[Mammie]

Hi Jamie,

I believe God lead me to read your note. I hope you feel better today. What you suggested - getting out of the house, and getting some adult conversation, is logical. But if you are like me, actually getting around to doing that (with all these other home/foster projects to do) sometimes it takes an act of God before it happens!

Both my husband and I have just went through a rough 24 hour period with the two oldest boys ( soon to be 8 and 3 1/2 years). Both were mad at us for correcting them, and they go through these periods where they like to 'get even'.

The 3 1/2 year old urinated all over the floor twice, and the oldest one deliberately did some things he knew better of, and openly admitted he did it because he did not want to write his sentences (an effective form of disapline we use with him.)

Later, at the dinner table, my husband asked me like three times if I was feeling ok. I had to admit that I was emotionally drained. Deep down inside, I kept thinking WHY am I doing this? Am I sadistic?
Do I really need this mess?

To get a way from the situation for a bit, I ran out to the store to pick up some craft stuff for an up coming birthday party. I took the foster baby with me. While waiting in line, someone struck up a conversation with me, and it came out that I was a foster parent...well, they had all sorts of questions!

After I answered them all, I got in the van and realized that even though I had the day from hell -- God can take all that is evil and work it out for good! I went into that store still fuming over the crap of the day...but deep down inside, when the rubber hit the pavement, I wasn't ready to throw the baby out with the bath water, and I still could be a cheerleader for foster parenting!

Take on that privillage of talking to a group of potential foster parents! Tell them the good, the bad, the ugly! Good luck!