Often times when children go into foster care they bring a few personal belongings. What they also may bring is their invisible suitcase. This contains beliefs about themselves, the people who care for them and the world in general.
For children who have experienced maltreatment, the invisible suitcase may be filled with overwhelming negative beliefs and expectations.
Children need to learn that they can talk about the underlying feelings and beliefs contained in their invisible suitcase. They need to understand that caregivers can tolerate these expressions without the common reactions they have come to expect from adults: rejection, abuse, abandonment. When the contents of the invisible suitcase have been unpacked and examined, reenactments and negative cycles are less likely to occur.
We probably all have an invisible suitcase we carry around with us. As we wrap up Foster Care Awareness Month, take a moment to reflect and remind yourself of what is in yours. Add your own contents to this suitcase graphic and challenge yourself to talk about what is inside.
