June 2024

Sometimes Rain is Better than Sun

My house is peaceful, joyful, and fun today despite crappy rainy weather and all somewhat overtired humans. No one got enough sleep. One grownup has a migraine. But Kiddo and Sprout are playing so nicely together. No fighting. No exclusion. No meanness. I’m absolutely loving having my whole family together for the weekend. And sadly,Continue reading “Sometimes Rain is Better than Sun”

What if curiosity healed the cat?

We dropped Sunny off with her relative on Tuesday. It was uneventful. She refused to say goodbye which made it extra hard. Even though I know saying goodbye is really hard for a lot of foster kids – they’ve had to say some really goddamn hard goodbyes in their lives – it still felt yuckyContinue reading “What if curiosity healed the cat?”

Looking for Redemption

I have spent months wallowing in frustration. Frustration with Sunny’s defiance, her meanness, her cruelty toward her sister, her disregard of others in the community life of our family. Frustration has led to anger. I recognize that it is ridiculous that I am angry with a broken ten-year-old for being broken. But knowing and changingContinue reading “Looking for Redemption”

Staying in the System, but in a New Way

I just completed a form to volunteer to be a CASA, or a Court Appointed Special Advocate. A CASA is a volunteer who is appointed by a family court judge, and then connects with a foster child’s parents and foster parents and teachers and doctors, but most importantly, with the child. The purpose of aContinue reading “Staying in the System, but in a New Way”

The Winding Down

I took Sunny to the pediatrician this morning. She was just due for a routine checkup, but I of course informed them that she is being discharged from our county’s care and moved to a relative a few hours away. They made it a discharge appointment, where they gave her shots a little ahead ofContinue reading “The Winding Down”

Feeling at Home

Seth and I have been struggling mightily with our household lately. Sunny knows there are only a few weeks before she goes home, and she’s ramped up her behaviors significantly. Intellectually I get that she’s pushing us and her sister away so that leaving is easier. I get that she’s only 10, and is struggling.Continue reading “Feeling at Home”