An update on life in general
What a whirlwind month this has been. We were approved for foster care two months ago (I think), then revised to be approved for fostering two children 3 weeks ago, and then we were immediately placed with a sibling group… girl, 4yrs… boy, 2yrs. It did not take long for us to figure out we were not cut out for foster care. As much I as I hate saying that–especially considering I want to save the world one child at a time–it turned our world into complete chaos. Our not-so-spoiled-6yr-old-son (yeah, right!) regressed into a 2yr old within a few days (he honeymooned the first couple of days), and at the point of when Kevin was at work, I felt like I was trying to pacify a war zone! At least when we were both home, we could separate and give more of our time one on one with each child. We also learned that the mom was pregnant and due in September. We thought about how to handle 4 kids in this highly charged emotional situation and just knew this wasn’t for us. We kept the placement for almost two weeks.
Making matters worse, I found out that the family lived very close to us, and it made Kev and I even more uncomfortable (we are in the Seattle area, what are the chances?). It made one day a little rough when I learned where certain family lived and worked as we drove to our local McDonalds.
To understand a foster child, we had an exercise during one of our classes. Write down the 5 most important things in your life on a piece of paper. One of the instructors came around, took the papers, tore them up, and then handed back pieces of paper. We were told to tape them back together again. The problem was, we ended up with other people’s papers. Imagine this as your life being torn up, and now your favorite things in the world are gone. You may have one or two things on your original list–but life is now upside down, uncomfortable, and scary. Also, check out This video regarding foster/adoption. It’s not long, but it will really make you think, see, and feel for all the children who’s lives are controlled by the puppet masters.
For the parents that read this, think about your life if it is already busy. Now add multiple phone calls from multiple people asking you to make appointments for x, y, z. Add in a weekly (or twice a week) drive for visitation (heading into Everett at 2pm is as fun as 5pm! Takes just as long too). When there are three kids in the home, that’s not so easy; especially when you are still trying to adjust. I tell ya, I really miss having the support of my parents.
Anyway, we have refocused, regrouped and now have decided we will not take a foster/adopt placement again–unless it’s further into the process, and we are able to ease into it (we found out about this situation on a Friday, and they were with us on Monday–after we decided on that first Friday not to take the placement! Things changed in the situation by Monday). The kids are now currently in a relative placement, and hopefully doing well.
I think DCFS does as well as they can. But I feel for the children who are strung along for years and years, hoping that their parents will get it together–only to have that piece of paper cut up and yet taped up again. My biggest suggestion for all those who want to have children–don’t even flirt with drugs. In so many of the profiles I have seen, Meth is a constant. Scary stuff for certain. Who pays in the end? The children.
Welcome to my blog--it is mainly craft related, but it is a mixture of miscellaneous happenings as well. I live in the great Pacific Northwest, happily, rain and all! I am a multi-tasker by trade, enjoy quilting along with some beading, knitting, and general fiber art when I get a wild hair. I am also a homeschooling parent, but will likely not write much on that here. Enjoy! 
