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Second Chance at Love: Grieving Nagpur Couple Finds Healing In Foster Care
Second Chance at Love: Grieving Nagpur Couple Finds Healing In Foster Care

Time of India

time11-05-2025

  • General
  • Time of India

Second Chance at Love: Grieving Nagpur Couple Finds Healing In Foster Care

Nagpur: After the unimaginable grief of losing their only child, a young software engineer working in Australia, a well-to-do couple from Nagpur found their world turned upside down. The grief and aching silence, settled like a heavy fog over their lives, lifted recently due to the voice of a 13-year-old girl — their foster daughter — who is bringing light back into their a deeply moving turn of events, the couple, now in their late 50s, chose to become foster parents under the govt's Foster Care scheme, a lesser-known provision under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. Their decision marks the third successful foster care case in the city and a powerful example of how love and purpose can emerge from profound girl, who was found wandering in Umred taluka at the tender age of six, spent the last seven years in a govt-run home. Though she was safe and cared for, she longed for something more — a family, a home, a place to belong. That longing is finally being all due procedures and participating in several meetings with the girl to ensure mutual comfort, the couple received approval to take her in as their foster daughter. In the next two days, she will step into a home — not just a house — for the first time in timing adds a layer of poignancy to the moment. Just two days after Mother's Day, the woman — who once feared she'd never get to be a mother again — will finally have the chance to give love, warmth, and guidance to a daughter who needs it just as couple's journey from heartbreak to hope was supported by the tireless efforts of officials working behind the scenes. Under the guidance of district women and child development officer Ranjit Kure, and on-ground efforts by district child protection officer Mushtaq Pathan and protection officer Vinod Shende, the foster care initiative is quietly transforming lives in Nagpur."The girl is excited. She has met the couple a few times and feels comfortable. After following due procedure and multiple meetings with the girl, the foster care was approved. The girl will be handed over to the family in the next two days," said an official closely involved in the district has already seen two successful foster care placements. One child was taken in by a govt employee, and another by a college professor. Both children are now attending English-medium schools and adjusting well to their new lives. Regular follow-ups ensure that both children and parents are receiving the support they need. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Mother's Day wishes , messages , and quotes !

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