Pomp and Circumstance
The Pomp...Last night, along with only 6 other strong-willed individuals, we graduated from our MAPP foster parenting class. It feels like we have been doing this a while, even though in reality it has gone by pretty quickly (a testament to my impatience). It felt good to be done, though I will truly miss the other women that finished the class with us. I figure we will all keep in touch for a while, and probably trade off babysitting days with one another instead of paying a stranger for respite care. One woman and I have already agreed to take turns giving each other a night out away from the kids.
The Circumstance...
On this last momentous night, we finally learned how much reimbursement we will receive from the state. Until that last moment, there was very little mention on money, and no word at all on how much assistance would be provided. We were told what the daily rate was at our first home visit, but we did not disclose this just in case it was some well-guarded secret. I'll disclose it here - we will receive $19.70 per day for an infant - 11 year old. I think for ages 12 and up, the pay is a dollar or so higher per day. We will also be eligible to sign up for WIC, which will help us afford formula, cereal, and baby food. We will be able to request some money to start making the lifebook for the child - and that money will help with buying a scrapbook, film, and film developing. When the child is placed with us, we will receive a voucher to buy $100 worth of clothes for the child (that will not buy much, I'm sure any parent can testify to). If the child is with us longer than 30 days, we will receive another $50 clothing voucher which will be it for the rest of the year. We will be able to be reimbursed for mileage for taking the child to visits with birth family (in lieu of the worker). For birthdays, we will receive $25 to buy the child a gift, and $60 for Christmas gifts. This was more than I expected, and I was relieved for anything that would take some of the hardship out of providing for the children who come into our home.
This is going to be so hard. I know I have no idea how hard it will be.
My husband commented last night that he felt like we had learned all we could - and now, the only way we could possibly learn more would be to go ahead and do it.
When Michael and I were thinking about getting together for the first time to see if we could have a relationship, he would email me and tell me how scared he was about doing it. Honestly, I had doubts as to whether he would be at the airport to meet me the first time I flew to Ohio. He said he had doubts, too - as to whether he had enough in him to get to the airport in one piece mentally. Taking in a foster child, and maybe adopting one must be off the charts for him in terms of fear. In fact, I think it is so frightening to him that instead of being able to feel the fear, he is just numb to it. I've cried about it, and have had second thoughts...and third and fourth ones too. The thoughts are probably more overwhelming to me than the actual reality of a child in our home will be.
So, now we wait. Oh, but I still have to blog about the amazing way the Lord provided for baby MIAs needs already - at a yardsale of all places. More to come on that.
posted by No Longer In Crisis @ 8/12/2005 02:20:00 PM
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