Waiting For Panel Decision=Approval

And so for all our checks probes and teachings also all the form filling and alll and more etc etc etc we are so very happy to announce we were approved at panel to foster...hooray- or is that a GULP? - we are excited , proud apprehensive and re-planning what we had already planned months ago! Oh the excitement and the anticipation feels wonderful , here i stand looking like a 47 year old and feeling like 7 inside myself , the long awaited phone call arrived when i unsuspected it to come adfter all the thoughts i had each time the phone rang thinking this could be it then just as i let down my walls and concentrate on other things boom there it is!
I could not wait to tell my husband the wonderful news , our social worker was so pleased for us i could feel her smiles surrounding me as she delivered to us the good news.My husband was just as delighted as i was and i could not wait for him to return home for a big hugg , we did it , together , we got to the vital point we had fought so hard to reach we are approved and we are elated.
The best part also was sharing the wonderful news with friends and family we really do feel like we were supported , although some we didnt think really did believe in us and some encouraged us. You think when you go into foster caring that those closest will encourage you and cheer you on , well some did for us and some did not but that is ok because we have each other and those that really do care.
After you tell everyone the great news it is now time to worry hahaaha! I made a coffee and went into the garden , a beautiful spring day , i looked to the sky and thought of my mother in heaven hoping she knew we had got through and feeling a smile in my heart. So many questions and things to arrange and discuss , the shock and the head feeling like a large bubble on my shoulders like it will pop if i do not slow down and filer thoughts sensibly , i guess this is the real beginning , the point we dreamt of.
The hugg from husband was the best i think it was kind of like a victory come exausted kind of hug but a deep one that felt good and strong and that loving feeling you get when you know you have eachother and are there to support each other followed afterwards by speedy thoughts and more coffee oh my so much to say and so so may words and so much excitement , the evening was spent joyously as a family together trying to predict the future when there was no glass ball to be seen anywhere.

Can I Foster??? The Beginning

that is the big question , can you and do you really want to? We faced the same thoughts in the beginning , asking ourselves why we wanted to and what were the benefits and the non-beneficial things about it , so what better way than to apply and go onto the introductory foster meeting along with other people who have the same questions as yourself , it is here you will most likely make your choices , they really do help you to decide with absolutley no pressures at all , they give you all you need to know and to consider and leave it with you , you then can talk and weigh up whether you want to go ahead or not , we went ahead and so did the other people who were at the first introductory course it was a full house and all familiar faces on our next visit which was really good to see.

Training and Courses

I will not kid anyone when i say it has not been easy , the introduction was really good as they let you know the truths and the ups and downs of considering being a foster family which we appreciated from the start full honesty.It left you thinking and deciding would fostering be right for us as a family and to look at the effects of change and how those changes would effect us.it really made us question ourselves.
We had numerous visits and a lot of paperwork to do.
We attended meetings and educational classes to make us aware of all the aspects needed and involved in caring for children , we found these courses very informative and fun but most of all the courses really do get you to grips of all the needs of a child and what will be important.I would say they were excellent , some lasting a few hours others full days but all needed and all very thourough in detail. It was also a chance not just to learn but to ask questions , discuss concerns and of course a place to meet new friends who have all the same interest to look after children in need.
Some paperwork and books we had to fill in ( yes books and thick ones!) was quite the workload but the value of learning from doing these are enormous , they really do make you look at your beliefs,life,family and friends , to be straight to the point you look at all those you love and your support network- those who will be there for you.
There was also as expected all the checks like health checks , police checks,finances at home , all birth marriage and divorce certificates , car tax and insurance bank statements not to name but a few or should i say phew! The background and foreground checks are very thorough as would be expected!.
Many home visits are made and lots of interviews from social workers who really do know their job and ask many many questions sometimes personal but always treated with respect and dignified.
The process in full can take a while before panel , every dot to be dotted and every cross to be crossed , you have to be commited.I guess what got us through it was the sheer determination to help children who needed us to go through this to get to them to be able to help.I think it was also a way of us proving ourselves by sticking with it all but they give you plenty of time to produce your work to hand in and it really is intense but enjoyable you learn so much - well we did!