I have been reading foster blogs like a mad woman in the last few weeks....I have a handful of foster blogs that I have been reading for a few years but since getting serious about fostering, I have been reading blogs like a mad woman. I am like a sponge, trying to absorb as much information as possible and loving reading others stories.
I read that when starting out, I should look into both the local state agency as well as private agencies. I started by calling the local DSS and learned that their PRIDE classes are not going to be until sometimes after the new year and well, I am an impatient person and can't wait!! I called a few different agencies around here and learned that there is one agency that is just finishing up classes and the woman wants to start the next classes soon. The only thing is, this woman was not as positive about the fact that I am a full time college student as the state agency was, therefor, making me question whether or not I am making the right decision or making me question if they are going to approve me financial wise?
The private agency I called told me that their PRIDE classes are currently being held every Friday night from 6-8 pm as well as every Saturday from 9-3 pm. The classes are only four weeks because of how many hours are spent in class per week. This is a schedule I could definitely do because of the convenience with being done in 4 weeks instead of 9 like the state agency does. The private agency is going to send me a packet in the mail and included in that packet is a financial form that I have to fill out so they can figure out if I am financially able to foster. I told the state agency the amount that I make per month and she wasn't worried at all but this lady was.....I dunno what to think of this?
In regards to the whole different direction as the title states....
There is this friend of a friend that has a little girl who just turned one years old in the end of August. The mom is going to jail in the beginning of December and doesn't know what to do with her daughter while she is incarcerated. She just announced about a month ago that she is expecting another baby....I have no idea how far along she is but her lawyer has made a deal with the DA that once the new baby is born, the mom gets to go to some sort of parenting rehab facility and she gets to have both of her children with her.
I am thinking about offering to take her daughter for her while she is incarcerated. I know it probably isn't the best idea in the whole world but it beats this poor baby going to some random person that the mom sends her to just so that she doesn't have to turn her over to the state. I am going to talk to the mom with my friend in the next few days and see what she says about me taking her daughter. I am going to tell her that I will bring the little girl to see her at least once before the new baby is born (she is going to be about 6-7 hours away, in another state).
I have no idea what is going to happen but either way, there is going to be a little angel added to the family (whether it is one or ten or even twenty angels added....it will only be one at a time).
What do you think about going with the state or private agency? Which do you go through? What do you think about this little girls situation and my decision to offer this to the mom?
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Future Foster Mamma
It seems kind of weird to be writing this blog post or to have even created this blog. I am actually doing this...I am beginning my journey to becoming a foster mamma.
It has always been my dream to become a foster parent and eventually adopt through foster care. Years ago, I watched something on TV about a teenage boy who had been in foster care his whole life and he had never been adopted. He was talking about his dream of having a forever family, a family that he could go home to when he was on break from college, a family to tell his friends about, someone to call to tell about his day, etc. This had a huge impact on my life! I realized right then and there that I wanted to adopt from foster care.
When I was in my late teens, early twenties, I lived in an apartment complex and the couple who ran the place were foster parents. They usually only took in teenage girls, as their girls were teenagers and they wanted someone around the age of their daughters. Well, one day they took in a call for siblings who were really young, maybe about 3 and 4 years old. I met the kids and they instantly took a liking to me. Those two kids had a huge impact on my life and I will never forget them.
I was married and I knew that I would never be able to foster or adopt with the man I was married to. I left him almost four years ago and in that time, my sons and I have been figuring life out. I am a full time college student and I have three sons. My boys are 16 (almost 17), 13, and 6. We also have a little dog who is 2.5 years old. We have decided that we are ready to open our home and our hearts to one child. I have always wanted a little girl and we have decided that we would like to try to foster a baby girl between the ages of 0-2 years old. I know that is very specific but we are hoping it works out. There are many factors that play into the age range, one of the many reasons is because my state allows a child to sleep in my room until the age of 3. My big boys share a room and my little man is in his own room. I would like to have a baby in the home who is able to be in my room with me and I think a baby would make it possible to keep going to school and foster at the same time.
