An update from the country

There is a hard and fast rule about kids in care, and the rule is....no two placements will ever be the same.  There isn't a step by step order that things will take.  Each story unfolds differently. K's is unfolding quickly, and I feel like we are in the last chapters of our story with him.  

One of the options for kids who can't be cared for by their parents is to go into a 'kin' placement. A placement with a family member.  That is what the CAS is considering for K.

So in two weeks the CAS will present the idea to a judge, and the judge will most likely agree with the plan.  It's very likely K will be leaving our home in the next little bit.

It's a big deal for a little kid to move, and normally I'd do a lot of prep work with them to be sure they were ready to go.  

But this move is a little different, because there is a chance that not everything will be in place, or the judge will see something he wants added to the plan, and K could stay with us for a little longer.

Whenever I talk to K about it, I have to talk about it two ways.  You might or might not be moving in two weeks.  I don't want to build up his hopes for something that isn't 100%, but I also don't want to say good-bye in an hour.  (If the judge agrees with the kin placement, K could move the same afternoon).

My plan is to work on a 'life book' (which is an expectation if you're a foster parent) and have it ready to go with him if he moves.  Something with pictures of his time with us, and a little note from everyone to say goodbye.  Then if we don't the time for good closure, he'll have something to look at that says good-bye.

And then we just enjoy each little moment with him until then.  We knew for sure that K would only be with us for a while when he came, but this is faster turnaround than normal.  And to be honest, it has been easy to thoroughly enjoy to having him here with us, and that rarely happens.  

Sure there are moments of joy in every placement, but sometimes they are far and few between.  This time they hit us right between the eyes.   This time the difficult part will be the goodbye.