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My first fson I sent back about a year ago and I sent much more with him than I probably will be able to with any other child. I sent all the kids books he had in his room even if they weren't bought specifically for him, his clock and cool airplane lamp, bathtub toys, outdoor toys, favorite videos etc.... It worked out well because he probably would not have had very much when he went back with his mom. He came with almost nothing from the emergency placement although his mom did bring some of his old clothes and toys over the year that I had him.
The two that went back yesterday had lots of stuff to begin with. I helped them pack to sort and toss the accumulated junk and trash that they didn't want to take and I did find some house items amongst their things... mostly books borrowed from the "kid's" bookcase. They asked if they could take their clocks and lamps but I had to say no. I can't afford to replace these things every time.
Our change of placement supplement is only $100 and I usually spend much more than that getting ready for a new child because they keep changing the ages/genders on me and I keep accepting kids outside of my "preference". I take boys 4-10 and I just sent back an 11 yr old boy and a 13 yr old girl. Today I get a 15 yr old boy so of course I had to go shopping again!
The 11yr old came from another foster home where the fmom asked that he be removed after only one month. Unfortunately she kept the clothing allowance ($300!) and didn't buy him anything! Grrr. He didn't even have ANY matching socks. My other 11yr old fson came from a group home and had only borrowed shoes, ill-fitting ratty clothes, and a couple of broken toys so I had to completely outfit him too.
We don't watch much tv and rarely watch videos so all videos and dvds are "family" items. I do buy all the kids bikes and let them take those with them but I am trying to accumulate games, toys, and sports equipment that belong to the whole family. I don't have bio kids so it's tricky. I usually tell them it's mine but you can use it as long as you're here or it is for all of us to use.
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