Comments on: Episode 42 - Two Working Parents http://fosterpodcast.com/episode-42-two-working-parents/ Join foster parents Tim and Wendy as they discuss foster care and adoption. With humor, insight and Christian faith, they share their everyday ups and downs as a foster family with hopes of adoption. Get your questions answered about the foster and fost adopt system while following Tim and Wendy as they journey through the process. What is it like to deal with the system? Are all social workers really jaded? How intrusive is it on your life? All these questions and more will be answered from a real-life perspective. Watch out! You may find yourself thinking about fostering or adopting too! Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:05:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Jenn http://fosterpodcast.com/episode-42-two-working-parents/#comment-305 Jenn Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:43:05 +0000 http://fosterpodcast.com/?p=49#comment-305 Thanks! Tim and Wendy you two are great people. I just wanted to give you an update. I went to the review. It was not the meeting I expected. Then because I still wanted to voice my concerns about many things, I called back and asked to speak with the reviewer privately. Something I was told I could do. Well that went well and they actually said they would use some of what I said for future trainings. Then the GAL called me and told me the birth father's aunt wanted to speak to me and gave me her number. I called her and it sort of turned things around for me. As it turns out the birth father has a whole bunch of family that has offered up support. She sent me church, school, and community information on where Foster child is going to and she is going to send pictures of all of it soon. I felt so much better about it that I told my foster child he is going to a safe place and he smiled. He believed me because I believed me. He is really smart in that way. I have been wanting to respond but every time I think to contact Wendy it is too early where you live. I will soon though. I was not given the opportunity to meet birth dad until recently but I wish I could have meet his support system and him from the very start. It seems it would have been a healthy way to go about it. My husband on the other hand is in a different place and just feels used by the whole thing and felt we were misled. He even feels bad because the place where our foster son is going is in many ways much nicer that our home. I don't know what to do for him. He said it looks like he hit the jackpot. I think we were the jackpot! Thanks again,I will keep you posted. Thanks! Tim and Wendy you two are great people. I just wanted to give you an update. I went to the review. It was not the meeting I expected. Then because I still wanted to voice my concerns about many things, I called back and asked to speak with the reviewer privately. Something I was told I could do. Well that went well and they actually said they would use some of what I said for future trainings. Then the GAL called me and told me the birth father’s aunt wanted to speak to me and gave me her number. I called her and it sort of turned things around for me. As it turns out the birth father has a whole bunch of family that has offered up support. She sent me church, school, and community information on where Foster child is going to and she is going to send pictures of all of it soon. I felt so much better about it that I told my foster child he is going to a safe place and he smiled. He believed me because I believed me. He is really smart in that way. I have been wanting to respond but every time I think to contact Wendy it is too early where you live. I will soon though. I was not given the opportunity to meet birth dad until recently but I wish I could have meet his support system and him from the very start. It seems it would have been a healthy way to go about it. My husband on the other hand is in a different place and just feels used by the whole thing and felt we were misled. He even feels bad because the place where our foster son is going is in many ways much nicer that our home. I don’t know what to do for him. He said it looks like he hit the jackpot. I think we were the jackpot! Thanks again,I will keep you posted.

]]> By: Julie http://fosterpodcast.com/episode-42-two-working-parents/#comment-304 Julie Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:10:12 +0000 http://fosterpodcast.com/?p=49#comment-304 Tim, That's a bummer. No email???? One other question: In CA do they have levels of foster parents? Here in MO, there are "Traditional" foster parents, who are at one pay scale and take so-called "Traditional" kids (supposedly behavior free kids). Then for extra training, you can become a Behavior foster parent, which has a higher pay, tougher kids, and a behavior coach to help. Then you can become a Career parent for more pay, but one person has to stay home with the kids all day. Those are the toughest kids. Unfortunately, the way the system is, there are no behavior-free kids, so the divisions are kind of fuzzy between which level of kids you are working with, making it tough on parents who are getting paid one rate when the kid might very well have behaviors that should make them a behavioral kid. And then there's the problem of not enough of a certain kind of parent for the amount of kids. And then it also happens that Career kids get kicked out of Career homes and sent to group homes, and then get placed back in Traditional homes with unsuspecting Traditional foster parents. As you said, it's a crazy system! Just wondering if it is similar in CA. Tim,
That’s a bummer. No email????
One other question: In CA do they have levels of foster parents? Here in MO, there are “Traditional” foster parents, who are at one pay scale and take so-called “Traditional” kids (supposedly behavior free kids). Then for extra training, you can become a Behavior foster parent, which has a higher pay, tougher kids, and a behavior coach to help. Then you can become a Career parent for more pay, but one person has to stay home with the kids all day. Those are the toughest kids. Unfortunately, the way the system is, there are no behavior-free kids, so the divisions are kind of fuzzy between which level of kids you are working with, making it tough on parents who are getting paid one rate when the kid might very well have behaviors that should make them a behavioral kid. And then there’s the problem of not enough of a certain kind of parent for the amount of kids. And then it also happens that Career kids get kicked out of Career homes and sent to group homes, and then get placed back in Traditional homes with unsuspecting Traditional foster parents. As you said, it’s a crazy system! Just wondering if it is similar in CA.

