Submitted by Melissa in CO (to read more from Melissa, visit her site Full Circle)
“What in the world are we thinking???” I wonder this on a daily basis.
I have had my heart crushed throughout my life, why invite it?? A lot of times I tempt fate and bring it on myself. Naive? Not really, just suffering from The Glass is Half Full Syndrome. I’m a believer in things bigger than me (my God) and that He has a Plan.
Call me Miss Daisy.. I’m in the back seat and He has the wheel. Things don’t always go as I intended them but that’s the exciting part of our road trip. We’ll take a turn down a different road (completely unexpected) and blamo, we’ve embarked on a whole new adventure. Never in a million years could I have imagined the life I now lead, the wonderful husband and family I have, the job I go to and the beautiful home we live in. Not to mention all the amazing people I’ve met along the way. I can’t describe it only to say it’s beyond cool. Blessings everywhere.
That doesn’t stop me from doubting my abilities to handle this daunting task. Everything from making the right decision on who gets placed with us, to taking care of them, loving them, dealing with the visitations with their birth parents and being at the bottom of the system’s totem pole. Let’s not forget the prospect of reunification.. the county’s goal is to get them back with their family. Let me state for the record that, for now, I avoid movies like “Losing Isaiah” like the plague. How will I handle having to let go? The thought hangs in the back of my mind as a thick, brooding cloud. It robs some of the joy but we knew this going into it.
Society views foster parents as in it for the money (trust me when I say, you don’t quit your day job because of your newly found income) and you really only hear the horror stories in the news. Locked in closets, starved, beaten and abused. How do they slip through? I don’t know. What I do know is that birth parents get away with abuse for years but if there’s even a hint of something amiss in a foster home out the children go, say goodbye to your certification.. and you could be charged with a felony. A FELONY. Did I mention some kids make false allegations? Ya.. scary.
So much can go wrong. Adding to our family is to enrich our lives, not ruin our marriage. There is so much at stake. I cling to the one thing I hear over and over.. we will never teach the children as much as they will teach us. If they do not stay a piece of our hearts will go with them and maybe.. just maybe we will make a positive difference in a little one’s life. That’s all we can ask.
Drive On..
You are an excellent writer on top of all of the other wonderful qualities you have! Drive on Miss Daisy, drive on!
Perhaps more than anything else, foster parenting is an exercise in living in the moment.
I can tell from your writings how much you love these children and have opened your hearts, minds and souls to them.
You have changed them, and the world, for the better.
Lori in Denver’s last blog post..Perfect Moment Monday: Feelings…Whoa, Whoa. Whoa Feelings
Foster parenting is such a difficult thing. My family did it when I was growing up…turns out we were a lousy foster family because we had the worst time giving the kids back! We tried to adopt every foster child that came through the door.
It is so awesome that you feel called to care for these lost children in this way. God is definitely glad to take control when you’re submitting to His will like that!
Eryn’s last blog post..I barely hear You whisper through the rain: "I am with you."