🎙️ Craig & Sally Benoit: "Fostering" Love, Limits, and System Reform

On this episode of Finding Common Ground with Heather and Steve, we talk with Craig and Sally Benoit, a remarkable couple who’ve fostered over 50 children and adopted 13—each with their own story, needs, and quirks. From the first few minutes, you’ll feel their blend of grit and humor. 
Whether it’s juggling allergy lists, remembering who hates peas this week, or managing bedtime with over a dozen different routines, they’ve seen it all. Craig joked that just loading the dishwasher feels like a military operation—because in their house, even the spoons have backstories. It’s funny, it’s chaotic, and it’s completely real. A peek into the kind of parenting that will make you laugh and nod in recognition, whether you’ve raised one kid or twenty.
This episode is full of laugh-out-loud funny moments, balanced with some deeply moving ones too. The Benoits speak candidly about navigating the foster care and disability systems, and what it really takes to build a stable, loving home when the systems around you are broken. From setting boundaries to learning how to advocate for special education services and adult supports, their insights will hit home for anyone trying to raise children in complex circumstances.
This episode isn't just about their extraordinary family—it’s about what happens when everyday people refuse to give up on kids society often overlooks. The Benoits didn’t wait for a perfect system. They did what they could with what they had, and they’re not done yet.
 One moment that cuts through the noise: When Craig and Sally agreed to meet a boy who had once lived with Steve, they expected the "usual pitch" that minimized the difficulties and were stunned and grateful when they received honesty instead. Steve placed a bag of torn, chewed-up shirts on the table. "He chews every collar," he said. Not dramatic. Just real. A behavior that others might’ve hidden to make the placement happen. But Steve didn’t hide anything and the Benoits didn’t run.
“We aren’t afraid of hard things,” Sally said. She explained that knowing where the pain points are helps them figure out which children will thrive in their home and which may need a different path. They lovingly joke that their full house isn’t for everyone, but what makes this conversation unforgettable is that nothing was sugar coated. They let us backstage into the chaos, the love, and the realities most people never see.
Fostering isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up, even when it’s hard. This episode delivers honest insights, unexpected laughter, and maybe... the push you need to take that first step.


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