Bitterly Disappointed
Today we received Byron's lifebook. This is a book, that all foster children are to have. It's supposed to chronicle their life with the foster family(ies). Byron has been in foster/adoptive homes since birth. Today I received his lifebook (his former families are/were most uncooperative in working with social services). Now, keep in mind, that Byron is currently 3 years and 5 months old. I have 24 pictures. Just 24 pictures to chronicle his life from birth. His last family has given us nothing. So, I have about a picture a month for his first two years, except that of those 24 pictures, one of them is Sponge Bob (?? long lost brother??) and several of his sisters. So, I have even less photos of just Byron. I feel so bad for him. There are just tons of pictures of the kids around here (ok, they're mostly on my computer...). When Miss A went home, I sent her with two, 20 page photo books. She was here for 10 months. I can't believe that in more than 3 years he's got 20 pictures. I'm just so sad. There isn't even a picture of him as a newborn. I won't even go into the note that his first family wrote into the book. It just steams me to think about it. Oh well. I can't change the past. I can only change his future.
*Upon reflection, and after talking with a close friend, I want to add some thoughts to clarify my post. When you foster children, part of that agreement is that you maintain a book for them. You are being given money each month to support this child and part of the bargain is that you also jot down things in this book. Especially when a baby is placed with you, in that they change so fast and reach so many milestones that are easily forgotten or just don't go to the next placement with them. For example, I have no idea how old Byron was when he rolled over, sat up, walked. Was he early, late, average? I have no idea. I can tell my kids those things. They love to hear stories of when they were little. I suppose that I am still suffering from the rosy glasses of our first placement. And, to be honest, I am such a rule follower and a bit OCD that I just could not do the things that I'm told.*
*Upon reflection, and after talking with a close friend, I want to add some thoughts to clarify my post. When you foster children, part of that agreement is that you maintain a book for them. You are being given money each month to support this child and part of the bargain is that you also jot down things in this book. Especially when a baby is placed with you, in that they change so fast and reach so many milestones that are easily forgotten or just don't go to the next placement with them. For example, I have no idea how old Byron was when he rolled over, sat up, walked. Was he early, late, average? I have no idea. I can tell my kids those things. They love to hear stories of when they were little. I suppose that I am still suffering from the rosy glasses of our first placement. And, to be honest, I am such a rule follower and a bit OCD that I just could not do the things that I'm told.*
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