D says as he skips to car: "I'm going to have a fun day at school."
Me: "Why are you going to have a fun day?"
D says with confidence "I'm not sad. I'm not angry. I am happy."
Then D says from his booster seat "The sun is coming out. I did not have a bad dream ..."
This exchange gave me pause and I have thought about it allot today. There is so much wisdom packed into this spontaneous moment:
- The resilience of a child is a miracle of the human brain and body.
- The ability to look at a new day and declare a state of mind.
- Expressing one's feelings out load and clearly for all to hear.
- Celebrating the ordinary that is also spectacular.
- Appreciating a simple life victory that is sometimes defined by getting through the night.
Just Wow.
The Foster Care Team Update
1) Jonathan's Place (JP) Caseworker (Agency Caseworker) - Our JP Caseworker spent almost three hours at our house on May 9th. He went over D's service plan with me, provided Medication Administration Training to our future sitters, brought D underwear and uniforms and visited with D.
2) CVS Caseworker (CPS Conservatorship Caseworker) NEW UPDATE - I have exchanged a couple emails with the new CVS Caseworker but I have not talked with her yet. There is a family visit scheduled for tomorrow, May 18th.
3) Guardian Ad Litem (Attorney for the foster child) NEW UPDATE -The Guardian Ad Litem met D last Saturday (May 12th) at our home. He will be forming his recommendation for the June 8th hearing.
4) CASA Volunteer (Child advocate volunteer) - No recent contact with CASA Volunteer.
5) Therapist Evaluation - The evaluating therapist, Dr. J, will recommend a therapist to help D with his sadness at the loss of his family. We have not gotten any information on a therapist for D yet.
6) Biological Family - NEW UPDATE -The biological family for D includes Mom, Dad, grandmothers, an aunt and cousins. D also has a toddler brother in another foster care home. There is a request for kinship care (not Mom or Dad) and a CPS home study is in process. The situation is complicated. The next family visit is tomorrow, May 18th, after school at CPS offices.
7) Judge - The Judge is ultimately the decision maker for just about everything.
The next court date is June 8th.
8) Foster Sitters - NEW UPDATE -We had our newly certified Foster Sitter sit with D last Tuesday! So thankful to her.
Glimpes ...
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| D's first time to the zoo. We had a really fun Mother's Day looking at all the animals and feeding the giraffes! |
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| Sam was a trooper riding the little kid train with D. He might be a tad bit tall - LOL. |
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| Giving D the words to describe his feelings is important. I think this chart hanging in his room helped prompt his comments this morning :) |
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| After school snack at Target Starbucks for D - happy that we found a reasonably healthy snack he really likes. This "sandwich" has egg whites, cheese and turkey bacon. |
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| Generous Target gift card supplies D with Summer PJs, water sandals, swim shirt and kid toiletries. |
