Thursday, February 10, 2011

Waiting....

I was finally approved last week! It's been a very thorough process... I felt like I was basically naked in front of the social workers while they poked and examined my finances, home, family history, medical records, personal references, social life, employment history...

But I'm in! I signed the contract on Monday, and from now on, I keep my phone VERY close.... It is INSANE to think that I could be typing this and *BOOM* - all of a sudden, I get a phone call, and before I finish this sentence, I'm somebody's mommy. (Or two somebody's mommy.... or however you would say that....)

I went out and bought non-perishable kid-friendly food. Not the healthiest stuff on the planet, but familiar stuff. Chicken nuggets, goldfish crackers, waffles.... I dedicated an entire kitchen drawer to just kid snacks and tied a pretty blue ribbon around the handle. (Foster kids sometimes come from homes where they were deprived of food due to neglect, abuse, or poverty... so they can be hoarders. I want the children in my home to know they won't have to worry about having enough to eat.)

I also created some sticker charts and behavior expectations. I'll post a picture soon. These will change based on the children's ages and behavior issues, but I want to have at least something ready for the moment they join my family. You might think I'm bossy, (and maybe I might be!), but from my experience, children in crisis crave clarity and consistency. That is what I want to set up from the start.... So I have 4 expectations for teh child. You'll see those on the pic that I hope to post soon. (I know none of this will unfold exactly this smoothly, but I'm giving it my best shot while I still have the time to think out and prep this stuff!) :)

I have all the school and daycare enrollment forms filled out with my info.... it's a funny thing to look at the line for "Child's Name" and wonder what it will be....

I have all the clinic, social workers, etc phone numbers posted and programed into my phone... as well as the driving directions to the clinic where the children will go within 48 hours for a physical.

Not just anybody can babysit a foster child. They need to be fingerprinted and submit to a background check first. My brave friends are going through that now in case I ever need to ask someone to watch a child or two for some reason.

I installed car seats and booster chairs. I installed the required safety latch on the drawer with the kitchen knives --- and uttered a string of curse words in the process. (That stuff is not meant to be put together by single parents!! You need like 5 hands!!)

And other than that.... there's not much else to do.

Just waiting..... and waiting..... and waiting......

2 comments:

  1. Hi! I just stumbled on your blog because I'm feeling much like you were feeling in your introduction! I'm wondering how it has been going since 2012 & what advice you have now. I'd love to chat with you about it!

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    Replies
    1. Alissa! Hi!!! :):)

      I would love to chat with YOU, girl! We are a rare species -- we have to stick together and support one another.

      Since 2012, soooo much has happened.... kids have come and gone.... but one of the children from my very first placement in March 2011 is still with me... and I'm adopting him!!!!! NEVER in a million years planned to adopt as a single parent. NEVER. But here we are, and I am so, so blessed.

      What is your story? Would love to hear it! My advice would totally depend on where you're at... considering fostering vs already knee-deep. :)

      Either way, thanks for reaching out!

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