So.
He's arrived, our latest placement.
I don't like calling him a 'placement'; he's a little boy.
It never ceases to amaze me the difference between what you expect from the information you're given in advance and the child who turns up.
I'm not saying the information is skewed or anything, it's hard to sum up a human being in a few pages of notes. Especially a troubled person.
He arrived at...
Friday, November 27, 2015
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
WHEN YOU'VE A SPARE BED
We've had an interesting time last couple of weeks, like you do in fostering when you've got a spare bed.
The phone rings from time to time and it's the $64,000 dollar question;
"Would you be willing to take a child who...?"
Our policy is to say yes always, unless there's a really pressing reason not to, as happened once, which I may have touched on before; the child in question was on a charge...
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
HOW MANY IS A GOOGLE?
This week of focus on bullying has really got me thinking.
Am I ever guilty?
And if I am, is it justified by the ends?
I'm sitting at the kitchen table, big mug of tea, the sun's not up, everyone is asleep. Good time to think.
I'LL COUNT TO TEN
Suppose a foster child crosses a line; calls me an unacceptable word.
I know his past, I know why he gets angry. I know the harm that's been done...
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
FOSTERING AND BULLYING
It's 'Anti-Bullying Week' 16th - 20th November.
Usually these 'raising awareness' exercises pass me by I'm afraid; if you're a foster parent your awareness of the specific needs of your looked-after children is so acute you've less time for national campaigns than ordinary folk.
But bullying is different. It's huge, it's everywhere.
It's a global epidemic. It's bubonic.
It's ruining zillions...
Wednesday, November 04, 2015
PERCEPTIONS
How can foster children overcome the shocks they've been subjected to?
If you see your parents at each others throats and get a dread of raised voices how can you watch Eastenders without your gut wrenching?
...