[PAmomof1]

Hello everyone,

I had an extremely busy weekend! I had a six year old respite female for six days in in the middle of that I got a call for a 9 month old baby girl that I accepted!

Here's my dilemma, I really enjoyed the respite child. She was however EXTREMELY hyperactive and bratty but she had a lot of good things about her too. She would definitely require a lot of work. The home that she's in now does not want to keep her because she's going up for adoption and they don't want to adopt. So I could be an option. I've already spoken to my caseworker and told her that I was interested.

I'm not sure how long the baby will be here, but there is a shelter hearing scheduled for today so we will see. The baby has been okay. She cries ALOT!!!! She cries whenever I leave the room or when she can't see me. I suspect that she's been left alone a lot especially considering that she was left face down outside of her "alleged" father's home

Here's where the plot thickens sort of, lol. I have a 16 month old FD and a 10 year old Bio Daughter!

I've never had four kids before!!! I'm nervous! Especially when the six year old has a lot of issues. She has a TSS worker and everything. However, her issues don't seem too out of the ordinary.

I'm extremely nervous because I want to be able to be a good mom to everyone and I need to know how people do it with a big family. (maybe some don't consider 4 kids big, but I'm an only child!)

How do you guys give the children enough individual time.

I'm a SAHSM for now, I do books for some of the small businesses in my area, and get paid to do a lot of work for 2 sister churches and that allows me to stay home with the kids

I so want to make this work, I guess I just need tips and to know that I'm not totally crazy for considering this, lol!!!!!!

[mylilangels]

I commend you for wanting to give this girl a chance. Most of the people around me only want the babies to foster and adopt. Having 4 isn't bad at all..I love having 4 but at this time we have 6..lol We have found that we cannot go over 6 children, when we do our bios stress to much. I can tell you to keep a routine as much as possible. I keep a very strict schedule b/c if i didn't everything would be a mess. Enjoy having these lil angels. It sounds like you have alot of love to give and i know you'll do just fine. Enjoy them..Take Care..

[echobunny89]

Good luck to you! I have 7 so 4 to me is no big deal! I had 4 bio children all under the age of 5 at one point. You just need to run your home like a tight ship. If this is what you want to do than you can do it!

[mom2GRLC]

You CAN do it. I say give it a try and then make your decision after about a month or two. In that time the kids will have had a chance to get to know you and you them, you will have settled into a schedule and by then you will be more able to decide what you can and can't handle and you will likely find that your family is getting along just fine.

[aspenhall]

Make sure that the 6 yr old isn't just being charming due to RAD. Educate yourself on her background Then I think you'll do fine with 4...they will entertain each other. Individual time can be scheduled or it can simply be at bedtime.

[shycar]

I have 4 right now ages 5 and under. Routine Routine Routine is the key. I also have alone time for 20 min, they need a break from eachother. At first it will be hard, but with time and once you have routine things will get easier. Good Luck

Shycar

[Mel in NEPA]

I've said this before, and I'll say it again, as I don't think it's said often enough. I think it's more essential to get the child working within the family unit and focus on that, than worry about individual time. You make these times when you get them. You go to the store, take one of them, then next time, take another. Make dinner together, do laundry together, etc. But I think it has been far more important to teach my fsons that they are part of a *family* they are not just individuals anymore. Gives them a lot more sense of belonging, and it's grounding for them.

[PAmomof1]

Thank you so much for all of your replies! So far so good. It looks like the baby will be with us until at least May 20th. That's the next court hearing.

So I'm just taking it one day at a time. I haven't heard anything yet on if I will be considered for the six year old. They are thinking about placing her in a theraputic foster home.

Until then, I just love the kids I have

[PAmomof1]

Just a quick update! I got a call from my caseworker saying that the six year old's foster parents are requesting that she be moved ASAP because they are having some family come from out of state to stay with them and they don't want them to have to have background checks done

This poor little girl just keeps getting shifted around. She's been in 7 foster homes in 3 years.

Please pray for her.