Woman Receives More Than 100 Mother’s Day Cards After Fostering Children

Families across the United Kingdom celebrated The Mother's Day on March 31. Geralt/Pixabay

A super mother in the United Kingdom has been fostering children for six years and has received more than 100 Mother’s Day cards.

Fiona Oldfield, 37, grew up in foster care herself, and it was her life’s dream to be a foster mother. Aside from her own biological children, she’s fostered 15 children during all these years and treasures every card they’ve given her, reported The Mirror.

Oldfield celebrated UK’s mother’s day along with many other mothers from Birmingham on March 31. Families in the United Kingdom celebrate “Mothering Sunday” on the fourth Sunday of Lent.

She and her husband Pauk foster through Foster Care Associates, an agency that has helped people become foster caregivers for 25 years.

Oldfield and Pauk of West Midlands currently foster four brothers, aged six and below, and their three biological children.

They also provide a permanent home for 18-year-old Shannon Clifton, whom they fostered as a child in the past.

Life as a foster mother is hard work every day. Oldfield drops six children off at four different schools. Meals are no less than a feast—14 loaves of bread, 70 bananas, and 12 gallons of milk every week.

Even on Mother’s Day, Oldfield didn’t get to rest. She roasted lamb for dinner for the entire family, plus a few guests, and finally everyone sat down to watch television together.

“I love Mother’s Day, though it gets harder every year to find space for all the presents and cards,” Oldfield told The Mirror.

She feels very touched and gratified when children she has fostered earlier continue to send her cards on Mother’s Day.

“My most rewarding moment as a foster carer came on Mother’s Day a few years ago, when Shannon, who wasn’t living with me at the time, sent me a handwritten Mother’s Day card.

“It really meant a lot that she took the time to do so, and now she lives with me full time as an adult. It’s great to have impacted someone’s life so much,” she said, adding that her biological children see Shannon as their older sister.

She said she feels concerned about the pending need for more foster care families across the country.

“It breaks my heart to know that there is currently a shortfall of 8,000 foster families across the UK. All you need is to be over 21, with a spare room, and willing to give a child a loving and stable home,” she said and urged everyone to think about it.

Why is Mother’s Day Different in the United Kingdom?

Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom has a religious origin and is different from International Mother’s Day. It’s called the Mothering Sunday and was originally a church service to celebrate motherhood and the birth of children, according to The Guardian.

Mothering Sunday is always celebrated on March 25 or the nearest Sunday.

Traditionally, Christians throughout the country visit their “mother” church on the holiday, but gradually the day started celebrating mothers, according to the Honey.

It was traditionally a day off for servants, and they used it to visit their mothers at home.