Thanks so much for the encouragement DRCSGRANT. It's nice to know someone else with a story similar to mine..
My MAPP class was an accelerated one that was done all in one week.. I haven't had my homestudy yet, but I am moving on January 10th so I couldn't have it until after then anyway....
I put in my family profile that I would take in GIRLS 6 wks to 6 yrs but I think when have my homestudy I may change it to birth to 2 yrs....I really want a little baby for my first placement..
I have been given so much stuff that it is ridiculous...A crib, toddler bed and a bunkbed set with matching dresser...I also have just about everything I need including formula and diapers...I also have a whole wardrobe of clothes, a toddler and an infant car seat, and so much more...and I have to say that 97% of the stuff I have was given to me....I live in a one bedroom now (moving to a 2 bedroom on Jan 10th) and my 1 bedroom apt is soooo over crowded..I can't even sleep in my bedroom because there is so much stuff in there...I will be so happy when next week gets here and I will have more space
My family is pretty supportive (except my dad). Some of my church members have expressed concern because they just don't want me to overwhelm myself, but they are generally supportive
As far as my schedule and job, yes I do work...but I am VERY fortunate to have a job with a flexible schedule , as long as the work gets done, they don't really care what time I come in or leave (granted I still have to work 40 hrs a week) but I can work those 40 hrs like I want and I usually take my lunch at the end of the day..I work 8 hrs straight, but I do take my 15 min breaks to eat whatever I brought to eat that day and I generally eat that at my desk...I like to come in, do my job and then leave and I generally only take a lunch during the middle of the day if I have errands to run..I LOVE MY JOB, but I REFUSE to make it my life....
I am kind of concerned about the time I will not be spending with my child, I want to spend as much time with my child as possible, but unfortunately only having one income, I have to go work and I CANNOT take off more than a week after placement because I have only been on my job a little over a month and have not accrued enough time and because I am a contractor, I can't get FMLA until I have worked like 6 months....but hey I have to work or we all be without a home. I only plan to take off a few days to get WIC and get my daycare voucher (WE GET FREE DAYCARE!!!) and everything set up because by me being single it is just going to be impossible to take off every time I get a foster care placement and still be able to keep my job...Here there is no "foster to adopt program"..It is only foster (with the hopes of adopting but the possibility that the child may go back home) or straight adoption (in which it is virtually impossible to get an infant), SO I CHOSE FOSTER. because the chances were greater of me getting a younger child... so every child that is placed with me will not stay permanently..unfortunately it's the "luck of the draw" I do however plan to take off once the adoption is finalized....by then I will be able to utilize my FMLA. Yeah it sucks that it has to be that way..but 'tis the life of a single parent...To be honest most working parents don't get to spend the majority of the day with their child during the week either and I know a lot of people who didn't take their full maternity leave allowed (due to financial reasons)..so 'tis the life of a working parent....
Here kids can go to daycare at 6 wks.....but I am fortunate to have a lady at my church who is a licensed foster parent who also owns a home daycare, so she can watch my child prior to her being 6wks old because she is a licensed foster parent. She will be my full time day care provider while I am working.. She is GREAT!!!!! She loves kids!!!! She's like a mom to me and will be more like a grandmother to my child...I even spend the night over her house with her and her daughter and we hang out and watch movies..they are more like family than a regular daycare provider...so that gives me more comfort than if I had to leave my baby with some stranger I barely know. Plus her daughter has been background screened, so she can provide care for my child if her mom is unavailable...
I thank God for my job and my soon to be daycare provider.... I can go to work really early in the morning as early as 4:30am or as late as 10:00am and still be able to drop my baby off at the daycare whenever I want..It is a 24 hr daycare...and with my job....if I had a rough night... I just go in later (without penalty-providing we don't have a meeting, but I usually know about these a few days in advanced) It was like God orchestrated it all so perfectly.....
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Originally Posted by DRCSGRANT
Makarios79,
Reading your post is like reading a page in my own life. I have started the foster care/adoption process in the agency that I am working with and I am at just about the same point as you. I have already been fingerprinted, started my MAPP training classes (but I have to attend one a week over 10 weeks to be finished.) and I have just had my first homestudy visit on 12/27/06. My homefinder/placement specialist told me that she thought I would have placement of my beautiful infant by March or April. I am so excited and I have already been getting prepared for the baby yet to come. I have started contacting daycares so I can have a place set up for him/her when he is 8 weeks old and able to attend (although with much regret). I have found all of the necessitites that I will need for the baby once they come home- my homefinder advised me to have everything in place because when a call comes and I accept the placement may be the same night or next day. I am trying to readjust my schedule to be as efficient as possible with all my other activities so I can devote as much time as possible to the baby. My family is somewhat supportive but feels like I may be biting off more than I can chew - but I feel the same way you do -- I know I am extremely capable and there are soooo many out there birthing babies and making due so you cannot tell me that I cannot care for a young one. Anyway, I just wanted to echo what you said and wish you good luck in your process...
One question though? Do you work? Are you worried about childcare and the amount of time you will be able to spend with the child. I don't know what age you are planning to adopt but I plan to adopt an infant and I will not be able to take off the 8 weeks until the baby is old enough for daycare so I will be paying someone somehow to come into my home and provide childcare to my baby until they are ready for daycare... and even then I am no thrilled about the concept of the baby being in daycare that young, but I have already accepted that this is an unfortunate consequence of a wonderfully rewarding career - I am a doctor and able to help people everyday so I cannot complain. I was just wondering about this because this is my greatest concern and I read that you are planning to adopt two right behind the other and I was wondering how you planned to handle this.
Thanks for any advice!
Cristal
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