A reader asks; "How do you cope with a full-on wobbly?"
Good question.
The anonymous reader is asking about the moment when it all gets too much for a poor dear foster child and they need to let off a bit of steam. The episode (in my experience) lasts for a few minutes but it feels longer, and can last a bit longer sometimes. The first time it happens it catches you unawares, and you need...
Friday, April 27, 2018
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
SLEEPLESS IN FOSTERING
A reader named Ally asks;
"Do you have any experiences with foster kids diagnosed with PTSD that dont sleep well, and if they do sleep, are awake super early, 4-5am waking everyone in the house up to show she is awake and leaving EVERYONE exhausted".
Interesting question, due in no small measure to the fact that it got me wondering how many foster children have undiagnosed PTSD in some measure...
Probably...
Friday, April 13, 2018
GLIDING SERENELY ABOVE THE SURFACE...
We've had a couple of weeks of school holidays, a different type of fostering.
You could say there are two modes of fostering; when schools are up and running and when they're closed for holidays.
When schools break up your foster son or daughter is home all day, or at least in your arc, seven days a week, as distinct from when it's five days of school and two days of being around home.
Even if...
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
WE'RE AVAILABLE
A few words about how it is when you're up and waiting and hoping for your next placement. It's a wow. Heck of a buzz.
Even more of a wow when it's your first ever placement.
That's where we are now (the former), and it is what it is.
We've been there a lot of course, but it's still what it is.
First off, we have to try not to feel let down or disappointed when the phone doesn't ring at 9.00am...
Sunday, April 08, 2018
THE DABBING OF EYES
It's mixed feelings when a foster child who's been with you a while is gearing up to go.
Not 50/50 mixed feelings, more like 70/30.
The seventy is how pleased you are for them, the thirty is that you're sad to say goodbye.
The children are generally at peace with the world once they know that they are going home.
Yes, they have some conscious trepidations in case things go wrong again, but deep...