When the honeymoon ends and real life begins, that's when foster parenting gets interesting.

You thought you were prepared. You read the books, attended the training, and opened your heart and home. Then came the food hoarding at midnight, the lies about homework, the explosive meltdowns over simple requests, and the heartbreaking question: "Are you going to send me away too?"Welcome to life beyond the honeymoon period, where children who have learned that adults can't be trusted begin testing every boundary you thought you'd established. This isn't defiance – it's survival. And understanding the difference changes everything.

Beyond the Honeymoon takes you inside the real experiences of foster families navigating the challenging behaviors that emerge when children finally feel safe enough to show their pain. From food battles and screen time wars to building trust with children who have every reason not to trust, this book offers practical, trauma-informed strategies that actually work in real homes with real families.

Discover why your eight-year-old hoards granola bars, how to respond when your teenager tests every rule you've made, and what to do when professional advice doesn't match your daily reality. Learn age-specific approaches that honor children's developmental needs while building the structure and connection they desperately need to heal.

This isn't about perfect parenting or quick fixes. It's about understanding that challenging behaviors are often children's way of asking, "Will you still love me when I'm not easy to love?" The answer you give through your responses, your consistency, and your commitment shapes not just their behavior, but their entire future.

Whether you're welcoming your first placement or supporting your tenth teenager, whether you're facing daily power struggles or preparing children for permanency, this book meets you where you are with compassion, wisdom, and hope.