Its A Small World Afterall

Tonight I took my children to Chuck E Cheese to burn off some energy. I didnt tell them where we were going but rather just told them to jump in the car and lets do it...they were so excited when they realized where I was taking them. I love doing things like that with my kids...no matter how small the treat is they are overwhelmed with excitement about it. On the way down the road tonight somehow the conversation in the backseat of my van turned from bodily functions to talk of birth fathers. Of my 3 oldest boys only one says he has ever seen his father. When we arrived at Chuck E Cheese I was following my little ones around and letting them play and I noticed a woman looking at me rather oddly. I checked myself several times to make sure I wasnt exposed anywhere then decided she must be staring at me because I was so pretty! Wrong! Turned out she was the sister to the father of one of my foster children. She called the childs father and had him come to Chuck E Cheese to see his son. The man came in and sat down at the table with me and introduced himself and his other 8 children. After a bit of small talk and keeping it as generic as I possibly could and referring all his inquiries back to social services we started to leave. Before we did my foster son looked right at him and said I want to ask you something and said to him "Where were you at all the Christmas' and birthdays that have already passed?" The man simply stated "I cant answer that." How sad. J is a wonderful kid and I am sorry he didnt get to share those special days with his dad and mom together....but I am glad I was allowed to be a part of those times with him. I am glad about all the extra trouble I went through to make those days as special and as memorable as I possibly could. I did it for J, and I did it for all the other kids who pass through my home who have no fun memories of special days with their moms and dads. I hope when they become adults and look back on those special days they will have something to smile about....if so then I can say my work was complete.
Anyway.........as I mentioned before I have a new placement in my home. R came to me on July 4th. I was originally thinking that he was with me as a temporary placement but it appears he will be with us much longer. R had some trouble in his former foster home. I cant venture to say what went on there but I can say his....R has been very well behaved and considerate in my house and we have enjoyed him. I dont know how long he will be here but he is certainly welcome to stay as long as he needs to. He is just not the aggressive child that he has been told he was. The other day R was sitting in the kitchen with me and we were talking back and forth about nothing special and out of the blue he looked at me and asked me if I would consider adopting him and his sisters. When he said that I was so overwhelmed i was almost speechless. To think that he would even consider thinking of me that was or to think that I was worthy to be his mother was such an honor to bestow on me I was left speechless. R isnt a child that lets anyone too close to him. He tends to shy away from affection and hugs. I make it a point to touch him every day...just on the arm or the head or back. I tell him I love him and I dont expect him to ever say it back but I feel like its something he needs to hear. I think that when he asked me to adopt him it was his way of saying I love you too. R is careful to guard himself and to keep his emotions in check at all times. I have made it my personal goal to tear down the wall he carrys about him all the time.
16 more days of summer left!!!! My kids are so ready to get back to school. Summer was way too long this year. It felt like someone added extra days in it.

Bring on the fall time!!!