]]> By: Tim http://fosterpodcast.com/episode-42-two-working-parents/#comment-303 Tim Mon, 28 Jul 2008 04:27:04 +0000 http://fosterpodcast.com/?p=49#comment-303 Julie, I think you found a way to make Listener Corner. You might have made a full episode. We would LOVE to email our social worker. Unfortunately they don't give us email addresses here in CA. The song was not a Wendy original. But she is rather good at making up kid songs on the spot. Sharon. Glad to have you listening in. We definitely strive to describe our faith in a way that non-Christians can understand and appreciate what we're about. Hope to have you join us in the ranks of foster parents soon. Just in case anyone thinks we're cold for not responding to Jenn, we've emailed her privately concerning her situation. Julie,
I think you found a way to make Listener Corner. You might have made a full episode. We would LOVE to email our social worker. Unfortunately they don’t give us email addresses here in CA.

The song was not a Wendy original. But she is rather good at making up kid songs on the spot.

Sharon. Glad to have you listening in. We definitely strive to describe our faith in a way that non-Christians can understand and appreciate what we’re about. Hope to have you join us in the ranks of foster parents soon.

Just in case anyone thinks we’re cold for not responding to Jenn, we’ve emailed her privately concerning her situation.

]]> By: Julie http://fosterpodcast.com/episode-42-two-working-parents/#comment-302 Julie Mon, 28 Jul 2008 01:02:27 +0000 http://fosterpodcast.com/?p=49#comment-302 Jenn, I'm sorry to hear you are going through such a rough time. I will pray for you! Julie Jenn,
I’m sorry to hear you are going through such a rough time. I will pray for you!
Julie

]]> By: Sharon http://fosterpodcast.com/episode-42-two-working-parents/#comment-301 Sharon Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:59:45 +0000 http://fosterpodcast.com/?p=49#comment-301 Hi There! I just wanted you to know that you don't have to be a Christian to love your podcast, I am Humanist and I absolutely love your podcast and look forward to each and every episode. I laugh and I cry right along side with you both. My husband and I hope to be foster parents when things settle down in our home (remodeling). We are too old for adopting, but fostering would be a great option and listening to your podcast has been a great inspiration for that. Thanks for the gentle push! :-) Hi There! I just wanted you to know that you don’t have to be a Christian to love your podcast, I am Humanist and I absolutely love your podcast and look forward to each and every episode. I laugh and I cry right along side with you both. My husband and I hope to be foster parents when things settle down in our home (remodeling). We are too old for adopting, but fostering would be a great option and listening to your podcast has been a great inspiration for that. Thanks for the gentle push! :-)

