Preparing for the Selection Meeting

Next Tuesday, our social worker will be getting together with Ricky and Jame’s worker and others to discuss why we’re the right family for Ricky and James.  It sounds like several other family’s social workers will do the same.

Last Tuesday, we met up with our social worker for our quarterly visit.  We talked about some of the things that would make us desirable for these two kids.  I really just wish they’d accept, that I having a feeling this was meant to be. . that this may be God’s calling.  But, of course, they can’t.

Some of the things we came up with though somehow it feels more like we’re trying to sell a house than ourselves. . .

We’re young and active.  To me, that seems like a no brainer but I forget that many prospective parents are not first timers and aren’t as “young” as we are.  For a couple that’s been married 10 years and trying to have a family now for 8 years, young seems like an oxymoron.  But, alas we like to think young, to be active with kids, and to have fun.

We’ve been married 10 years.  That’s not a lot in our books but it shows stability. 

We have experience with children and special needs- and a support system that does as well.  I’ve taught children with special needs, worked a number of years in day care, and have several college early childhood classes in my toolbox.  Cody, being dyslexic, has experience dealing with the “special needs” label- in fact he was told in the second grade that he would never read.  My brother is ADD but also worked at a facility for children with autism.  My mother, well, she taught for 30 years.  And that hunting buddy I mentioned last time, his wife teaches autistic children for the local school district.

Activities.  We can provide structure and route.  We’ve seen the power that giving kids choices has.  We believe in having fun and getting outside.  As I told our social worker, my “nephew” and Cody love to play outside- then get me to “act a fool” and play sports with them.  We are also strong believers in supporting creativity and interests.  Goodness knows, we’ve done that with Jack’s artistic ability.  And, Cody has experience in trade work which apparently may come in handy as the oldest reaches adulthood. 

Many of those thing were things I thought of while we talked to the kids’ worker.  They were things that made me realize how much we have to draw upon if we’re selected for these kids.  We’ll have to wait and see. . .our line is still out there just waiting to see if we get any bites.

Related posts:

1. Selection!
2. When Live Stares You In The Face
3. Justice, Ricky, And James
4. Expecting The Blessings Of Family
5. Job Interviews, Online Shopping, Fishing, and House Selling

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