Happy bday!!!!!

We love watching!

Can I join up late? We'll be back from vacation on the 17th. I could use some accountability. I run/walk on a treadmill.

I think it's a misspelling. And pronunciation. Maybe better than "viola!"

I completely agree with this.

Yes, I keep thinking about the families with whom the kids are placed. Those must be some confused kids. And foster parenting them can't be easy. I hope they are with great, understanding, caring families who have nerves of steel and soft hearts to love those kids, no matter what.

Gaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!

Same question here. I haven't been able to bring myself to watch the videos. so sorry if it's addressed in the video.

I don't mind arriving early - the doctor is scheduled to see me at x time, and the front desk needs to check me in, etc. I get it. The thing that bothers me right now is the online patient portal stuff. I spent a good thirty minutes registering DD with the allergist's office, filling out health history, etc. only to arrive at the doc office and have the website down. I had to do it all over again!!!! Aaaaggghhh.

That's very true. Our SW, who is very down to earth, realistic (and all around a very cool person) said something to this effect. We were discussing bed requirements, and DH asked her what would happen if a kid ran into our bedroom at night, scared? She smiled, and basically said we don't have to tell her everything. She understands that it might happen, the kids just need to have their own space available.

Yeh, I'm thinking they maybe didn't keep the other beds because... where would they have put them?

How did I manage to miss that they *had* beds for all the kids, and sold them?? Oh my. :(

Those are the basic requirements for foster parents in our state. Separate beds and a certain amount of square footage per child. Siblings of same gender can share a room. That's probably the root of it. I'm not sure what the requirements would be for birthparents, but I'm pretty sure cramming 12 people on a queen size bed won't fly, so they'll have to make some new arrangements. It could be that they need to show that there are adequate sleeping areas for each child - maybe two similar aged, same gender siblings on a full bed would be okay, but even then - they'll clearly need more beds.

Any tips? We'll only be there for a few nights. Also, it's our first time taking the kids to Canada - anything we need to know about bringing kids along? I vaguely remember that we used to just drive back and forth, but has that changed in the last decade or so?

In my experience, from the foster parent end, CPS outlines a specific plan for reunification. There's no guessing about what they want. Yes, they have to show progress in their investigation at the hearing, and no, they can't just delay indefinitely. ETA: yes, I think typically the initial investigation would be complete in this amount of time.

I missed that she didn't know how to wash a car. I agree. I think if she volunteered to do it, and had never done it before - I'd just say thank you.

This. I was going to bring up the sandwich, too. It's a valuable tool, and not just for kids. One of DH's guys laughingly calls it the "kiss, slap, kiss" but it tends to get better results. I don't think this is a male/female thing, but rather a learned management skill. ;) ETA: "The Sandwich" is actually taught in seminars on how to better manage groups of people, and get better results out of them.

Yes, it must be excruciating. :(

Pot has been successfully stirred.

Question about the stealing water: does this mean that the husband and a gaggle of presumably not-clean kids tromped up to someone's house and tried to use their outdoor faucet or hose? Or is there another way to steal water? Looking for clarification. I keep imagining a herd of kids and a mean man bungling through someone's garden or property and making a mess and noise, along with stealing water. Not sure if that's accurate. Would there be trespassing charges as well?

This, apart from the picking one's nose analogy, is essentially how we were taught to approach it as foster parents.

Ha! Good catch! Maybe they meant to include state parks as well?

[sigh] :001_wub:

We all have different routines here, but we come together around 9 - 9:30 to start doing school and working on the day's projects. My routine consists of inserting the pretend IV of caffeine and trying to become semi-human once the kids wake me. DD(4) sleeps in till 8:30 or so. DS(11) wakes between 5 - 6, and does projects or works on his coding class. Sometimes he'll watch TV or make films. DH gets up around 7, runs, and heads to work. We eat separately, obviously, except for DD - she eats with me.

:grouphug: I hope it ends up better than your best, optimistic hopes! One thought, which you don't have to answer: Do you have all your meds for any issues that might arise? I'm thinking of stony issues that we've shared in the past.