[ranoutofnames]

Along with always having lice treatment...

Keep a good stash of toothbrushes... I've never had a kid come with a toothbrush but if they have teeth they've ALL had cavities.

[UnconventionalMom]

Facial expressions are far more important than I ever dreamed.

[Heather5458]

there is an exception to every rule.

[athikers]

A Tucker sling... how appropriate!

[chevyjewel]

Throwing salt into a bit of warm water in a baby bottle and shaking vigorously will get it cleaner than one could typically get it even with a bottle brush.

Cleaners with enzymes in them will take the stink out of anything poo'd, peed or puked on.

Case plans are not crystal balls.

The more flexible you are throughout the entire process the less likely you are to break...

[Amylynx]

"start out the way you plan to continue" - I made the HUGE mistake of having relaxed rules and a "fun" weekend when FS first came to us because I wanted him to feel welcome and like it here. But trying to add in rules and structure after the fact is very, very difficult, and "fun" every day is setting up unrealistic expectations!"



Thank you so much for this! This makes SO much sense...total common sense, but its exactly the kind of mistake I could see myself making, trying to make a smooth transition. So much better to establish expectations from the get-go, and we all know kids do love structure. This is EXCELLENT advice!!!!

[Joy2566]

Never ask why the kids do something. They usually don't know why. It just seemed like the thing to do at the time. Asking why gives them the oppotunity to lie to me.

[greenrobin]

1. Email provides dated and time stamped documentation. Keep a folder in your email and transfer everything you email concerning the kids to everyone.

2. Consider buying your own fax machine. It costs about $60 for a decent one that will make copies and fax documents. Sws have used ours while working on papers here. You don't need a dedicated line--just plug it in and out. Makes turning in time sensitive paperwork--incident reports, doctor and dentist stuff, etc--a snap.

3. Ditto the notebook. I keep everything in the kids' notebooks. I also keep one for us that has our updated inspections, trainings, business cards from resources, and everything under the sun in it. Makes life so simpe.

4. Get a multi-slot planner/calendar. Mine goes wherever I go. It's a little bulky, but it fits into a large purse or diaper bag. Each person in the family has their own line. Write any and all appointments, court dates, school vacation days, phone calls, etc, on the appropriate line and you know who goes where and when. I never make a phone call without having that thing open, just to be sure. It also makes me feel like I'm a VIP, but that could just be me!

5. Ask your cw to email a digital copy of all of the paperwork that they can. It cuts down on the number of papers going in and out of our home. We just open the file, make the changes, and our monthly reports are finished. We never run out of doctor/dentist visit forms, clothing forms, or anything else they want us to fill out. Monthly files are Word documents and can be filled out on the computer. The others are PDF, but I can print them and go.