“It’s something we always wanted to do and we enjoy doing it,” Robert Isdale, who lives in Lincolnshire, England with his wife Margaret, shares.
Robert and Margaret Isdale, who reside in Lincolnshire, England, have opened their hearts and home to over 150 children over the past 45 years, and they don’t plan to stop any time soon.
“It’s something we always wanted to do and we enjoy doing it,” says Robert, 81. “If you’re fit enough, why not? I would say to anybody, no matter how old you are, if you want to do it, go for it.”
“People often ask, ‘How can you do it? How can you part with them?’ But you need to understand the role,” he adds. “You’re giving a child a safe and loving home until a more permanent one can be found.”
Although the couple, married for 58 years, sometimes find it hard to say goodbye, they see the bigger picture.
“Our first baby stayed with us for five or six months. We were tempted to adopt him, but his mother wanted him back,” explains Margaret, 80.
“It’s always bittersweet when they leave because you get attached, but many stay in touch with us,” says Robert. “It’s a joy to see them settled with new families. The longest we’ve had a child with us is four and a half years.”
Their bond with one little girl was so strong her adoptive parents asked them to be her godparents at her christening later this year.
“I was moved to tears when they asked,” shares Margaret. “We had her from when she was 5 days old until she was 14 months. She’s almost 3 now and such a delightful child.”
There was one special child, however, they couldn’t let go of.
After three years of caring for a beautiful little girl named Kim, born with Down syndrome and a heart condition, Robert and Margaret decided to adopt her in 1987.
“Kim had a life expectancy of just 6 to 9 months, but she defied the odds,” says Robert.
Kim, who lived until she was 21, later wanted to learn about her birth parents.
“A social worker found her mother living not far from us in Lincolnshire, even though we were based in Birmingham when we got Kim,” he adds. “Eight months before she passed away, Kim met her birth family. We remain close to her birth mother.”
Tragically, Kim passed away while the family was on vacation in 2005. “It was devastating,” says Robert. “But she lived a full life.”
Robert and Margaret, who are also parents to Fiona and David, both in their 50s, are currently caring for an 8-month-old baby boy, with them since he was just 8 days old.
“We saw him in the hospital,” says Margaret. “He’s such a lovely baby.”
Rather than being daunted by sleepless nights and diaper changes, the couple embraces it.
“Sleep?” laughs Margaret. “What’s that?”
“At our age, we’re up a few times a night anyway,” jokes Robert. “A stroller makes a good substitute for a walking frame! And we’ve got diaper changing down to an art.”
Margaret notes that the baby actually sleeps well and says they love fostering infants.
“Oh yes, we mostly foster babies now,” Robert adds. “We’ve loved every child, despite the challenges. Respect and non-judgment, regardless of background, are key to being a good foster carer.”
The couple were recently honored with a lifetime achievement award by Lincolnshire County Council for their remarkable fostering service.
“We considered retiring, but a comment from social services made us rethink,” explains Robert. “There’s a significant need for foster carers and adopters. We never know how long a child will stay with us, but the main thing is their safety. For now, we’re managing just fine!”
