Longtime foster mother Linda Owens specializes in infants.

After High school, I took a full-time job babysitting an infant.  It certainly wasn’t every 19 year-old’s dream job, but I loved everything about it.  Getting married was never my thing – I wasn’t interested in raising a family.  Babies are my thing.  Following that job, I worked at a grocery firm for 21 years.  In the mid 1980’s I started noticing a woman who would shop with different babies.  So, I asked about her and found out she was a foster mother.  She’s the one who inspired me to get qualified to do that, and that’s when I left the company.  After I had a lot of trainings and security checks, my first little one came to me – the day after Thanksgiving in 1987.  I think about her ofter.  In all, I have taken care of 83 foster infants.  Each one leaves a mark on my life.  Many of these infants have had a tough beginning.  Often they’ve been exposed to drugs or alcohol in the womb.  The really small ones have to eat every couple of hours.  you do one feeding , a diaper change and a burping and its time to start all over.  Sleep isn’t something you get much of at that stage, but I am used to it.  The babies stay with me for up to two years before they go to a permanent home, whether its with their parents or to an adoptive family.  It tough saying goodbye, but all I can do is give them a kiss and wish them a beautiful life.  My prayer is that the love and attention I’ve offered them will give them security and trust as they go on their new adventure.  People ask, “How can you do this all the time?  Don’t you want to travel?”  No, I don’t want to travel.  I’ve traveled.  It’s not what I want to do.  Being able to care for these babies is a gift from God, and I will do it as long as God gives me the will and the strength and the health to do it.  It has taught me that love is endless and flows in both directions.  Whatever you give, you truly receive in return.

Hush Little Baby – How Owens calms a fussy infant: 
“My soothing trick is to give them a warm bath with calming chamomile and lavender and a little baby oil.”