As an adoptive parent herself, Jen Lilley, 41, knows firsthand about the life of caring for a child who isn’t biologically yours.
Lilley, who adopted her two sons, Kayden and Jeffrey, with her husband, Jason Wayne, shared the exciting news about her new fostering book! In an Instagram video from the actress, she opened up about what inspired her to finally write about her experience.
The Hallmark star explained how her book “Called to Foster?” will be released in May. With the initiative so dear to her heart, Lilley said she had been putting off working on the guide book for a while before her co-author finally convinced her to put her knowledge to paper for others.
Jen Lilley’s ‘Called to Foster?’
“An honest guide to getting started,” the book’s cover says. While sharing why she now decided to write the book after being asked two years ago, Lilley said, “I know what it feels like to wonder whether you’re called to do this and have no idea where to start or to feel like you’re alone.”
She went on to explain that “Called to Foster?” is the perfect read for anyone who wants to become involved in fostering, someone who is already involved and passionate about fostering as well as anyone who wants to feel like they have a community behind them.
Lilley reiterated her commitment to being a foster parent and decision to release her latest book in the caption of her Instagram post, sharing how she was once unsure about her capability in caring for children who weren’t biologically her own.
“l’ve actually been putting this off for a while… This book has been on my heart for years – and honestly, I wasn’t even going to write it. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized why I needed to,” she wrote. “Because I remember what it felt like to wonder if I was supposed to step into foster care… and have absolutely no idea where to start. Or how it worked. Or if I could even do it.”
“And I know I’m not the only one who’s felt that. So this book is for you. If you’ve ever thought about fostering… or even just getting involved in some way… or if you’ve just wanted to understand the system better – this is a place to start,” Lilley continued. “Called to Foster? An Honest Guide to Getting Started comes out May 5. If you want to preorder, I’ll link it in my bio Love you guys!”
Jen Lilley’s Parents Fueled Her Passion to Foster
Lilley and her husband adopted their son Kayden in 2019. In 2020, they officially adopted his half-brother, Jeffrey. In the years to follow, she and Wayne went on to welcome two biological daughters, Julie and Jacqueline.
In a previous interview with People, Lilley provided insightful information about why she decided to foster as an adult. She shared how, as a child, seeing her parents take in individuals who had fallen on hard times was fuel to her fire.
Lilley also shared the importance of embracing the comfort — and discomfort — in bonding with a child who isn’t biologically yours.
“There’s an amazing hashtag that I follow on Instagram: #gettooattached. I love that hashtag because what I find is that people would always say, ‘I could never become a foster parent. I would get too attached,’” Lilley explained. “But the truth is that you have to get too attached because these children deserve and need your attachment more than you need to protect your adult-sized heart.”