]]> By: Jenn http://fosterpodcast.com/episode-42-two-working-parents/#comment-300 Jenn Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:56:20 +0000 http://fosterpodcast.com/?p=49#comment-300 Hi there Tim and Wendy, I just read Julie's email. Wow. I think the email thing is a good idea. It sounds like you have got a talented teenager on your hands. I enjoyed the parts about celebrating the strange things. I am just getting ready to send my foster son to his birth father. He is doing well. I am just very sad because we were originally told we most likely could adopt him. Before we decided to adopt through the foster care system we went through a grueling infertility process. I did manage to have one biological child before I had the problems. I would like to continue this process until an adoption occurs but I have been through so much. Today was our foster care review and it went well all except for me and the mess I was after. I went hoping to tell my story about how my county has fallen short from what I feel is expected and never got the chance to speak with the reviewer privately. Since they were not finished and the meeting ended I just went into my car and cried. My husband is out of town (does not usually ever happen) and there I was alone in my car bawling my guts out. It was hard because it turned out to be more of a transition meeting and that was mostly what we discussed. It all became real for me right there and I started to cry. I am not sure any of them knew I am a fost-adopt parent and not a foster parent. I felt like chopped liver! They were going back and forth about mom and dad and visits between them. So I finally spoke up and said "do I get visits "?? We jumped in and gave our whole self's to this little guy and if I had to do it again I would. So my friend told me I still deserve to be heard since the county does not have room for loosing another foster parent but I am just tired right now. When I hear about family therapy, behavior coaches, and day care coverage I just feel jealous. Even monthly visits from the social worker make me jealous because we were only visited twice by ours. (that is sick I know)We are planning to move to another county and try our luck there after a break of course. I just keep telling myself we gave him the gift of attachment and changed his life forever and that get me through. Thanks Tim and Wendy. Also the podcast Wendy keeps mentioning is a great resource. There is an abundance of information on fostering as well as infertility topics because many people who find themselves going down this road have also been down that one. Tonight my foster son said," Why are you crying?" Something I also picked up from Tim and Wendy ,showing my emotions, and I told him it is because I am sad he is leaving. Then he said he only wants one dad, my husband. Well, I told him that god thinks he is so special he gave him 3 dads and 2 moms and he will always be loved. I have to try to get some sleep tonight but thanks again to all the Foster parents out there! PS I am a fan of some even if it is part time daycare for preschoolers. I think the preschool piece of that is important. Hi there Tim and Wendy, I just read Julie’s email. Wow. I think the email thing is a good idea. It sounds like you have got a talented teenager on your hands. I enjoyed the parts about celebrating the strange things.
I am just getting ready to send my foster son to his birth father. He is doing well. I am just very sad because we were originally told we most likely could adopt him. Before we decided to adopt through the foster care system we went through a grueling infertility process. I did manage to have one biological child before I had the problems. I would like to continue this process until an adoption occurs but I have been through so much. Today was our foster care review and it went well all except for me and the mess I was after. I went hoping to tell my story about how my county has fallen short from what I feel is expected and never got the chance to speak with the reviewer privately. Since they were not finished and the meeting ended I just went into my car and cried. My husband is out of town (does not usually ever happen) and there I was alone in my car bawling my guts out. It was hard because it turned out to be more of a transition meeting and that was mostly what we discussed. It all became real for me right there and I started to cry. I am not sure any of them knew I am a fost-adopt parent and not a foster parent. I felt like chopped liver! They were going back and forth about mom and dad and visits between them. So I finally spoke up and said “do I get visits “?? We jumped in and gave our whole self’s to this little guy and if I had to do it again I would.
So my friend told me I still deserve to be heard since the county does not have room for loosing another foster parent but I am just tired right now. When I hear about family therapy, behavior coaches, and day care coverage I just feel jealous. Even monthly visits from the social worker make me jealous because we were only visited twice by ours. (that is sick I know)We are planning to move to another county and try our luck there after a break of course. I just keep telling myself we gave him the gift of attachment and changed his life forever and that get me through. Thanks Tim and Wendy. Also the podcast Wendy keeps mentioning is a great resource. There is an abundance of information on fostering as well as infertility topics because many people who find themselves going down this road have also been down that one. Tonight my foster son said,” Why are you crying?” Something I also picked up from Tim and Wendy ,showing my emotions, and I told him it is because I am sad he is leaving. Then he said he only wants one dad, my husband. Well, I told him that god thinks he is so special he gave him 3 dads and 2 moms and he will always be loved. I have to try to get some sleep tonight but thanks again to all the Foster parents out there! PS I am a fan of some even if it is part time daycare for preschoolers. I think the preschool piece of that is important.

