In 19 days we experienced:
WEEK 1
- 10/1 - Placement at 9pm (complete online daily report)
- 10/2 - Enroll in school, sign up for YMCA aftercare, cobble together clothes, 3 Day Medical Check Up at Jonathan's Place and special medical tests (complete online daily report)
- 10/3 - Started Kindergarten at local elementary (complete online daily report)
- 10/4 - Gather more clothing from generous friends (complete online daily report)
- 10/5 - 1st Family Visit one hour away from us and CPS transporter used (complete online daily report)
- 10/6 to 10/8 - Arrange for childcare with my Dad as we have plans for ACL Austin trip and arrange zoo visit (complete online daily report)
WEEK 2
- 10/8 to 10/9 - Fly to Indiana for business meeting so arrange care for C while gone
- 10/10 - 30 Day Medical Appointment at Rees-Jones Foster Clinic, Psychological Evaluation at our house, get haircut and new sneakers
- 10/11- 2nd Family Visit one hour away from us and CPS transporter used
- 10/12 - School out and no childcare available
- 10/13 - All day Behavioral Intervention Training at Jonathan's Place
- 10/14 - Complete various paperwork, scan and email out: service plan, placement inventory, proof of school enrollment, medical forms, daily schedule, monthly calendar, etc. (complete online weekly report)
WEEK 3
- 10/15 - CASA Volunteer visits our home and then we go get school uniforms and coat for weather change
- 10/16 - CPS investigator takes C for more medical tests (complete online weekly report)
- 10/17 - Notified C will move to Kinship Foster Care with grandparents
- 10/18 - Pack up C's belongings and go out for last dinner
- 10/19 - C leaves
BEHAVIOR
This precious five year old was very much an up and down experience. He is an engaging boy with a fun personality who likes to tell stories. He is warm and affectionate. C is constantly on the move, eats well and is super smart. C loves to play with cars and legos.
And C is fiercely independent.
C has a story and experiences that shape his young life. Most mornings were pretty awful in getting C up, dressed and off to school. Many bedtimes routines quickly became meltdowns and a child in total distress. His mood swings were epic in that once he was okay then the traumatized child disappeared completely. C was quite adept at not telling the whole truth thus trust was tough and we had some interesting situations. The Behavioral Intervention Training we attended on 10/13 was quite timely and I definitely tried to use some of the techniques with C this past week. We were working on understanding his triggers and looking for ways to minimize the shut down behaviors. I do think we would have eventually stabilized but it was going to take awhile and lots of patience and love.
The sad truth is that C is exhibiting normal behaviors to an abnormal situation. Little kids should not be let down by their parents. Little kids should not be whisked away to a stranger's house to start a new school, see new doctors, interact with police, government agencies, child advocates and lawyers. Little kids should not be afraid.
So. We gave C a big hug this afternoon. I hope that C's life turns upward and all works out for that little guy ...
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| C was super excited to get these cool sneakers ... so cute on him! |
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| Youngest Son and C share flan for a last dinner. C gobbled up the flan - he liked it very much! |
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| The two boxes are not books but full of mostly clothes and some toys. The red bag is the "Family Visit Bag" which C would put things into during the week to share with his family during the one hour weekly visit. The blue backpack from Children's Rees-Jones Foster Clinic has the Halloween costume we bought for him. The other backpacks have school papers and miscellaneous stuff. |
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| Going to next Kinship Foster Care home outfit ... |
