My Family Moments: T.H.I.N.K.

Saturday, January 25, 2014

T.H.I.N.K.

"Grief makes one hour ten" ~Shakespeare

Lately no truer words have been spoken. BioMom has been taking me on a wild ride these past few weeks. I am really in disbelief that she is starting to self-destruct so close to the final trial and getting her son back. Other Foster Mommas told me that it happens but I didn't think it would happen to me. (How cliché!) In my case I go from feeling strong and in control to angry and shaky. Then I end up emotionally and physically drained. I feel like I have lost all control and focus. That is where my grief shows it's face. After going to my Super Amazing Foster Mommas to vent and get some perspective, I realize it's only been 45 minutes since I got on this ride. How do you get drained in 45 minutes without physically doing anything? Some days the grief wins and I pray Erwin will be home soon and that the big kids are in good moods so I can sneak away for a nap.

I have a friend who reminded me of the THINK process. It's an acronym that goes like this...
"Is this thought or this way of thinking..."
TRUE? HELPFUL? INSPIRATIONAL to my goals? NECESSARY? KIND?

Basically my friend said, if you have a bunch of "no's" then find another way to think. Challenge the thought process until you can say "yes" x5. This process is necessary to those involved on this journey. If you don't have some way of knocking the frustrating and grief breeding thoughts, you'll never make it. For me, this is going to be really helpful. That's my wishful thinking of course.

Shakespeare and my friend and the random author are smart peoples. As I have gotten older time flies. I sure don't have time to be bummed for ten hours, even if they really only equal one.

Nite!
Amy

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"Foster Family" Terminology

SW: Social Worker = This is a professionally trained (at times I feel from a YouTube video) individual who works for any County or private organization. My foster baby will have a SW and I will have a SW who is also known as a CCW. (see below)

CCW: Clinical Case Worker = This is a professionally trained individual, also known as a Social Worker who works for Angel’s Foster Family Network. They are assigned to a maximum of 12 families at one time and lead them through the fostering system. They are our right hand gal. (no males as of yet) This person does all the legal pushing and pulling on our behalf so we can focus solely on loving and caring for our foster babies. I would not and will not ever do my job as a foster mom without these people.

Supervised Visit = The bioparent has rights to see their child no matter the circumstances. Most often the visits begin as 1 to 2 hours, 1 to 2 times a week. An adult that is approved must watch the parent with the child at all times. (sometimes a lot of work and sometimes boring as heck)

Unsupervised Visit = The bioparent has rights to see their child no matter the circumstances before. If they are improving their situation then they will eventually get the right to have visits without supervision. The foster parent must drop off the child at an approved location and pick them up later. Most often the visit is for 2-6 hours 1 to 2 times a week. And these will only increase in length as the situation improves. (super hard for the foster parent to move to this step)

Foster Baby/Child = A child that has been removed from their biological family due to many different reasons affecting the welfare of the child. They are then placed in protective custody under the County and State.