]]> By: Julie http://fosterpodcast.com/episode-42-two-working-parents/#comment-299 Julie Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:26:53 +0000 http://fosterpodcast.com/?p=49#comment-299 Hi Tim and Wendy, I finally caught up on listening to all your podcasts. My new goal in life is to get on Listener Corner!! My family lives in Southern CA (Lancaster), so next time I go out to visit, maybe I can buy you dinner too!! My family is coming here to visit me in a few weeks, so I'm not going to CA this summer. I have now had my 12-year-old foster daughter for 28 days, and things are going well. I am single, and she is my first placement, and it has been quite a shock to my system (as well as hers), but we are now adjusting, and spending a lot of time at the pool. One random comment. You mentioned that your foster daughter Claire had asked you how to spell "lenient" while she was texting. Well, I had a similar experience. My foster daughter asked me how to spell "Christian" while she was emailing:) Also, I had a doozy of a 4th of July also. Not only did we have fallout from therapy, but the birth siblings and step dad showed up where we were watching fireworks (M sneaked a phone call to tell them where we were). M is supposed to have no contact with step dad. When she was running to give a phone back to someone and he was there, I went after her, and as a result got yelled at by M. Big drama. Big chaos. Eeeek. As you say, "Fun times!" Another random comment: On getting your social worker to call you back. I use EMAIL to contact the team. In this way I can email everyone at once, keep everyone updated, and email my foster daughter's mom to find out the truth about what my foster daughter tells me (In this way I found out she is not allergic to tomatoes and is not a vegetarian, and she does have chores at home:)). Also, I send weekly updates to the team, and I also send emails updating my worker, therapist, bio mom, etc. on good developments and breakthroughs. If the only emails social workers get are about problems, they might become gun shy about answering emails or calling back. So I try to email sometimes about how well my foster daughter is doing. Fodder for your podcast: - I have wondered, since I'm not planning on adopting anyone right now (until I hopefully get married. No prospects in sight, since it's kind of hard to find a guy who is 30 something, a real Christian, wants to foster and adopt, wants lots of kids, and doesn't mind the fact that I have a PhD), I'm wondering if I should refuse long term placements of kids who look like they might end up adoptable, since I wouldn't want to adopt (unless God said, "ADOPT THIS ONE" of course). Any feelings on the subject? It seems like a lot of foster parents are foster parents with the eventual goal of adopting, but I am not in that place right now. I just want to help out kids but not adopt them. - I've noticed lately that as a foster parent, (though I've never been a parent of any kind before a month ago), I celebrate victories that to bio parents (loin parents?) might seem strange. For example, "Wow, M actually said Thank You to me today!!!!" Big breakthrough. Or, "Wow. M ate meat today. Goodbye Miss I'm-a-vegetarian-food-control-issue!" or "Wow. M actually said she would play Uno with me tonight!" or, "Wow. M actually sat next to me on the couch!" or "Wow. M only took 3 hours to get over her grumpy mood after a visit! Way better than 24 hours!" No bio parent would celebrate these things, but they are BIG VICTORIES in foster parenting. - Church family. Your are both working, and yes, that makes foster parenting hard. I am single, working full time (though off for the summer), and fostering, which at times seems impossible, like maybe I should quit (after 1 month) because it's so hard. I didn't think it would be this hard emotionally. However, I have found that my church friends and other key people have rallied not only to encourage me, but to bless my foster daughter. For example, one of my friends talked to M at a baby shower (where M was the only black girl amongst 20 white women she didn't know). She talked to M until she got a smile and an answer. Then the next day at church, she brought her a key chain and a few books. Wow. This totally blessed me, because even if M is too self-centered to realize it now, I know every nice thing people do is a seed God is planting that will germinate, and maybe 5 or 10 years from now, M will look back and say, "Yikes. I didn't realize how nice those people were to me, and how much they cared, even though they didn't even really know me." I'm so excited about that day happening, even if I never see it. So anyone reading this comment that even knows a foster kid, the smallest thing you do, like smiling at them, talking to them, giving them a card or a small-parent-approved gift, or playing basketball with them, really, REALLY matters. These kids don't have a background of people being nice to them. A lot of these kids have parents who don't see children as special, precious, and gifts (like God talks about every kid being). Instead, the kids are ignored, seen as nuisances, or antagonized. So just the fact that in the evening I play Skip Bo with M instead of doing my work on the computer is a NEW LIFE EXPERIENCE to her. - In my state, foster kids get free day care if they go to a licensed day care. Is that the same in CA? Any tips on finding a good day care? - I had originally thought about only taking school aged kids, since I work, and since I don't like the idea of kids being in day care all day long. However, I love little kids, and I realized that nearly every other foster home they could go to, they would be in day care, because parents need to work, or because since the state pays for daycare, some foster parents put their kids in day care even if they don't need to (that really irks me, but I can see why it happens, because