[Mallynn]

My dh is worried that it will be very boring and that they'll split us up into groups to role play. He doesn't want to do the role playing in front of strangers. Do they do that?

Also, I'm breastfeeding our 8 month old. The classes are from 9 am to 4 pm. She will NOT take a bottle, so how will this work out? Will they let me leave to bf her? I only live a mile or so from the DHS where the classes are being held. If not, will they let the babysitter bring her to me long enough to feed and then have the babysitter bring her back home? They already said absolutely no kids, so having her sit in a car seat beside me is not an option (not that I would make her do that for 6 hours anyway). She will have to be fed twice in that time frame. I know that will probably get annoying to them, but I gotta do what I gotta do, I'm not just going to not feed her! HELP!
(I already asked my CW, but he just said to ask them when you get there....umm, that's a little too late!)

[bamamommy]

We just finished our MAPP classes and I can tell you that the classes are very important. Some of what we covered was definitely common sense stuff, but a lot I have never heard of before. We did have to split into groups for a short amount of time, but it wasn't too bad.

We got a 10 minute break in the middle of class. I am sure you will get longer than that because our classes were only 3 hrs long. Some people left and got dinner during the break, some went outside or just stayed in class. I am sure they will work with you.

[modernbird]

I just completed MAPP classes too. We went from 9am to 4pm, with an hour break for lunch in the middle. We also had breaks during both morning and afternoon sessions. It's definitely doable.

The people in my group were all contacted by the leader prior to starting the training. She let us know all the ground rules in a letter that was mailed to us. Why don't you ask for the leader's name and contact information and ask the leader your question directly?

And, yes, we did break up into groups and role play! It was very useful and helped us to get to know one another, which was a very good thing. In my state, foster children, and fost-adopt children prior to finalization, can only be cared for by an adult who has been CORI'ed, so our classmates are all potential sitters and respite care givers! ;-)

Lastly, boring? No way! Where else do you discuss how to affectively parent a 9 year old who's in care because her mother was shot by the mother's boyfriend or a promiscuous adolescent with issues trusting adults? Frightening and overwhelming at times, yes. Boring? Not at all. And certainly not appropriate for children.

Good luck!

[Mallynn]

Thank you!

[Chancey]

The role playing will depend on the trainers, but I would say, yes, that there will be role playing. I am a trainer and I would give my opinions clearly on a person (and have done so) who refused to participate fully in the training. You will need to make sure this is something that your DH is willing to do, otherwise, it could jeopardize your chance at licensing.

As to the breast feeding, just ask about breaks.

[Mallynn]

He was just hoping he wouldn't have to do that, not saying he wouldn't do it. He'll do what he has to do

[Fatcat]

We got a few breaks to use the bathroom and one longer break to eat. Hopefully you'll be able to work something out.

We did do some of the role playing and stuff. I HATE that kind of stuff but I got through it. It must just not be my learning style because I totally do not remember anything we talked about during those things, but I do remember the videos and I remember quite a bit about the lectures and the birth parent who came in to talk to us and the foster kids who came in to talk to us ...

We do our training on-line now, thank goodness.

[stevenstwin]

My husband is the same way, and found it very difficult, but managed to get through it. I'll also admit that the classes were often very boring and irrelevant (we were kinship foster to a 14 year old boy, so LOTS of the stuff - fostering babies or younger children, conditions he does not have, etc, was completely unecessary information to us) so there were some long days -especially since we had a 1.5 hour drive each way to get to the location. But we endured - it doesn't last forever (although I got really tired of listening to my hubby complain ;-)

[SarahBethsMommy]

I had really good and fun instructors. And we had a very interested class. That helped a lot and I don't think any of it was boring.
We got a lot of breaks too. Plus, I'm sure they'd let you breastfeed in class if needed. I mean, I guess that depends on your own feelings about that, but I know most moms who breastfeed can do it without anyone knowing.
We did do some role play, but there were very few times that they split us up for anything.

[Mallynn]

Well I have completed 3 of the 4 classes. They have split us up into groups twice so far (the second time I got nominated as the spokesperson blah!), but it wasn't that bad. They did do role playing once but I missed it lol. I asked if I would be allowed to bf there but the instructor said that babies are too much of a distraction so I couldn't. I only live 2 miles away from where the classes are being held, so I was/am allowed to leave on our 15 minute break and be about 10 minutes late (that's why I missed the role playing).

It has worked out perfectly so far. I feed her right before I leave for class (around 8:45). We start classes at 9 and get our first break around 10:30. I go home and feed the baby and put her down for a nap and go back to class (I'm usually about 10 minutes late, but that was ok'd ahead of time).Then back home around noon time for a 1 hour lunch. The baby is just waking up around that time so we all eat and I feed her again right before I leave (around 12:45). Then we get one more break around 2:30-3:00 and I come back and feed her again and go back to class. Then classes get out at 4 pm and I go home and feed her and put her down for her second nap. I never thought it would work out that perfectly (I was seriously very stressed about it), but I'm so glad it did! ......although now I'm not so sure how I'm supposed to make it to my last class (next saturday)
since I already have my first placement.
I can NOT ask my baby sitter to watch 5 kids! especially with the 2 fk's major fear of abandonment! I didn't want to miss the class, but I'll have to, so I just hope the instructor will let us make it up online or something??