Documentary 'Mom, can I go home?'

What does it mean to be a mother when your child is not allowed to grow up at home? Mama, mag ik naar huis toe? (Mom, can I go home?) is an intimate and human documentary by Jesse Van Venrooij and Eline van der Kaa, which follows six mothers whose children were placed out of the home. They speak candidly about grief, guilt, and shame, but also about resilience, hope, and the search for cooperation with foster parents. The film invites nuance and empathy. It breaks through the misconceptions about parents of foster children and shows how important their lasting role is for the well-being and identity of their child. About the documentary How does it feel when you are a mother, but your child is not allowed to grow up with you? Six mothers share their vulnerable stories about the out-of-home placement of their children. They speak about the emptiness that leaves behind and the fear of losing the bond with their child. At the same time, the film shows how love and courage can be stronger than judgment and pain. Aleksandra, Diana, Noraly, Monique, Coby, and Yvonne tell how they, often through trial and error, found a form of cooperation with the foster parents who give their children a home. Mama, mag ik naar huis toe? does not give easy answers, but creates space for conversation, understanding, and connection. Why this film? When a child is placed out of the home, it affects not only the child but also the parent. Yet their perspective often remains underexposed. This film aligns closely with the vision of Pleegzorg Vlaanderen: the importance of cooperation and respect between parents, foster parents, and professionals. With these screenings, we want to: give the general public an insight into foster care bring nuance to the image of parents open the conversation about cooperation in the interest of the child Follow-up discussion by Pleegzorg Nabespreking by Pleegzorg Vrijwilligers van Pleegzorg Vlaams-Brabant & Brussels come to tell about what Foster Care exactly entails, what different forms exist, what the difference with adoption is, and how you can become a foster parent.