Wednesday I received a letter from the Department of Children and Families out of state, stating they had 2 children, age 4 and age 1 that needed to be placed with family in the Foster Care system. No other information, other than a two page "What is Foster Care" sheet and the social worker's info. I called twice on Wednesday and left voice messages.
You all know I am 3 weeks away from my journey, 8 months of flights, trains, hotels and Airbnbs already paid for. But if this is family.....little kids.....I was torn, devastated, and did not sleep at all.
I called the supervisor this morning, who could not give me any information, but promised to call me back in an hour. (he did not)
At 315 this afternoon Miss A. called me and told me the last names of the two boys. It didn't ring a bell. I asked for the maiden name of the mom. Still did not recognize it. I told her the last names of my sisters who had married up there, and the names of the nephews and nieces I knew about, and they were not on her contact list for the children. So, she feels there is no family connection at all to these two babies, and that sometimes their search engine spits out names of people who have lived in the same house once or had the cell phone number once or any number of random connections.
She seemed so tired to be so young, and we talked for a few minutes. I asked her if she was taking care of herself too, recharging between placements and visits and she laughed. She told me people don't know how bad it is up there, and thanked me for actually asking how she was. I told her I was getting ready to travel and where and how, and she asked questions and seemed interested. She and I connected, and I was glad.
I am profoundly sad and glad at the same time. I am glad I can continue on my journey, and sad that those children still do not have a family member to claim them. They are in the system, and all we can do is think of them and send them light and love. Tonight my sadness is heavier than my relief, tomorrow I will be better.
You all know I am 3 weeks away from my journey, 8 months of flights, trains, hotels and Airbnbs already paid for. But if this is family.....little kids.....I was torn, devastated, and did not sleep at all.
I called the supervisor this morning, who could not give me any information, but promised to call me back in an hour. (he did not)
At 315 this afternoon Miss A. called me and told me the last names of the two boys. It didn't ring a bell. I asked for the maiden name of the mom. Still did not recognize it. I told her the last names of my sisters who had married up there, and the names of the nephews and nieces I knew about, and they were not on her contact list for the children. So, she feels there is no family connection at all to these two babies, and that sometimes their search engine spits out names of people who have lived in the same house once or had the cell phone number once or any number of random connections.
She seemed so tired to be so young, and we talked for a few minutes. I asked her if she was taking care of herself too, recharging between placements and visits and she laughed. She told me people don't know how bad it is up there, and thanked me for actually asking how she was. I told her I was getting ready to travel and where and how, and she asked questions and seemed interested. She and I connected, and I was glad.
I am profoundly sad and glad at the same time. I am glad I can continue on my journey, and sad that those children still do not have a family member to claim them. They are in the system, and all we can do is think of them and send them light and love. Tonight my sadness is heavier than my relief, tomorrow I will be better.