GPS #3

Went to my second GPS class last night (but it was the 3rd class). We talked about losses and the different stages of grieving. An analogy that was given about what a foster child experiences when they are taken from their family is a divorce when one of the spouses did not want the divorce. The former spouse is still alive, they just aren't a part of their life anymore but there's still hope that they will be reunited. Unlike death where one gets complete closure, foster kids generally have birth parents that are alive. They are just in rehab, jail, or somewhere else. Another analogy was hurricane Katrina victims who lost everything in a days time. When children go into foster care they immediately lose their parents, siblings, homes, toys, clothes, neighbors, school, friends; everything. Most of them are fearful, many want to sleep with a night light on.

 

A couple of people that I admire told me I should go through the foster training even if I didn't ever foster a child if I was considering adoption, which I of course am. I understand now why they said that. Sometimes I wish I had been a psychology major and even wish I had been a social worker because I really enjoy learning and trying to understand behavior. It's a lot easier to be compassionate to a child when you understand where they are coming from. Sort of like in Guatemala when I was holding and loving on dirty smelly babies. If I did not understand the reason they were dirty and smelly (they live in a dump) it would be harder for me to accept them that way. Same with foster children.

Last night during class my mom's friend who is a travel agent called me while I was in class because I was booking a mini vacay for my mom and I. I sent her an email letting her know I was in a foster training class and couldn't talk. Come to find out her mother fostered 92 children. WOW! I imagine she had foster siblings growing up and I'm anxious to hear her stories. I know I want to foster while I'm single but if I ever get married and have kids I am not 100% sure whether or not I will foster so it will be good to hear some stories from her perspective. If I hadn't been booking a vacation with her and if she hadn't called then I might not have ever made the connection. Only God can orchestrate that kind of thing!

 

I have a mountain of paperwork to complete for fostering but I'm excited to have the process underway!