ALMOST two decades ago, Jennifer Nash was just a mother of three, working in a post office. Then one day she came across a banner that changed her life.
It was a catalyst that steered her next career step, just over half a century into her life, but the signs were always there.
Jennifer admitted that during her time at the post office, she would see children coming in who looked 'neglected, and think to herself 'I could take them in and look after them'.
Now, 18 years on, Jennifer has cared for more than 40 children from the Tameside area as a foster mother, including twin girls for an 11-year period something she reflects on as hard work, but rewarding.
The 73-year-old believes it is 'a natural thing' to be a mother, and 'a brilliant job' to take care of a child. When casting her mind back to that day, seeing the banner advertising fostering, it is safe to say she has no regrets.
Even though she has looked after dozens of children, she still keeps in touch with many of them.
Jennifer admitted she thinks about all those she has cared for on a regular basis, wondering what they are up to and what they are doing now.
"Very often it depends how long you've known them, how well you get on with the parents or the adoptive parents, whether they stay in touch," the Oldham resident explained. "A child I picked up who was three hours old, who is 11 now, always says that she has three mums, her birth mum, her adopted mum and me - which is nice.
"It is difficult (seeing them go). We are only human. I have looked after a baby that went on to adoption and I never saw them again.
Bu hikaye MEN on Sunday dergisinin May 19, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye MEN on Sunday dergisinin May 19, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Pep admits: We could not handle Cherries
PEP Guardiola said that City were not 'clean' enough to cope with Bournemouth as they suffered their first Premier League defeat for 11 months.
United chiefs told me it was now or never
New Reds coach says he asked to stay at Sporting Lisbon until the end of the season, but he was given Old Trafford ultimatum
Curzon boss Craig wants more magic moments in cup
EVEN guiding his team to a shock victory over Mansfield would be unlikely to usurp Craig Mahon's favourite FA Cup memory.
Any encounter with wild nature is memorable in some way
COMEDIAN AND FORMER STRICTLY WINNER BILL BAILEY TALKS TO PRUDENCE WADE ABOUT THE ANIMALS THAT HAVE SHAPED HIS LIFE
Drink-drive firefighter 'haunted by tragedies
Single mum who was almost three times limit is handed fine
Doubt over promised cash for North transport plans
TWO major transport projects in the North of England have been thrown into doubt after Rachel Reeves failed to commit to funding pledges made by the previous Conservative government.
Law change could end out-of-area taxis issue
TAXIS licensed by Wolverhampton council could be BANNED from working in Greater Manchester with a proposed law change.
How a quiet night in lab changed science
Miracle material created in city is 200 times stronger than steel
'As long as Barry can see pals at the pub, he'll be OK ra
Dad's devastating MND diagnosis
The chilly reception to exit of Iceland
How the closure of suburb's last cheap shop' symbolises a change that some residents would prefer hadn't happened