[Original Mike]

Jen:

I have ALWAYS enjoyed having teens in my home. And, you're right, many of them can be easyto read. Others are able to discuss openly any concerns.

If you're following my other threads, you know that I am in the process of moving a sibling pair (18 and 17) into my home. I will admit, these two are FAR brighter than any other kids I've met in the system and this has made getting to know them very easy. We freely discuss expectations and all three of us are going into this "eyes wide open".

On the other hand, be wary. I had one horrific placement a few years back where I relied too much on what I had been told, particularly by workers. This kid was a mess who should have never been placed in a traditional family setting. Of course, that was several years ago and I like to think that I'm not as naive now.

Too often, we just assume that older teens in the system don't want a family. Many are so beaten down that they no longer want a family. Others will jump at the chance. Each teen is different, so procede accordingly.

just my two cents

Mike