Do you have a pool?

"Hi, I'm Gail. You must be....I am so glad to finally meet you". "Hi, do you have a pool?" And so our first meeting began with the first of ever so many questions. What's that? How does that work? why? ....oh so many why's. I've always thought you should begin as you mean to go on, and that's exactly what M9 has done. I think I will be Nanna napping quite a bit at the end of this week :)

The plan to have my middle sized nephew here yesterday when M9 arrived really worked a treat. Not only did he and I get so much gardening done before M9 arrived, but it turns out they really got on well and became instant mates. So much so that when we took my nephew home my brother, sister inlaw and I were rained on with requests from both boys for us to stay for dinner and a bonfire....and yes...with marshmallows of course. M9 promptly declared the day `the best day of his life'. He told me that he had never been to a bonfire before and after some marshmallow cooking lessons was soon burning marshmallows as well as the rest of us. It was such a priveledge to be able to give him that opportunity. Those kinds of things are what being a kid is all about.

Today we played Wii and then went over to visit a couple that I know that live nearby. M9 was so quiet when we first got there but once he warmed up there was no stopping him. M9 had a ball there as we had hamburgers for lunch, then some chocolate and most importantly..they have a Wii.

He is currently teaching Sally, who it must be noted is deaf, how to play Pokemon. It is quite amusing as I had never thought to play that with her before...wonder why? why? why?

It's a boy!!!!

Yay I have gone into Labour and my boy will be delivered just in time for lunch tommorrow :) Well it turns out labour isn't nearly as painful as all those mothers out there have told me lol. Yes I did go there with that joke lol...please don't hate me hehe. Many thanks to my self proclaimed birthing partner Tash who was there to hold my hand and remind me to breathe as I took the phone call today. And I was hoping Lara would be there too but it all happened so quickly before I even had time to call for help.

Ok so here are the vital statistics: Weight = unknown, Height = unknown, but age = known :) Hehe ok I will tell you...He is a happy, healthy, bouncy 9 year old :)

My stint at Motherhood will only last for a week but I'm thinking that may be just enough for a first taste. Wouldn't all expectant parents love the handback option too. Well in my case it's not really an option as it is just respite care for a week but I am feeling very comfortable with my get out of jail free card as it is helping to ease the nerves and worries a little.

So tonight it's house cleaning and primping for me.

I am hoping one of my nephews can come over and help him settle in a little tomorrow after helping me garden for a while. It might help him be less nervous...and will help me a little too ...nephews rock.

So now I'm off to fluff and arrange and rearrange...but not vacuum...thats not fun! :)

Latest Update

Well I finally made a decision. Actually made it a while ago but just haven't posted about it yet. I ended up having to say no. :( For safety reasons I didn't feel I could go ahead with the placement. I think as a single woman I needed to be very careful about the situation I was getting into and I could see that trouble would be brewing for myself if I was to take on those two children. The family lived just around the corner from me and had a history of violence so it really wouldn't have been a very wise choice for me at all.

I dont feel as guilty as I thought I would feel at saying no and have been assured that I would still be called again if another suitable placement came up. I just have to trust that something better would come up for those children.

So here I am at the waiting stage again. But am feeling ok about that. I still jump everytime the phone rings as I know that another adventure is going to be just around the corner :)

Latest checklist

Panic attack = complete
Imediate phone call to my parents = complete
Power point turned on for my toaster to cook my toast = oops...now complete
Dishes washed = complete
Descision made = yes, no, yes, no, yes, no.......

A call

It happened!! Today I got a call about having 2 children. I have been waiting for so long and now I am in a quandry!!! What to do....

I decided to become a carer as I can see the huge need for it. All children have the right to feel safe, have all of their basic needs met and to be cared for, loved and given every opportunity in life... and I believe this with my whole heart. Being a school teacher I see the need for it every day. My parents were carers while I was a child and I saw the difference it could make in those childrens lives. So its a difficult situation I now find myself in as to do or not to do.

You see the problem is that I am worried that I may not be a good fit for the children. I am worried that I cannot provide for their difficult needs that I am aware of and obviously can't share. Is it fair for them to take them when I know there is a good chance that I cannot do this for them on my own. Given the situation I am thinking that perhaps they need a stable couple and especially a male influence (which I can't provide). But on the other hand I am thinking how selfish to not give them a chance and to say its too hard. Culturally things could prove to be a huge problem too. Aargh if only my powers to foresee the future were working.

Other difficulties would be with taking them and picking them up from school as they really need to stay at their own school instead of being moved to mine as that stability is going to be a huge support for them at this time. Some calls need to be made to see if it will be possible I guess.

I think I didn't realise the degree of difficulty with some situations, well I did but thought it would all be ok. And if I take them for a trial period is that fair on the children to be shipped around etc. And they will be in foster care for the rest of their childhood...which is a long time. And the Department for child protection do tell you to say no if you think it's really not going to work out for you and your family.

But if it works out it could be the best thing I've ever done.

Come on magic future forseeing powers. It's time to start working....

Welcome!

Well I am presently feeling very welcome by the Fostering Association family. In the last week I have recieved so many welcome letters that I am now in a welcome bubble of bliss. I think everyone who I may possibly come into contact with has sent me a letter to make me feel part of the gang :) It makes me wonder if they are perhaps lulling me into a false sense of security hehe...the calm before the storm. So I am thinking that I will put them in a special place and when things get tricky I can pull out these letters and be in my little bliss bubble again :)

On top of my coffee table I also have recieved two pretty certificates. One to say that I have completed the 19 hours of Foster Care training and the other which says I have passed assessment and am now a fully certified general foster carer. Oh and I also got an official welcome letter with them too - how cool is that.

