COUNTDOWN BEGINS

 They're on their way!

Shortly after hearing we'd been selected by a Local Authority to foster a mother and her baby our Blue Sky social worker called to say they'd be arriving in 24 hours.

Short notice no problem; I'd been gearing up for a Parent and Child (P+C) arriving since Blue Sky first asked me to have a think about taking it on.

The mother and baby's bedroom is all prepared; Spring cleaned and hoovered, a new duvet and pillow set, an empty wardrobe with nice hangers , plenty of clean empty drawers. New towels.

I could enter Four In A Bed (UK TV series where Bed and Breakfast owners try to find dust and hair in each others' rooms), Mind, here's where I'm different; their room has piles of nappies, of course. And a scented bin for dirty ones. Toothpaste for the mum. A phone charge lead with a range of plugs so it doesn't matter if she's iPhone or something else.

All set.

I ought to feel in control oughtn't I?

Captain of my ship, master of my fate. That sort of thing.

Do I feel like that?

Do I heck.

I'm as nervous as a kitten up a tree.

Why? I'll let you in on how it is for me.

See, I've discovered that once a new placement has arrived and they've got their feet under the table, and the paperwork is done, and the social workers have drained their umpteenth cup of tea and said their goodbyes, believe it or not…

I can relax.

It's just me and my new foster placement.

Oh, my lovely family are alongside me for sure, but I've always been kinda the prime carer, and it works in our house. And crucially, my fantastic Blue Sky social worker is only a phone call away.

But once I'm steering the ship I'm at my happiest.

So…here I sit with my umpteenth cup of tea, drumming my fingers, clockwatching.

They're supposed to be arriving at 4.30pm. An hour and a bit.

I could give the kitchen sink another wipe.  I could WhatsApp my best friend, the one I lean on when I need to, the one who loves sharing my fostering experience (she's a senior midwife, I know I can trust her discretion). We have plenty of wonderful chinwags. 

Or I could make doubly sure there's no hair in the shower plughole…

Nah, I'm having none of that.

Just sit here sister, enjoy the peace.

THAT'S IT! 

ENJOY THE PEACE!

Because starting anytime soon it'll be baby crying, nappies changing, dummies missing, meaningful conversations and maybe even adult tears…

And I'll enjoy the fixing of all that and more besides.

But for now, for an hour, before the P+C arrives, I'm going to enjoy my own company.

And the deafeniing peace...