This disjointed post is about transitions, change, growing up, helping others and how they are connected in my brain today ...
Our Summer Ends with D (Kinda)
D moved from our home to his new foster family on August 2nd thus he has officially been gone for two weeks. We are comforted that D is with his toddler brother and a truly wonderful foster family. We are also fortunate that we have seen him most days. D is still attending summer camp and I have been picking him up in the afternoons until his foster dad finishes his work day. I also took D to his Family Visit last Friday at CPS thus seeing D's Bio Family too.
D will start 1st grade next Monday at his new school and he is signed up for a soccer team which he will love. His 7th birthday is soon. We hope to be a part of his birthday celebration and watch a few soccer games!
D has done well with the transition and seems happier this week than last week. He is skipping around and chatting away and just super cute. Our family and the other foster family have also been transitioning. We have been helping each other.
Youngest Son's Summer Wraps Up
Youngest Son has completed an interesting summer. For eight weeks, he has worked full-time at the Jewish Community Center in their camps (10.5 hours a day for last two weeks!) Every Saturday, he has volunteered at Children's Medical Center as an ambassador and in the play room. This week he let us know "Oh, I have been recommended and approved for Children's Medical Center Fall Volunteer program and will volunteer two Saturdays a month."
We started our teens managing their own budgets and expenses at age 14. Each August, I sit down with them to go over last year's cash flow in their Excel spreadsheet and they propose the next twelve month budget. Youngest Son was taking me through his spend for July. He had a charge for 70 cents at a retail store - what? Youngest Son "Oh, the person in front of me did not have enough money so I just helped them." Then there was a cash withdrawal and he was accounting for where it went "Oh, I gave some to a homeless man."
Youngest Son asked me "When are we getting our next foster child?" And when I countered questioned Youngest Son about his thoughts on fostering D, Youngest Son said "I liked having a younger brother." (Interesting that he did not say foster brother - I love that.)
These seemingly disconnected accounts about Youngest Son are tied together in a meaningful way. I see he is helping others under his own initiative in different areas of his teen life.
Oldest Son's Summer of Change
Oldest Son spent seven weeks on the road in Washington DC and Michigan working debate camp including a teaching assistant role. On social media, I was able to view a simple and funny thank you sign obviously given to Oldest Son by his students. Oldest Son posted a picture of it captioned as "7 weeks of debate camp was long, but my labbies made it worth it" so I will interpret this as a good sign (pun intended) that Oldest Son also focused on making it a priority to be helpful to others.
I follow Oldest Son's twitter and he sends me articles and stuff. I am beyond proud of Oldest Son's priorities. Every belief system decision and every progressive position demonstrates a deep and sure understanding of human rights. Helping others is the very foundation each stand Oldest Son takes; that is the way I see it.
And the ultimate transition of the Summer: Oldest Son drove off to college last week.
And A Future Foster Child ...
We are closed to accepting a foster child at the moment but expect to open up again soon. It appears to be a good way for us to help others and truth be told, ourselves too.
#notsilent #fostercare #fosterparent #fosterson #helpingothers #raisingteens
