Something I try to keep in the back of my mind, who am I supporting? While you go through the foster and adoption journey, who are you keeping in mind? Support of the children? Support of the birth family? Living out your own dreams?
http://www.whitesugarbrownsugar.com/2013/07/adoption-ethics.html
Late last night I emailed the contact for the agency that was listed on the ads for the kids (it was the same for the sibling set and the 5 year old). I couldn’t not do something. Even if I don’t hear back, I will know that at least I put it out in the universe. We are available! We are interested! We would love to serve these children as best we can. My husband asked if I thought we were prepared. And while we haven’t even taken the MAPP training classes or had our homestudy, I told him we are ready. We wondered the same thing when I was pregnant with our daughter. Are we ready? Will we be good parents? And I know now that we have done everything for our child to make her happy, healthy and disciplined (respect, manners, etc), and that none of these would change no matter what addition we have to our family. We can do this!
Tuesday I whined about our first agency promoting darling children (a sibling set) on their social media while not welcoming families who apply. Today they promoted another child that needs a family, one we would be happy to serve and welcome into our life (a five year old). What do I do?? Our application still stand with the agency, we just need to take the MAPP training. But we have also recently applied to our county foster services and we are waiting to hear from them. I want to do what is best, I want to be helpful. I want to serve these children and families and keep them together. Is there a right way? Better yet, is there a wrong way? If your path gets you to where you want to be, wherever makes you happy and complete, does it matter if there were a few twists and turns along the way?
Little One has finally gotten into dress up, at least on a limited scale. That makes me so excited!!
You know how on Facebook now everyone can put a little smiley face next to their status that explains their emotions at that time? Happy, depressed, anxious, excited, etc…
When I checked my Facebook newsfeed yesterday and saw the foster care/adoption agency that we applied to early this summer (just barely two months ago) advertising a trio sibling set ages 5, 3 and 2, I nearly blew my gasket. Since we were told when we interviewed, after our application was processed and we paid money for our background checks, that they rarely had children that needed adopted under the age of 8. And that we would just have to foster first as was their new mandate for their agency. Well, interesting how in not even two months they are basically pleading with their Facebook followers for someone to take in the sibling set. I feel very sad for those children and I hope and pray very strongly that they are kept together in a wonderful and loving home.
For background see:
https://fosteringourhope.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/what-doesnt-kill-you-makes-you-stronger-right/
And:
https://fosteringourhope.wordpress.com/2013/07/17/more-thoughts-on-yesterday/
The adorableness is above and beyond.
No matter your thoughts on US involvement in Syria, I hope you have similar horror in the current state of life for their children. Please visit UNICEF if you have a few extra dollars to donate this month!
“We’ve read the horrific headlines about the escalating violence that is threatening children’s lives in Syria. The reports came as a new terrible milestone was being reached: There are now more than 1 million refugee children who have fled the violence. Inside Syria, more than 3 million children are at risk.
The consequences of this war are truly catastrophic – an entire generation of children are facing critical shortages of clean water, and infectious diseases run rampant. They need food, medicine and shelter to survive. UNICEF has been on the ground helping children since the very beginning of this conflict. But as the war rages on, more funding is needed to continue lifesaving efforts.”
Link to UNICEF site for gifts:
After speaking with a lovely gentleman at a neighboring county, and determining that we can attend their MAPP classes but cannot be licensed through them as we were told earlier in the summer, my husband and I filled out our foster care applications for our own county and mailed them yesterday! Woohoo! Back on track after a slight derailment…
Found some boots at Marshalls yesterday while Little One was in preschool. She wouldn’t take them off last night despite the 90 degree weather!
Last Thursday we had preschool orientation where we met Little One’s teachers, checked out the classroom and played on the playground. This is how exciting that was:
She enjoyed her time outside the most, as usual!
Then she took a wicked good nap at grandma’s house while I did some work.
This morning, I was worried about fighting with her to get up, to get dressed, to eat breakfast, etc. I hate being late but somehow I am always late. I had such bad nerves this morning that I was up an hour early! And it wasn’t even my first day of school! I just kept thinking of this little baby, and how time really does fly…
It’s hard to believe that was two and a half years ago! When you’re in the thick of it you never think you’ll be done with the spitting up or changing diapers every 15 minutes or warming up bottles. But today as I shopped through Marshalls while I waited for her to be done with her first day, I couldn’t wait to go see her little face! I missed her, even though the hours she’s in school I am usually working. I couldn’t wait to be with her and hear all about her day. She’s napping now, after gobbling down lunch when we got home. She had a great day and the teachers said no tears!
Fostering Hope 