Just Like That… It Was Gone
One moment the days felt endless — filled with warmth and light, sun and sand — and just like that, it was gone. Summer slipped away and autumn quietly arrived with its golden glow, cool breezes, and leaves that fall softly to the ground.
In fostering households, these seasonal shifts offer more than just a change in weather. They give us a gentle invitation to pause and notice — to reflect on the rhythms of nature and the rhythms of life in care. Change is part of the journey, and nature reminds us that it can be both expected and beautiful.
As the world transforms — trees letting go of their leaves, acorns scattered underfoot, birds gathering in flocks — we are reminded that letting go is part of growing. For children in care, who may have experienced many transitions, autumn can be a comforting metaphor: endings can make way for new beginnings.
Nature becomes a living textbook, helping us understand cycles of change, growth, and continuity. By observing the seasons together, we can gently explore ideas of belonging, resilience, and hope.
As practitioners and foster carers, we reflect:
- How do we slow down with children to notice these small changes?
- Do we create space for awe and wonder in something as simple as a leaf spiralling down?
- How can we connect children’s sense of time and safety to the natural cycles they see?
Autumn invites us to embrace transition — not as an ending, but as a gentle beginning. In fostering, this season can be a quiet companion, reminding us that change can be held with care, and that every falling leaf makes space for something new to grow.