I have taken the first steps by calling Child services and they sent me an information packet in the mail and now I am just waiting to find out when they have their information session. They are not doing anymore this year and do not have their schedule for 2014 yet. I am really excited to start and wish there was a way to fast track this. I wonder if everyone goes into this so excited? I just want to get started so we can get a placement as fast as possible. I know it could take months if not a year to get this finished and really, I am ok with waiting.
I don't know if I should say this but I bought some baby clothes today at Target. There was a HUGE sale and I got some Halloween baby clothing for between 0.29 and 1.29 each. I couldn't pass it up and I figured that if I never use it myself, then I can always donate it next year to either thrift stores or to Foster Care. I did buy two of each of the items because my sister is having a baby girl right before Christmas and I'm planning on giving her half of the stuff.
Alright, enough for now. I will update this when I know more or when I have more ideas or questions.
One thing I want to ask you guys, when did you start buying stuff for your foster children? In what part of the process? I want to get stuff slowly, such as a changing table, I saw one at Goodwill today super cheap and I want to paint it and distress it to match my home and furniture. I am wondering if I am totally rushing this or??? Thanks for any and all help.
It has always been my dream to become a foster parent and eventually adopt through foster care. Years ago, I watched something on TV about a teenage boy who had been in foster care his whole life and he had never been adopted. He was talking about his dream of having a forever family, a family that he could go home to when he was on break from college, a family to tell his friends about, someone to call to tell about his day, etc. This had a huge impact on my life! I realized right then and there that I wanted to adopt from foster care.
When I was in my late teens, early twenties, I lived in an apartment complex and the couple who ran the place were foster parents. They usually only took in teenage girls, as their girls were teenagers and they wanted someone around the age of their daughters. Well, one day they took in a call for siblings who were really young, maybe about 3 and 4 years old. I met the kids and they instantly took a liking to me. Those two kids had a huge impact on my life and I will never forget them.
I was married and I knew that I would never be able to foster or adopt with the man I was married to. I left him almost four years ago and in that time, my sons and I have been figuring life out. I am a full time college student and I have three sons. My boys are 16 (almost 17), 13, and 6. We also have a little dog who is 2.5 years old. We have decided that we are ready to open our home and our hearts to one child. I have always wanted a little girl and we have decided that we would like to try to foster a baby girl between the ages of 0-2 years old. I know that is very specific but we are hoping it works out. There are many factors that play into the age range, one of the many reasons is because my state allows a child to sleep in my room until the age of 3. My big boys share a room and my little man is in his own room. I would like to have a baby in the home who is able to be in my room with me and I think a baby would make it possible to keep going to school and foster at the same time.
I have taken the first steps by calling Child services and they sent me an information packet in the mail and now I am just waiting to find out when they have their information session. They are not doing anymore this year and do not have their schedule for 2014 yet. I am really excited to start and wish there was a way to fast track this. I wonder if everyone goes into this so excited? I just want to get started so we can get a placement as fast as possible. I know it could take months if not a year to get this finished and really, I am ok with waiting.
I don't know if I should say this but I bought some baby clothes today at Target. There was a HUGE sale and I got some Halloween baby clothing for between 0.29 and 1.29 each. I couldn't pass it up and I figured that if I never use it myself, then I can always donate it next year to either thrift stores or to Foster Care. I did buy two of each of the items because my sister is having a baby girl right before Christmas and I'm planning on giving her half of the stuff.
Alright, enough for now. I will update this when I know more or when I have more ideas or questions.
One thing I want to ask you guys, when did you start buying stuff for your foster children? In what part of the process? I want to get stuff slowly, such as a changing table, I saw one at Goodwill today super cheap and I want to paint it and distress it to match my home and furniture. I am wondering if I am totally rushing this or??? Thanks for any and all help.
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