foster parenting is so demanding.) - Note, I work for Children's Division directly, not an agency like you do, and I have great support from them, and even encouragement from them. So not going through an agency can work too. But it all depends on what county you're in and who's working. - I've often thought about how the church should be the social services agency, and if the church was doing it's job, not only would there be no kids needing adoptive homes (as you mentioned in an early podcast), but the state wouldn't need to have Children's Division or Social Services. People who have a mess of a life don't just need programs, services, etc. They need relationships with people who care about them and will help them, and of course, they need Jesus! I think if I had no friends or family that were healthy, or maybe even no friends at all, and I had my kids taken away, and the state was saying, "Do this and this or else you won't get your kids back," I probably would be too depressed and hopeless to do what the state said, because I would be overwhelmed, and would have no friends or family to get better for or live for. (Let's face it, in a circumstance like this, kids are not necessarily motivating, since although kids are a blessing, they are also demanding and a lot of responsibility.) The church should, in a perfect world, be providing services, programs, mentors, caring people, and spiritual help and hope. End of sermon. - One comment about your situation with Carmen and the hurtful letter about 4th of July. Also remember that Carmen is in her early 20s (I think you said?), practically still a teenager, so not only is she responding as a hurting person who has just lost her kids (pretty humiliating), but she is also responding as a 20-something year old person. I know I certainly wasn't very mature in my 20's. I'm much more mature in my 30s :) Hahaha. - I think public schools should teach a course in "anger management" and "conflict resolution." I think that would help our foster kids so much in dealing with their chaotic lives, and would set the stage for healthier relationships in the future. It wouldn't hurt the other kids either. - Curious question. Since you are now adopting Andrea and Linda, are you still planning on fostering other kids in the future? - Wendy, that song you sang with the girls at the end of one of the podcasts was AWESOME!!! Did you write that??? It was so precious, and thanks for letting us hear their little voices!!!!!!! You should do a CD of kids' songs. OK. Maybe I can get on listening corner for the longest comment ever??? Thanks again for all you do in promoting foster care. I like the proactive stance you take in your postlude, "The best way to do something about it is to become a foster parent yourself!!!" Very true, and very scary to say to people, so thanks for saying it! Julie Hi Tim and Wendy,
I finally caught up on listening to all your podcasts. My new goal in life is to get on Listener Corner!!
My family lives in Southern CA (Lancaster), so next time I go out to visit, maybe I can buy you dinner too!! My family is coming here to visit me in a few weeks, so I’m not going to CA this summer.
I have now had my 12-year-old foster daughter for 28 days, and things are going well. I am single, and she is my first placement, and it has been quite a shock to my system (as well as hers), but we are now adjusting, and spending a lot of time at the pool.
One random comment. You mentioned that your foster daughter Claire had asked you how to spell “lenient” while she was texting. Well, I had a similar experience. My foster daughter asked me how to spell “Christian” while she was emailing:) Also, I had a doozy of a 4th of July also. Not only did we have fallout from therapy, but the birth siblings and step dad showed up where we were watching fireworks (M sneaked a phone call to tell them where we were). M is supposed to have no contact with step dad. When she was running to give a phone back to someone and he was there, I went after her, and as a result got yelled at by M. Big drama. Big chaos. Eeeek. As you say, “Fun times!”
Another random comment: On getting your social worker to call you back. I use EMAIL to contact the team. In this way I can email everyone at once, keep everyone updated, and email my foster daughter’s mom to find out the truth about what my foster daughter tells me (In this way I found out she is not allergic to tomatoes and is not a vegetarian, and she does have chores at home:)). Also, I send weekly updates to the team, and I also send emails updating my worker, therapist, bio mom, etc. on good developments and breakthroughs. If the only emails social workers get are about problems, they might become gun shy about answering emails or calling back. So I try to email sometimes about how well my foster daughter is doing.
Fodder for your podcast:
- I have wondered, since I’m not planning on adopting anyone right now (until I hopefully get married. No prospects in sight, since it’s kind of hard to find a guy who is 30 something, a real Christian, wants to foster and adopt, wants lots of kids, and doesn’t mind the fact that I have a PhD), I’m wondering if I should refuse long term placements of kids who look like they might end up adoptable, since I wouldn’t want to adopt (unless God said, “ADOPT THIS ONE” of course). Any feelings on the subject? It seems like a lot of foster parents are foster parents with the eventual goal of adopting, but I am not in that place right now. I just want to help out kids but not adopt them.
- I’ve noticed lately that as a foster parent, (though I’ve never been a parent of any kind before a month ago), I celebrate victories that to bio parents (loin parents?) might seem strange. For example, “Wow, M actually said Thank You to me today!!!!” Big breakthrough. Or, “Wow. M ate meat today. Goodbye Miss I’m-a-vegetarian-food-control-issue!” or “Wow. M actually said she would play Uno with me tonight!” or, “Wow. M actually sat next to me on the couch!” or “Wow. M only took 3 hours to get over her grumpy mood after a visit! Way better than 24 hours!” No bio parent would celebrate these things, but they are BIG VICTORIES in foster parenting.
