Foster Parents Online

Today we dropped of FS at DCF for a visit and he left with his new foster parents.

FS is almost 3, but has the mind of a 2 year old, thus explaining it all to him was decided against (by his case worker and therapist). I dropped him off for his visit, came home, packed all of this things, and went back to await the new parents. They seemed like a nice couple, and the mother actually started tearing up at the hopes that he can become their new son permanently.

I transferred everything to the father’s truck (out of sight of FS - he was still at the office) and went back to the office to find them fitting him into his new car seat. He was SO excited. “Mom look!” he exclaimed and proceeded to sit in it and show me how it worked. I sat back and let the new foster mom ooh and aah over everything.

Then the time came to go, and his case worker said, “Hey FS - would you like to go see some cows?” The new foster father works on a farm. He got really excited and let the foster mom help him on with his jacket.

“Say goodbye to mom,” she said to him.

He came over to me, “bye”, he said with a grin on his face. I zipped up his jacket and gave him a quick hug. “Bye baby.”

I felt myself starting to cry, which was not good for him, so I walked into the other room, leaving my biodaughter Babygirl with the therapist.

And FS walked out of my life.

Foster parenting

Sorry I didn’t post yesterday! Things have gone crazy! This weeks seems like the week for appointments.

Monday FS had a Dr. Appt.
Tuesday FS had visitation
Today FS has his infant/toddler teacher visiting
Thursday Babygirl has a Dr. Appt
Friday is THE meeting.

By THE meeting, what I mean to say is that FS’s caseworker has confided in us that the purpose of the huge meeting we are invited to, is to show biomom exactly how far FS has come, and how difficult he reall is to raise. I am assuming that they hope that she will sign off her rights so that they do not have to go to court and battle. It will definitely be an interesting meeting.

FS, Biomom, Visitation

Tomorrow morning, bright and early at 8:30 A.M., I will have FS’s Infant/Toddler teacher, new EEE teacher, the EEE teacher’s boss, FS’s social worker AND therapist all here, sitting comfy and cozy in my home.

FS is turning three in a month, which means he transfers from the Infant/Toddler program to the EEE (school) program. The meeting is to discuss his need for an IEP (individual education plan) or 501 (another type of specialized education plan).

His Infant/Toddler teacher told me last week that the social worker hardly EVER shows up. Then she called me yesterday.

“So, hi, Randi? Yeah, it looks like P is going to be coming after all. Are you still okay with this?”

“I guess so - they won’t be freaked out if I’m still wearing, like, a nightie at 8:30 in the morning, will they?” (TOTAL JOKE HERE PEOPLE - my nightie comes off at 8! )

And the I spoke with this therapist twenty minutes later.

“So it looks like, as long as things go as planned, I’ll be at your house too.”

This is one thing about having a foster child that takes getting used to. Foster children have a HUGE safety net under them. It’s good because it gives you someone to turn to when you need help - it’s NOT so good when you’ve got to host them all in your house and IT’S NOT CLEAN!!!

If you need me, I’ll be scrubbing the floor!

Foster Parenting, Social Workers, EEE, Infant/Toddler

I am SO sorry I haven’t posted in a few days…things have been nuts!

Working two part-time jobs (one in real live, another as a freelance writer), I am constantly trying to juggle schedules. Add a foster child into the mix who has a bunch of appointments to make and get to and you’re talking grand central station type schedules.

My husband is actually home for a week, and while this means more sleeping-in for me, it also means more schedules to juggle: what to do with so-and-so, who takes so-and-so, ect.

Just this morning I had a call from both FS’s therapist and his infant/toddler teacher to set up appointments for this week…and I STILL haven’t gotten back with his infant/toddler teacher!

But what’s wonderful about these people is that they are used to working around busy schedules, because they have them too. In some larger cities it is estimated that the average DCF caseworker handles at least 40 children. FORTY CHILDREN. I have three and I’m ready to tear my hair out.

Another reason to respect social workers.

DCF, Foster Parenting, Social Workers