Life of the Party

 so...          Let's begin. I want to start out by saying that life isn't easy with four kids and a full time job! I honestly don't know how people do this successfully. As a foster parent, I'm still learning about all the invisible baggage that my kids brought with them.      There are nights when I don't get sleep, because they are afraid someone is coming to get them. My 16 year old fears the dark, loud nosies, and being left behind. I suggest all foster parents invest in personal flashlights. It seems to help when the they have their own. We have night lights every where, but that doesn't always help.      Develop and create a laundry routine.  I will only wash two loads of laundry each day.  There are around 6-7 people at my house on any given day, and we are NOT washing clothes all the time.  My children each have their own baskets. They are responsible for placing items in their closets.    ...

 Here is a list of things that I would suggest to keep when introducing a new teen to your home 1. Toothbrush  2. Hair Brush  3. Pads/ Tampons  4. Personal items (deodorant, etc.) 5. Night lights or a flash light  6. Plush Blanket  7. Snacks        I saw a huge need of taking in teens, so I decided that fostering teen girls would be my goal. It isn’t easy or for soft people. They are blunt and sometimes rude. THEY NEED LOVE TOO!  I highly encourage everyone to consider fostering teens first. I have found it to be a blessing! 

From the outside we seem organized and ready to take on any new adventures...        I’m glad it seems this way. We are always preparing for the worse and nothing ever goes as planned. I feel like each day has it’s own battles and we take them in stride. Today’s adventures included the never ending battle of fear. Fear of closed doors. Fear of being alone.    I have discovered that daily check ins really go a long way with my kids. We don’t always call it this, but we do take time and talk individually.       I have bought night lights for the youngest and I invested in a  motion light for the outside. She needed to be able to see at night from her window. This makes her feel safe that no one can come up to her window without the light going off.  It’s the small things in our daily lives that we overlook.   

       After becoming a foster parent, my eyes have really opened! It is a rewarding task and I do feel as if I have made a small difference. Our home is currently open and we are looking forward to taking in another child.   I want to high encourage people to adopt and foster. There are so many children out there that need a loving home.       It isn't an easy process and they will test your patience. I have decided to take in teens only. I think this age range is often overlooked.    Enable Ginger Cannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connection or reload the browser Disable in this text field Edit Edit in Ginger Edit in Ginger ×

    Owning a do is a very weird partnership between owner and dog. I love my fur babies and enjoy their daily antics!  My animals are my responsibility and I do take that serious!  Today, we had a woman reach into our car. She was immediately met with cold noses and sharp teeth. She yelped as Harley nipped her looming hand.       My dogs are protective, so do not reach in. They seem like babies but they are also very scary when they want to be. 

     I’m not officially a parent and NOW I see the struggle of remote learning. My child is using Edmentum alone with no live streamed instruction and she is struggling. What is the purpose and what are the teachers really doing?  I’m a teacher and I do live streamed classes everyday. My child has YET to speak with any teachers.  I do not know how she will make it through this semester. She was granted an extension, but this will be the death of us both.        Who else is feeling this struggle?   I never realized how hard this would be until a child moved into my home. I see her struggle each day with each new lesson. I do not understand how they expect her to finish this, and the extension isn’t going to help. 

       Celebrations are all different and everyone has their own way of truly gathering for family events.  I asked this question every year in my classes. This school year the answers were unexpected. My students had no fluffy answers or cheesy Hallmark scenarios. They mainly talked about isolation and fear. They are bored, sad, and anxiously  awaiting the near future.       Personally, we will have a small dinner here at home. This is my first holiday as a Foster parent, so I want to make sure I'm doing it right and setting up some traditions. I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas.

    The month of December is always a bitter sweet time. My family keeps dwindling in size, so our celebrations grow smaller as well. This year is no exception. I think it brings out the good and bad. We finally put upour tree, but it S just not the same.

              Holidays will be very different this season. My family has ultimately decided to split up our family gathering into smaller portions at different homes. This is odd because I’m used to having my family under one roof during this town. I wonder if other families are having the same issues?   This is my current teacher face. Teaching from home has taught me that I have more time on my hands and I really need. I have went back to wearing my glasses because staring at the screen all day has been really troubling. I end up with major headaches at the end of each business day and even with my glasses my eyes still ache.

             So, in my house we are counting down the days to Thanksgiving. This year our gatherings will be smaller, but that doesn't matter because at least we still get to enjoy it! Mom and I have decided to open our home to foster care. I'm extremely nervous about this new chapter in my life. Being a parent is something I have always wanted to do but due to unforeseen circumstances I cannot have children. I know a lot of women struggle with this and infertility. I just hope that I’m able to provide a home where kids feel welcome.