Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Roos.
Hi Sarah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in St. Joseph, Missouri. My Dad was a conductor for the Burlington Northern Railroad and my mom was a stay at home mom. We moved to Kansas City when I was in 6th grade. I went to Park Hill schools and graduated in 1991. I attended Northeast Missouri State University where I met my husband Mike Roos. After graduation we married and will have our 30th wedding anniversary in July. I stayed at home with our two children Max and Hannah until they started school then I was a teacher for 8 years. We moved to Liberty from Gladstone when the kids started middle school. I substitute taught, but my number one job has always been to be a good mom.
When my kids were in high school, I started doing alterations for homecoming and prom and that lead to having a pretty fun side gig doing alterations. I was super busy, but really missed being a mom. One day I reached out to a neighbor who was a foster mom. I asked if I could watch a little baby she had just gotten. She had 4 older kids and being at home I would love the company. Then my life changed forever!
I absolutely found my second calling. I have had many kids in care in our home. Some for a night, some a week, but the first little guy, I nicknamed “Sugars” is now 5 and a huge part of my life still today! He lives with his Dad, and I am so blessed to be his mother figure. It’s definitely a story in itself.
I currently still sew. I have a spot at The Red Apron in Liberty where I sell bags, quilt coats, jeans and everything sewing. I am a champion of Clay County Children’s Division and the Clay County Family Division. This fall we are starting presentations to recruit more foster families in Clay County.
My hobbies are of course sewing, I love fishing and baking. Every Sunday I have family dinner night. My daughter Hannah is 26 . My son Max is 24 and soon to be married to Jenna Phelan. I like to garden. I volunteer at least one day a week at Hillcrest Hope Thrift Store in Liberty.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think losing my Mom to cancer was definitely hard. I had two choices, be angry and bitter or honor her. That’s why when people ask why I chose to be a foster mom it’s an easy answer. I know what it’s like to not have a mom.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Sewing and doing alterations has been really rewarding. I only do custom work now. Many girls send me their mom’s wedding dresses and make clutches, ring bearer pillows, dressing robes and such for their weddings. I still do other bridal wear, especially mother of the bride or groom dresses. It’s really fun to help someone feel better in what they are wearing. I always tell my clients, you wear the clothes they don”t wear you!
I am proud of my kids and especially thankful for my husband Mike. My favorite thing he tells me is “As long as you’re happy, I’m happy”.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I spent a lot of my time reading and doing art growing up. I spent a lot of time with my grandma and grandparents. I spent time with my Grandma fishing at her farm and hunting for Indian arrowheads in the fields. Her home in town was filled with about everything you could collect. She bought me a piano when I was 10. She lived to be almost 100. If I wasn’t with her I was at my grandparents house. My grandfather could fix anything. He was a Forman at Wire Rope. He believed girls could do anything before it was cool! I know how to wire lights, use tools, change plumbing fixtures, because he always insisted I learn.
