About Me 2
If you are new to my blog, please read the below link…. it is about the beginning of my journey into foster care and may answer questions that you may have regarding my bioparents (so that you do not mistakenly tell me that they loved me and to search for them now)….
It was one of my first blog entries in 2009.
Please understand that I am NOT anti-CPS, but pro-foster care reform.
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1.
Alysia | April 14, 2011 at 8:53 pm
I’m new to your blog, we are in the process of becoming foster parents and have found your blog very helpful. We are really wanting to foster and/or adopt teens but have been discouraged by most people(who aren’t really familiar with the foster care world anyways). I had a couple questions for ya and wasn’t sure where an appropriate place to ask them is?
2.
brinnicole | May 9, 2011 at 1:52 am
I aged out of care 4 years ago after 15 years in 26 different homes. I am super excited to read some of your posts and hear your thoughts on life after care. I look forward to “getting to know you” a little bit
3.
Missy | June 1, 2011 at 11:43 pm
Do you know who Dr. Karyn Purvis is? She has an organization called Empowered to Connect and she works with “kids from hard places.” She is absolutely amazing. On her website are tons of videos etc for connecting with foster kids.
I think you would like it and be very encouraged just that she exists in the universe and is dedicated to helping kids like you were.
http://empoweredtoconnect.org/
4.
Someone who Cares | June 23, 2011 at 5:01 pm
I happened across your blog today and want you to know that people DO care. I read on several occasions where you stated you were born bad, and I want to tell you that you were not born bad, you were born to bad people. My wife comes from similar circumstances, though instead of foster care she had a legal guardian. Never fully adopted, just guardianship. Other details that I will not indulge are very similar to yours. Now she is married with kids of her own, a house wife, and happy.
God has the same in store for you if you want it. Life is not all bad, but there are bad people in it. Kids are not responsible for being… but adults are. You cannot do ANYTHING about your childhood, but slowly, you can begin changing adulthood. I know it is rough, abuse takes everything a person has to get over it (when possible). I would just encourage you to find ONE thing you enjoy (like your dogs), and pour all the love that you have into it. Start there. I cannot BEGIN to imagine how life was for you, but I hope that this helps. You start loving something with all you have, and grow from there.
Peace.
5.
Christina Thomason | August 8, 2011 at 9:03 am
Thank you for being so courageous and sharing your story, struggles, and successes. I aged out of the foster care system in California and am currently going through a lot of the same issues in therapy. It was good to hear I am not alone and someone else out there might just understand.
6.
Lura | November 17, 2011 at 3:27 pm
LT I wanted to share this with you right away. I just found out about it today.
Since it is your first thanksgiving in your new place
“Alumni, FCAA has five gift cards from Honey Baked Ham to give for Thanksgiving Dinners. Adam will send them through email so that is the first requirement…you have to have an email account. We need a full name and a quick summary of your situation. The certificates are $100 each and you will need to go online to order your meal. FCAA will be making a decision on who gets them by tomorrow so yo…u have …time to order them to get your food by Thanksgiving. Again, send Adam Robe your email address and your situation (including makeup of your family – for example married, have kids). And remember, since the food will be delivered, you will need an address to mail it to. Send your information to arobe@fostercarealumni.org.”
7.
Denise | April 12, 2012 at 10:04 am
OMG LT! I just fell upon your blog. Don’t know how I ran into it…but here it is. I absolutely love it! You are so open and honest. I’m a foster/adoptive mom to three wonderful kids! One, my middle child, but the oldest chid that I have adopted, has been through hell and I worry about her as she matures into an adult. You’re reflection on your life really helps me put things into persepective. Thanks so much! I want to share something with you. This happened this week:
Yesterday, my middle child (my oldest adopted chld) was taken to tumbling practice and the other two (my chronologically oldst and my yongest) went to Sam’s to pick up some things. After our shopping, we grabbed some pizza slices for a very, unhealthy, but satisfying dinner. While sitting there eating, we saw the social worker and her family checking out. My youngest spent a lot of time with her and they were good friends. He was so excited and ran up and gave her a hug. The social worker was in tears and so happy to seen him! We chatted a bit and as she left she told me to tell my other daughter “hey” for her.
This is the conversations that followed once we picked up my daughter. I’ll refer to her as K.
As soon as K gets in the car, my son shouts out “Hey we say Mizz B___ at Sam’s and we had pizza!”. K’s first question was “Where’s my pizza?”
Then, she asked me if I saw Miss B___ at Sam’s too.
Me: “Yeah, she was there with her family getting stuff like were. She told me to tell you Hey.”.
Then there was silence.
K: But why was she at Sam’s?
Me: I already told you. She was there buying things with her family.
K: No. Why was she there with you?
Me: She wasn’t there with me sweetie, she was there with her family. We just happen to run into her while we were eating our pizza. ( I apparently don’t understand what she is REALLY asking yet)
K: Is this is my pizza? (a nonsense question since she is referring to the half-eaten slice in her lap)
No response from me.
So we get home, and again she asks “Mommy, Why was Miss B___ at Sam’s with you?”
Me: Why sweeetie? Why do you ask this question?
K: I thought we didn’t need her anymore.
Me: You’re right, we don’t need her anymore, but she’s still our friend. I think it’s kind of nice to see her once and awhile, even though we don’t need her anymore. She helped us a lot didn’t she?
K: yeah, cuz now I have a family.
just about made me cry to think how she felt so helpless for so long. I will be coming to your blog regulary to catch on your life and your story. We are all in this together sweetie. You are NOT alone.
8.
M.E. | April 26, 2012 at 2:14 pm
I thought about you and about this woman that I watched a few years back. Maybe you can relate, maybe not. Anyway..I do wish you healing and love in your day..
9.
loopsydoop77 | May 15, 2012 at 5:24 pm
Hey there! I was listening to a two hour segment on a radio show today by Foster Care Alumni. Super cool radio spot for Foster Care Awareness month. I was wishing you were listening to it too, and I was thinking you might be inspired by the speakers, all of whom are doing things and writing books and living lives to make foster care better for all our brothers and sisters in care.Here is the link to the podcast/radio show from today “Bert interviews Heather O’Neil, Mayor Antonia Ricigliano, Congressman Frank Pallone, Rhonda Sciortina, Evelyn Polk, Mimi Paris, and others! A VERY SPECIAL two-hour show on New Jersey TODAY solely dedicated to “Foster Children’s Day!” http://www.wctcam.com/BertPodcasts.aspx
It’s the first one listed for now.
I hope it helps you know that there are so many of us out there, and we are all trying to make things better, right along with you, right along side all our issues and baggage we all carry with us too. Someone on the show said there were enough of us in this country to rival a city the size of Baltimore? Some big city. I hope you get to listen to it!
10.
Jackie | May 23, 2012 at 1:18 pm
Dont know if my phone will let me post or not. Just wanted to let v know that u have come a long way. You are doing an awesome job!
11.
Jackie | May 27, 2012 at 10:58 am
Pls let everyone kow u are ok. I for one miss you.