All of these things were only dated last week so perhaps things are moving slower than I realised. I thought I was all finished and official before recieving all of my welcome mail. Although I do feel very welcome, I am also wondering if perhaps the waiting to begin has only really just begun....

Friday's Child

For some reason Friday happens to be the day that most children are taken into foster care. Maybe it's the build up of the weekly happenings, perhaps it's because it's the day after most pay days. Whatever the reason it leads to a rather sad statistic being declared.

So yesterday, being Friday, I sat at home wondering whether to make plans or amuse myself around the house while trying to convince myself that I wasn't really waiting for the phone to ring. So after choosing the latter choice and picking at various ideas of distraction, I suddenly realised how selfish I was being. Here I was waiting and hoping for a child to be placed with me so I can be of use and wondering why there was no ring to my phone, when the thought dawned on me that I really ought to be grateful and thankful that there was no call. No call means that no child's life is suddenly ripped out of its familiarity, no homes are torn apart or families destroyed. Hopefully and of most importance it means that no child is unsafe at this particular point in time. I so hope that is true. So I said a quiet prayer for Friday's children and felt some peace that this Friday held some hope in it....and then I went out.....

I'm Pregnant!!!

Ok well maybe the title of this Blog is not true.... But I do have some of the symptoms of this condition...

Firstly I'm feeling rather bloated...hmmm perhaps that has something to do with the delicious turkish delight that I just ravenously devoured. So maybe that's not it.

But I do have tired and aching feet....well ok perhaps that is to do with the wearing of my fabulous new knee high boots all day that I am so totally in love with. Ok so perhaps that's not a valid symptom either.

But there is the sense of expectancy in the air. The one where you know any minute the phone is going to ring and suddenly a child will enter this life and change things forever. So if the definition of pregnancy is the expecting of a child then in my medical opinion - this is what i've got. Hmmm by now your probably thinking that maybe I should have studied medicine or at least paid a little more attention in my human biology classes, but I like my definition and so I'm sticking with it.

The reason for my latest medical diagnosis is due to my new shiny pool fencing having it's first official visit yesterday. Within minutes of it and my Fostering District Placement Officer meeting I was suddenly involved in the official signing of papers and submitting of forms. It turns out it was love at first sight for them both and now I am finally a fully registered foster carer. This means that now I get to sit by the phone ready to lurch into action (and possibly reaction) at any minute.

I wonder if this is a good time to mention that I am not really good at patiently waiting and do not enjoy being unable to plan things out in detail? Hmmm perhaps I better not mention that yet.....

Birthdays truly do last forever...

Happy Birthday to my brother today :)

.....and since he is working away and not around on his birthday I have decided to celebrate by talking about my birthday instead :) It's not that I really do believe it's all about me, although some people at my work may disagree, as the common saying seems to be "It's not all about you Gail". I'm not really sure why they say that but anyway lets get back to me!

My birthday was a month ago but it seems it hasn't ended. This week I recieved some truly lovely belated pressies and they are just too beautiful to keep to myself. So it's time to share....

I so love getting flowers and this sweet little geranium was just the beginning :)

Next came this gorgeous soft silky cushion with embroidered flowers.......

I also got this cute little red lantern which I immediately had to put a tea light candle into so that we could look at the reflections it cast on the roof.....

And even more lanterns ...a matching pair ....

and a cute tote bag which is so totally going to start going to school with me.

And a little kiwi friend from my kiwi friend.

Wow how spoilt am I. They were all such thoughtful presents from some very dear friends who have totally spoilt me with things that I so love. Now I must confess that on my birthday I was absolutely spoilt as well so to be still living in the birthday glow is so totally unexpected.

But no ...........I won't be giving any of it back :) I am now considering having another birthday again next year. Think I might even make it an anual event. Hmmmmm..... is that greedy?

But just to prove that it really isn't all about me I'm going to finish with sending out the biggest happy birthday to my brother who is really having the birthday today. As soon as you get home I'm sure your going to get spoilt just as much as me :)

Beginnings

Armed with my Early Childhood degree in Education and perhaps an overly alert sense of self preservation, I feel I may be ready....Perhaps I can use the glass in the frame to deflect the light into their eyes and thus allow for a swift and floorless get away. If this doesn't work I have my sword of courage ready which consists of a mobile phone and all of the people I have ever met, who have ever had children pre warned and already programmed into speed dial. And so begins my adventures as a Foster Carer. Well sort of ....

I actually finished the assessment and training process about 6 months ago. My application went before a panel and I was officially welcomed into the world of Carers. I was appointed to a District and registered, even had my official welcome visit from the District Director and then....pool fencing crisis occurred.

Without going into too much detail about changes in policies, plans being drawn up, submitted and then redrawn and resubmitted, grants being applied for and payment changes, and not to mention pool fencing companies not being able to build pool fences. My few weeks of waiting have turned into 6 months of many phone calls, emails, discussions and arrrrrrgggghhhhs.

But today changed everything. I got home from work and discovered my pool fence was complete. And now the adventure is about to begin.....