A LOVE LIKE NO OTHER

You don't need to have given birth to someone to take on a mothering role, as these two women prove

- ASHLEIGH PAGE

We could provide a safe home'

Emma Lloyd, 52, lives in Somerset with her husband Geoff, 63, their two children and their foster child, and is author of The Little Red Dragon (£8.99, tracebridgepublishing.com). 

When I was in my 20s, I never gave much thought to having children. I had a fulfilling career in the Royal Air Force, and loved being able to spend my free time travelling and riding my motorbike.

But when I was 34, I realised that I actually did want to be a mother and before long I welcomed my son. Holding him in my arms for the first time, I was completely smitten. He was perfect.

I loved running around after him, all the giggles and games, even the sleepless nights with cuddles in bed. By the time he was seven, I knew I wanted to give him a little brother or sister.

Only, after months of trying, we were getting nowhere. It was frustrating and upsetting but I was determined to expand our family. So Geoff and I started looking into fostering and adoption. We had a beautiful home with a lovely big garden in the countryside – perfect for children who needed a place to stay.

After a long, arduous application process, we finally fostered a baby girl in 2014, and when our son was nine, we adopted her legally. But I still wanted to help other families. I knew some children had such a tough start in life and with two more spare rooms standing empty, we had the resources to provide a safe home.

Only, instead of fostering just children, for three years I opened my home to women and their babies to help them become the best mums they could.