Week One Training

We completed week one of training, 5 more to go. The first class was just general information and responsibilities of the foster parents. Questions we had about things like visitation, social worker visits, and rules. The second class was about child abuse. Physical, emotional, and neglect. The physical abuse really caught me off guard at the severity. Not because I was unaware that it happens, but because I have never seen firsthand physical abuse of a child. It was horrible, to say the least. The videos brought tears to my eyes. And then this morning on the news, a man was arrested for abusing a child and the child was killed. I think I am becoming more observant and certain words get my attention.

We scheduled our first homestudy appointment (out of 4) for Monday, August 18th. Just to make something known, I say really stupid things when I'm nervous. I don't know why, sometimes I just shouldn't talk. As I made the appointment for the homestudy, I was thinking if I needed to do something 'special', like maybe childproof, or whatever. I don't know, my mind was going nuts with thinking. Well, out of my mouth came: "Should I clean the house extra special?" What the heck was I thinking??? My husband looked at me like I lost my head! Our house is always clean, I have no reason to ask that! My husband just said, "The house is fine". The social worker looked at me and I know she is thinking that I'm a crazy lady!!! This on top of getting lost on the first class and ending up in a different state, thanks to my navigation skills and messed up way off taking down directions!!! Yes, I got verbal directions, and we have two interstates- 75 and 275. Well, I was told to take 275, I thought. I was really told to go to 75! Yeah, so we were 30 minutes late for the first class, and the second class I am asking if I should clean my house!!! I am wearing a muzzle for the rest of the classes!!!

Next week we are on an extended family vaca--so we miss next week classes, but she is going to schedule us to make it up. The next time I see the social worker will be for the 1st visit homestudy... Wish me luck, and any thing I shouldn't say??? LOL!