- Church family. Your are both working, and yes, that makes foster parenting hard. I am single, working full time (though off for the summer), and fostering, which at times seems impossible, like maybe I should quit (after 1 month) because it’s so hard. I didn’t think it would be this hard emotionally. However, I have found that my church friends and other key people have rallied not only to encourage me, but to bless my foster daughter. For example, one of my friends talked to M at a baby shower (where M was the only black girl amongst 20 white women she didn’t know). She talked to M until she got a smile and an answer. Then the next day at church, she brought her a key chain and a few books. Wow. This totally blessed me, because even if M is too self-centered to realize it now, I know every nice thing people do is a seed God is planting that will germinate, and maybe 5 or 10 years from now, M will look back and say, “Yikes. I didn’t realize how nice those people were to me, and how much they cared, even though they didn’t even really know me.” I’m so excited about that day happening, even if I never see it. So anyone reading this comment that even knows a foster kid, the smallest thing you do, like smiling at them, talking to them, giving them a card or a small-parent-approved gift, or playing basketball with them, really, REALLY matters. These kids don’t have a background of people being nice to them. A lot of these kids have parents who don’t see children as special, precious, and gifts (like God talks about every kid being). Instead, the kids are ignored, seen as nuisances, or antagonized. So just the fact that in the evening I play Skip Bo with M instead of doing my work on the computer is a NEW LIFE EXPERIENCE to her.
- In my state, foster kids get free day care if they go to a licensed day care. Is that the same in CA? Any tips on finding a good day care?
- I had originally thought about only taking school aged kids, since I work, and since I don’t like the idea of kids being in day care all day long. However, I love little kids, and I realized that nearly every other foster home they could go to, they would be in day care, because parents need to work, or because since the state pays for daycare, some foster parents put their kids in day care even if they don’t need to (that really irks me, but I can see why it happens, because foster parenting is so demanding.)
- Note, I work for Children’s Division directly, not an agency like you do, and I have great support from them, and even encouragement from them. So not going through an agency can work too. But it all depends on what county you’re in and who’s working.
- I’ve often thought about how the church should be the social services agency, and if the church was doing it’s job, not only would there be no kids needing adoptive homes (as you mentioned in an early podcast), but the state wouldn’t need to have Children’s Division or Social Services. People who have a mess of a life don’t just need programs, services, etc. They need relationships with people who care about them and will help them, and of course, they need Jesus! I think if I had no friends or family that were healthy, or maybe even no friends at all, and I had my kids taken away, and the state was saying, “Do this and this or else you won’t get your kids back,” I probably would be too depressed and hopeless to do what the state said, because I would be overwhelmed, and would have no friends or family to get better for or live for. (Let’s face it, in a circumstance like this, kids are not necessarily motivating, since although kids are a blessing, they are also demanding and a lot of responsibility.) The church should, in a perfect world, be providing services, programs, mentors, caring people, and spiritual help and hope. End of sermon.
- One comment about your situation with Carmen and the hurtful letter about 4th of July. Also remember that Carmen is in her early 20s (I think you said?), practically still a teenager, so not only is she responding as a hurting person who has just lost her kids (pretty humiliating), but she is also responding as a 20-something year old person. I know I certainly wasn’t very mature in my 20’s. I’m much more mature in my 30s :) Hahaha.
- I think public schools should teach a course in “anger management” and “conflict resolution.” I think that would help our foster kids so much in dealing with their chaotic lives, and would set the stage for healthier relationships in the future. It wouldn’t hurt the other kids either.
- Curious question. Since you are now adopting Andrea and Linda, are you still planning on fostering other kids in the future?
- Wendy, that song you sang with the girls at the end of one of the podcasts was AWESOME!!! Did you write that??? It was so precious, and thanks for letting us hear their little voices!!!!!!! You should do a CD of kids’ songs.

OK. Maybe I can get on listening corner for the longest comment ever???
Thanks again for all you do in promoting foster care. I like the proactive stance you take in your postlude, “The best way to do something about it is to become a foster parent yourself!!!” Very true, and very scary to say to people, so thanks for saying it!
Julie

]]> By: Krysta http://fosterpodcast.com/episode-42-two-working-parents/#comment-297 Krysta Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:30:01 +0000 http://fosterpodcast.com/?p=49#comment-297 Thanks for the shout out! We had a great time with you guys. Thanks for the shout out! We had a great time with you guys.

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