Rubber Bands Are Meant To Stretch, Not Break!
It has officially been 2 weeks since we welcome 2 little emergency placements into our home. A lot has transpired in those two weeks. No matter how much you prepare for placements, you aren't really ready until it happens and even then all you are doing is trying to stay above water.
A really good friend of mine gave me some great advice that seems to work with all areas of my life. It was a few years ago and I was about to stop nannying and take on a full time job all while homeschooling. She said "It takes about 2 weeks after starting something new, like a new job, in order for it to be come a routine. After that, it slows down and becomes less hectic". Ok maybe those weren't her words 100% but that's what you all get!
So, it's been just over two week and things are running way better than they did. I wouldn't say that life is less hectic, because frankly working part-time, stay-at-home mom to 4 kiddos under 9 1/2, homeschooling a 4th grader, keeping up with house hold chores, oh and going to school at 3 nights a week is well more than hectic. Most days I feel like Bill Murphy from Ground Hog Day. Same thing over and over again. Oh and throw in the holidays just for a good laugh! The least of my crazy is our 2 dogs and my husband! He's been a HUGE help around the house too. At 5:30pm 3 nights a week he pulls in the driveway, I met him outside, and high-fived him on my way to class! Calling out to him "we will sleep when we are dead! Love you!". So sometime I feel like a rubber band being stretched out in all the places, but then I get a different perspective. Rubber bands are meant to stretch bc they hold all the things in place.
We have had ups and downs like any normal family unit. I will admit that it's a bit odd to be called mommy by someone so young and to not really know me. The concept of the word is far from what a mommy actually means. To him "mommy" is the lady that feeds you and makes sure your are safe. "Mommy" isn't the one who holds you when you are hurt, comforts you when you don't feel well, scoops you up and covers you with kisses. To him that is foreign. Little man is stuck in his ways and stubborn, but inside you can see the way he watches us interact like a family. With cuddles and snuggles, hugs, kisses, laughter, and just being together. There's something that he needs to learn and it might take a while, but that's ok with us. That's why we signed up for this job. We have a chance to pour into his young life a love that surpasses anything found on Earth. A love that's so unconditional you can't hide from it. A love only the Father can give. We can teach him that no matter where he is, no matter what's going on, his Father will always love him. There's no consequences or conditions to that, just pure love. That is my prayer at least, is that over the course of our time with him, he will learn that and hopefully many other things. The second little we have is still little enough to where he doesn't remember what the past was. He only remembers the present.
Two little lives entered our home 2 weeks ago and our lives will never be the same. The main goal for foster care, in the beginning at least, is reunification. We have a long road ahead and the future is unclear and that's ok. All we know for now is that we get to love the mess out of these two little humans for as long as we can until we can't. Then we get to do it all over again with someone knew.
A really good friend of mine gave me some great advice that seems to work with all areas of my life. It was a few years ago and I was about to stop nannying and take on a full time job all while homeschooling. She said "It takes about 2 weeks after starting something new, like a new job, in order for it to be come a routine. After that, it slows down and becomes less hectic". Ok maybe those weren't her words 100% but that's what you all get!
So, it's been just over two week and things are running way better than they did. I wouldn't say that life is less hectic, because frankly working part-time, stay-at-home mom to 4 kiddos under 9 1/2, homeschooling a 4th grader, keeping up with house hold chores, oh and going to school at 3 nights a week is well more than hectic. Most days I feel like Bill Murphy from Ground Hog Day. Same thing over and over again. Oh and throw in the holidays just for a good laugh! The least of my crazy is our 2 dogs and my husband! He's been a HUGE help around the house too. At 5:30pm 3 nights a week he pulls in the driveway, I met him outside, and high-fived him on my way to class! Calling out to him "we will sleep when we are dead! Love you!". So sometime I feel like a rubber band being stretched out in all the places, but then I get a different perspective. Rubber bands are meant to stretch bc they hold all the things in place.
We have had ups and downs like any normal family unit. I will admit that it's a bit odd to be called mommy by someone so young and to not really know me. The concept of the word is far from what a mommy actually means. To him "mommy" is the lady that feeds you and makes sure your are safe. "Mommy" isn't the one who holds you when you are hurt, comforts you when you don't feel well, scoops you up and covers you with kisses. To him that is foreign. Little man is stuck in his ways and stubborn, but inside you can see the way he watches us interact like a family. With cuddles and snuggles, hugs, kisses, laughter, and just being together. There's something that he needs to learn and it might take a while, but that's ok with us. That's why we signed up for this job. We have a chance to pour into his young life a love that surpasses anything found on Earth. A love that's so unconditional you can't hide from it. A love only the Father can give. We can teach him that no matter where he is, no matter what's going on, his Father will always love him. There's no consequences or conditions to that, just pure love. That is my prayer at least, is that over the course of our time with him, he will learn that and hopefully many other things. The second little we have is still little enough to where he doesn't remember what the past was. He only remembers the present.
Two little lives entered our home 2 weeks ago and our lives will never be the same. The main goal for foster care, in the beginning at least, is reunification. We have a long road ahead and the future is unclear and that's ok. All we know for now is that we get to love the mess out of these two little humans for as long as we can until we can't. Then we get to do it all over again with someone knew.
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