Janna
New Member
for difficult child 2.
First week in March. The petition requests that, because the child cannot make any further progress in foster care (as if he's made any, really), he be sent home with the mother.
Although, the following line states that he could be placed elsewhere (i.e. Residential Treatment Center (RTC)), should the judge think that more appropriate.
Knowing this judge, he will send difficult child 2 home.
I am apprehensive to start making the plans, even though the court date is only a few weeks away.
I have been receiving weekly reports from difficult child 2's teacher via email. The last two weeks have been good. He is getting along with peers. He is trying to do the right thing. No detentions/suspensions. Yes, it's only been two weeks (is that a negative comment?).
He is on the basketball team now (something he's wanted to do a long time, the previous fosters, the K's, would not allow him to join). He is working at McDonald's now (again, something he's wanted to do, the K's would not allow him). He even joined the wrestling/weight lifting team (triple ditto).
In my amazement, the more freedom that is given to him, the better he is doing. I suppose this could be the way with alot of kids, but you'd think most difficult child's would take advantage and get into tons of trouble (which has always been my fear). Oddly enough, it seems to be the oppposite with difficult child 2.
We would have to do some rearranging for him to come home. We have two bedrooms for 4 kids. SO's son (he only sleeps there 4 nights a month) and easy child share a room, and there is a 3rd bed in there for difficult child 2 (that bedroom is immense LOL). Dylan has his own room (because when we moved, nobody wanted to be around Dylan). Dylan will have to be moved in with easy child and SO's kid. difficult child 2, at 15, should be entitled to his own. We'd have to get him a transfer for McDonalds. I'd have to re-register him into school, and get him back to where he's SUPPOSED to be, not to where the intervention messed up and put him (he's supposed to be mainstream 90%, and is E.S. 90%). I'd be staying up later to pick him up from work. I'd have to leave work earlier to get him from basketball practice. Life will be shifted alot, but you know, I think in the end, it'll be worth it.
We will have to, without a doubt, incorporate him into therapy somehow. He isn't very interested, but I still have concerns with aggression/negative behaviors/inappropriate hands toward the other children.
I'm scared, but equally excited. My son hasn't lived with me in a very long time. We will have to make a back up plan, in case of disaster, but I am hoping we won't have to use it.
difficult child 2 created and typed up his own behavioral plan for reunification. I forwarded it to my attorney. He has made alot of his own chores, rules and consequences. We were impressed. I had nothing to do with it, didn't even know about it. I have to give him a high five for it.
We will put a lock on the bedroom door (SO has guns, hunting stuff, all that needs to be locked up). Anything of super value will go up there. The keyboard and mouse to the computer will come to work with me, so that there is no temptation there (no internet unless there is an adult in the room is a rule). He'll have to earn some trust, but I am praying he can do that in good time.
Thanks for listening. Please keep a good thought.
Janna
First week in March. The petition requests that, because the child cannot make any further progress in foster care (as if he's made any, really), he be sent home with the mother.
Although, the following line states that he could be placed elsewhere (i.e. Residential Treatment Center (RTC)), should the judge think that more appropriate.
Knowing this judge, he will send difficult child 2 home.
I am apprehensive to start making the plans, even though the court date is only a few weeks away.
I have been receiving weekly reports from difficult child 2's teacher via email. The last two weeks have been good. He is getting along with peers. He is trying to do the right thing. No detentions/suspensions. Yes, it's only been two weeks (is that a negative comment?).
He is on the basketball team now (something he's wanted to do a long time, the previous fosters, the K's, would not allow him to join). He is working at McDonald's now (again, something he's wanted to do, the K's would not allow him). He even joined the wrestling/weight lifting team (triple ditto).
In my amazement, the more freedom that is given to him, the better he is doing. I suppose this could be the way with alot of kids, but you'd think most difficult child's would take advantage and get into tons of trouble (which has always been my fear). Oddly enough, it seems to be the oppposite with difficult child 2.
We would have to do some rearranging for him to come home. We have two bedrooms for 4 kids. SO's son (he only sleeps there 4 nights a month) and easy child share a room, and there is a 3rd bed in there for difficult child 2 (that bedroom is immense LOL). Dylan has his own room (because when we moved, nobody wanted to be around Dylan). Dylan will have to be moved in with easy child and SO's kid. difficult child 2, at 15, should be entitled to his own. We'd have to get him a transfer for McDonalds. I'd have to re-register him into school, and get him back to where he's SUPPOSED to be, not to where the intervention messed up and put him (he's supposed to be mainstream 90%, and is E.S. 90%). I'd be staying up later to pick him up from work. I'd have to leave work earlier to get him from basketball practice. Life will be shifted alot, but you know, I think in the end, it'll be worth it.
We will have to, without a doubt, incorporate him into therapy somehow. He isn't very interested, but I still have concerns with aggression/negative behaviors/inappropriate hands toward the other children.
I'm scared, but equally excited. My son hasn't lived with me in a very long time. We will have to make a back up plan, in case of disaster, but I am hoping we won't have to use it.
difficult child 2 created and typed up his own behavioral plan for reunification. I forwarded it to my attorney. He has made alot of his own chores, rules and consequences. We were impressed. I had nothing to do with it, didn't even know about it. I have to give him a high five for it.
We will put a lock on the bedroom door (SO has guns, hunting stuff, all that needs to be locked up). Anything of super value will go up there. The keyboard and mouse to the computer will come to work with me, so that there is no temptation there (no internet unless there is an adult in the room is a rule). He'll have to earn some trust, but I am praying he can do that in good time.
Thanks for listening. Please keep a good thought.
Janna
