SAN DIEGO — Dolores Pérez, a foster mother for 20 years, has provided love and care to 59 foster babies, earning her the title of Latina Mother of the Year in 2010. In a recent interview during the Resource Parent Appreciation event, Pérez opened up about the driving force behind her decision.
“When my mother died, I felt very alone, and I told myself, I need to give the love I felt to someone,” Pérez shared, reflecting on her journey.
Accompanied by her children Abraham and Ruth, Pérez recounted the moment she realized her calling. She expressed her desire to offer love to children who lacked parental care. “You know that there are children who leave them and who don’t have parents, I need something like that to give them my love,” she explained.
When asked about her experience as a foster mother and the emotions involved in parting with the children she nurtures, Pérez became emotional. “It’s something that I cannot express…that which you feel are your children; It’s like they took your baby away from you,” she tearfully shared.
Pérez emphasized the profound impact each child has had on her heart. “There have already been 59 babies, and they all take part of my heart because they take them away from me and pretend that they take your children away,” she said.
Despite the challenges, Pérez remains dedicated to her role. “I fight like a cat on its back for my babies because they are like my children. In other words, I have no differences from anyone,” she affirmed.
Addressing misconceptions about foster care, Pérez clarified that all 59 children she has cared for were newborns. She expressed her hope to foster her 60th child, highlighting her extraordinary and fulfilling experience as a foster mother.
Pérez’s son, Abraham Pérez, shared his perspective as a foster brother, expressing joy and sorrow in welcoming and saying goodbye to foster siblings. “It feels very nice when they are home…but it hurts when they are no longer there,” he admitted.
The event, organized by the Department of Child and Family Welfare of the Health and Human Services Agency of the County of San Diego, celebrated the invaluable contributions of foster parents like Pérez and her family in supporting needy children and adolescents.
For more information about becoming a foster parent, call 1-877-792-5437 or visit www.SDCares4kids.com