[outdoormama]

My name is Debby. I am a 28 year old mother of four super kiddos! Three boys ages 4, 8, & 13 and one girl age 11. The oldest two are technically step but like I said that’s just a technicality. The three boys live with us full time and our princess lives one mile north of us with her mama so we see her just about every day and she is currently spending the summer with us. The two youngest see their father almost just as often, he lives a mile south of us....no the super close proximity to both of our ex’s was not intentional by any of us but it works for us.

My parents lost custody of my sister and I when I was in seventh grade due to their divorce custody battle where they successfully proved each other unfit. On a side note, that is a divorce issue more parents should be aware of! My preteen life was abruptly hijacked and my dad’s parents took us in and committed themselves to guiding us in a better direction. I am so thankful for their unconditional love, patience, and understanding. I’ve always wanted to help a child the way they helped me.

Our 13-yo son was physically, sexually, emotionally abused and a little neglected several years before coming to live with his father and I. We along with his mother have spent the past 2.5 years working with his doctor, therapists through in patient, day treatment, and his therapeutic school. We’ve had numerous major setbacks and we always look forward to the small steps he is taking in the right direction. Seeing him take those small steps forward is just as rewarding as watching your baby take his first steps or say that first little word even when it sounds nothing like it should and that makes it all worth while. Our teenager has picked up the pace with his baby steps and is really starting to understand where the direction he has been going will end v.s. the result of taking a safer path everybody has been trying to point him toward.

Last night my husband mentioned to me that once our oldest is on his own he’d like to take in one foster child at a time. I still haven’t told him foster parenting or adopting an older child has been a dream of mine for a long time but I’m the type of person that likes to be prepared before I even get to the planning stage of anything. I homeschooled my 8-yo through kindergarten and spent three years planning before he turned five. I love spending time with my family and I know planning anything takes time and research so I prefer the slow and steady approach. I’m currently planning to homeschool our oldest once he completes his treatment plan.

[anilorak13ska]

I love it when I hear about folks wanting to foster/adopt teens. DH and I just went through our PRIDE training, and we were, ehem, "encouraged" to take in teens. We're both in our early 30s and have never parented before, so we absolutely do not feel comfortable with that age group.

It's made me feel bad bc I know that's where the largest need is, but I have to follow my heart. God placed this desire in my heart for a reason, and I know our forever child/ren is/are out there!

But enough about me! Just wanted to say I think it's wonderful! As is the homeschooling, which is something I also have started researching and planning. Although, we are looking to possibly adopt a preschooler, so I realized that might be necessary sooner rather than later!

Would love to know what sort of curriculum you used with your kingergartener!

Take care!
Karolina