How to Raise Your Sister’s Kids, part 2

Requirement number one was to love them, and I probably jumped the gun with the next step being to get custody. Depending on how I figure it’s either number two (and I’ll shift getting custody) or I’ll squeeze it in at 1.5. Either way, my next suggestion is NOT to ride the roller coaster. It’s right there, a bright shiny, roller coaster of emotion just waiting for your mind, body and soul, but don’t do it. You will need the energy for when the children are actually living with you.

Currently the children are in their third foster home. They have been “in the system” approximately eight weeks. To be perfectly honest I’ve had to distance myself a small bit from dwelling on this and obsessing about all that they must be thinking and feeling (avoiding the roller coaster). If and when they are here, living permanently in our home, we will work through it with them then. Maybe what I imagine they are going through is actually better, or possibly worse, but there isn’t much I feel we can do until we have them.

All of the information that we receive is second hand. Shasta County knows that we exist and knows that we’ve said we’ll accept and raise the children if they become available, but they don’t call and inform us of things. So, I have to filter all of the information based on where it comes from and then I can still only allow myself to go so far with it. Even if this drags on and on for months (and it will for at least three more) I have to believe that we did the right thing by turning the situation over to CPS. Even if I did allow myself to stay up nights worrying about that decision it wouldn’t matter because it’s done. And for the record, I don’t regret it at all. I have to believe that in the long run these beautiful children will benefit from their parents having to prove their ability to care and provide for them. That’s our goal in this. All children deserve to be loved and provided for, and these are three that we can help.

Posted by: Jenn | 08-07-2008 | 04:08 PM
Posted in: Marriage | Mommy | Wisdom for E