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roomformore I know exactly how you feel. Having five children is very overwhelming especially since you only have to hands. At one time I had four foster children from two different counties. I had a 4 yr old girl from one county, a sibling group-2 yr old boy and 1yr old girl- from another county and a 5 month old from the same county of the 4 yr old. I thought I could handle it. I got really overwhelmed. The 4 yr old had 2 visit a week and therapy and had pre-school, the siblings had 2 visits a week, and when I took the baby I thought he would go the same visit time as the 4 yrs old. Yeah Right!!!! He had 3 visits with mom and 2 with dad seperate and worse they did not go with the 4 year olds visit at all. I had to go 7 trips to one county and then 2 trips to the another county and then 1 trip to therapy plus school every morning. I dont know how I did it, but when I realized at the end of the day that I didnt remember the car trips and making dinners, helping with home works, and bath times I knew it was too much. I did everything in a zoned out mode couse I was sooo exhausted, I realized I had to let one go no matter how guilty and hurt I felt. I was tooo exhausted to help all of them and worse to give each their individual attention. I understand that you want to help the children. I always feel guilty not taking any more, but one needs to make sure that they are rested and taken care of, before they can help others. If you feel that you are soo overwhelmed that it would affecting you then you need to do what you think it is right for you. If you dont take care of yourself then you can not be there to take care of others. There is plenty of homes where these children can get the love and attention that they need. You dont have to feel guilty. Yes I know that children get affected by being moved, but they also get affected when they dont have the attention that they need.
I hope this help and remeber you do what YOU think is best for you and the children. Many say that these children need to come first, but I say if you dont watch out for yourself first then you can not watch out for others. I now only take two children and sometime 3 depending the age and the attention they need.
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