We chose not to tell our Little Lady that she'd visit her parents tonight until we were 5 minutes away.
Even when we did tell her we were on our way, we had to explain that we weren't 100% sure that they'd be there.
The meeting place just happened to be two streets over from her old house. We sat quietly knowing she was bound to recognize something on the street any second now.
Then we heard her, "I KNOW THIS STREET!" The first person she mentioned was one of her friends, then her grandpa.
"I live just down this street!"
It was so hard to hear her talk about her own home and not be able to respond with, "How do we get there? Lead the way and we'll go check it out."
Instead, we had to talk about how her parents might get to see her tonight and that she'd only see them for about an hour.
We had thought long and hard about how we'd start the conversation, but we didn't think through the part where we'd have to explain that she'd be coming back "home" with us and not with her parents. How do you explain to a 7-year-old that yes, you get to see your parents, you get to talk to them, you can even hug them, but you can't go home with them?
About 40 minutes after they were scheduled to see her, we got a text that they had just arrived.
Before she left us a few hours ago with the CPS case worker, she rolled down the back window, pointed at us and said, "Don't leave. Stay right here!"
So we stayed put. Actually, that's a lie. We drove straight to Braum's for ice cream. Then we came back to our meeting place. We sat in a Kroger parking lot 11 minutes after her bedtime knowing that we wouldn't even be home and in bed for more than an hour. But we were willing to sit and wait for as long as it took.
She was surprisingly happy (?) when we picked her up, Easter basket in hand. She went on and on about her visit and made sure she was making eye contact with me when she said, "I told them your names." I guess it was bound to happen eventually.
We drove home in the dark and sang along to the Frozen Soundtrack at the top of our lungs. Yes, all three of us.
I'm slightly terrified about what the next few days hold for us. Even before this visit, she was already resorting to more baby talk, defiance, and whining. We hope this means that she's becoming more comfortable with us and that she's starting to work through some of her "stuff."
No matter what happens in the next few weeks, months, or years, this little firecracker definitely owns a piece of my heart.
And that piece is growing by the minute.
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Today was our first day back at work. I was given the task of making sure LL was dressed, fed, groomed, and at school "on time." (If anyone would be willing to share ideas on how to wake a very sleepy 7-year-old in less than 20 minutes, it would be very much appreciated!!)
This parenting thing is NO joke. Especially when you're trying to do it alone.
It was nothing short of a miracle that I, myself, was dressed (in mix-matched clothes), fed (do 3 bites of LL's Cheerios and a small bag of Skittles count?), groomed (I drove with my knees so I could finish my make-up in the car, after I dropped her off, of course!) and "on time" to work (15 minutes late) as well.
LL's quotes:
- Bry: "What's something you get excited about?" LL: "Eating cake."
- "Is that an adult milkshake?" (pointing to the margarita machine at a restaurant)
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About Us:
We began our foster journey in mid-August 2013. We finished our classes in October, had our home study in early January, and we were licensed on February 7, 2014. After seven calls from CPS, we received our first placement, a 7-year-old girl (our Little Lady, or LL for short) on April 3, 2014. Thank you so much for taking the time to read about our journey through the craziness that is foster care. Most importantly, thanks for your prayers, love, and support. We hope to encourage fellow foster/adoptive parents as we document our ups and downs each day.
About Us:
We began our foster journey in mid-August 2013. We finished our classes in October, had our home study in early January, and we were licensed on February 7, 2014. After seven calls from CPS, we received our first placement, a 7-year-old girl (our Little Lady, or LL for short) on April 3, 2014. Thank you so much for taking the time to read about our journey through the craziness that is foster care. Most importantly, thanks for your prayers, love, and support. We hope to encourage fellow foster/adoptive parents as we document our ups and downs each day.
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