In this episode of In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered, Tori, a foster and adoptive parent, shares her powerful story of building a family through foster care and transracial adoption.
A former educator, Tori opens up about her journey to fostering and adopting three children, the emotional ups and downs of parenting through trauma, and her experience as an African American mother raising Caucasian children. She reflects on identity, belonging, and how love and community can bridge cultural differences.
This heartfelt conversation highlights the realities of transracial adoption, the importance of diversity and representation, and the need for more families to open their hearts to fostering in North Carolina.
“Whether you birth them in your womb or birth them from your heart, love makes a family.” - Tori
What You Will Learn:
For more of Tori's story, watch here.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction
(00:27) Meet Tori
(01:28) Journey to Fostering
(03:12) First Days
(06:13) Expanding the Family
(08:01) Early Reflections
(08:46) Navigating Transracial Adoption
(10:30) Transracial Parenting
(11:26) Talking About Race
(12:35) Facing Public Perceptions
(14:40) Addressing Trauma
(17:23) Open Communication
(18:51) Confidence & Representation
(25:29) Family Traditions
(26:42) Parenting Joys
(32:59) Birth Family Connections
(35:29) Belonging & Heritage
(37:09) Hopes for the Future
(39:25) Message to Future Foster Parents
(41:51) Closing
Episode Resources:
