Need suggestions for children's books about foster care

We made a trip to the library today. I got a few books on foster care. Mainly autobiographies. I will read them before I give my thoughts on them. After all, books are much like movies that way, aren't they? The summary makes it sound like an excellent story, but then you get inside and the style of writing ruins it.

Doodle Bear wants to read "A Child Called 'It'" by Dave Pelzer. I've decided to let her. She is a mature 10 year old and I believe she can handle the reality that is child abuse.

We are a pretty open family. We talk about everything and make it as realistic as possible. If there is a question that we feel we cannot answer in an age appropriate way then we will tell them that. I feel that by doing this it opens the floor to them so that they do not feel like there are some off-limits subjects. As a teenager, Honey Bear would bring his friends to us for advice and pep talks. He still does. There was one friend who was being promiscuous and he was concerned. So, I talked to her to figure out why she felt she needed to do that. It wasn't a lecture, but a genuine "it doesn't have to be this way if you don't want it to be" kind of discussion. I am so proud of that girl! She stopped the destructive behavior and is now a Junior in college. :)

We have discussed some of the issues that "the kids" will have dealt with and what kinds of behavior we can expect. I want to prepare them for the fact that they will be dealing with things that we have not had to deal with in our family and they will react differently to things we take for granted.

Anyway.... I am rambling. The point of this post is this:

I looked for some kids' books for foster children. They had a total of 2.

"Mama One, Mama Two" by Patricia MacLachlan

"For Your Own Good: A Child's Book about Living in a Foster Home" by Doris Sanford.

 

 

Now, don't get me wrong. They look like great books. I don't have anything against them. But, they didn't seem to be very young kid friendly. Well, "Mama One, Mama Two" was nice and had a happy-ish ending, but what if the child comes from a more abusive type situation? Or what if there is not much hope for reunification? That just seems to set the child up for disappointment, in my opinion.

 

So, I came home and looked online. Amazon.com has some really cute books. More of a selection than I originally thought.

 

My question is this:

 

What early childhood books regarding foster care do you recommend? I could really use your opinions since our local bookstores don't carry these in the store. I donated the majority of our "little kid" books to each of our kids' Kindergarten classes so I need to get some new ones anyway. 

DCS checking in

Received a call from DCS "just checking in" today. She was very business-like (not rude or snooty, just straight to the point) at the beginning of the call. She wanted to see if we had signed up for training yet. When I told her that I registered my husband and myself as soon as I got off the phone with the lady who entered us into the system, she became very sweet and friendly. :D It was pretty funny. Maybe they receive a lot of calls that end up being dead ends? I don't know.

All I know is that they have no reason to doubt that we are 100% committed to these children.... and we haven't even met anyone yet.

This wait reminds me of pregnancy. You know it's coming but it seems to take forever.

SO excited!

Checking in

Well, there were not any cancellations for the classes that begin today. So.... we will just have to wait until the Thursday classes begin in July. I was really hoping to be able to do the Saturday classes. It would have made things so much easier. Sunshine Bear starts high school this year and will have marching band practices on the same nights as we have training. Plus, with Daddy Bear being a trucker Saturdays are easier to work around. It will make things a bit more difficult, but we will make it work.

Sorry for the absence. We have been getting the house transformed for "the kids". My girls were referring to them as "the foster kids" too often (and loudly) in stores so we had to come up with something else to call them. That way there won't be any slip-ups once the kids are with us.

We found some great deals at a yard sale yesterday. Got some nice clothing for both boys and girls. It was exciting to get started. It was hard to say "no" to some of the adorable outfits that Daddy Bear and the girls kept bringing to my attention. Needless to say, we probably ended up with more than "just a couple of outfits" for each size/gender. But that's okay. I'm quite sure they'll be used. And really, how can anyone pass up $.25-.50 for Carter's and Gymboree and Baby Gap? With no stains!?! Please, girl. Load 'em up, thanks. ;)

Alright, well, I must get started on a craft day with my girls. We have a certain MAJOR BOY BAND concert to attend soon and have some cutesy shirts and matching flip flops and bows to make.

Have a great day! Me? I'm stuck listening to One Direction all day. :) Kidding, kidding. I don't mind. After all, I was/am a Blockhead. That's a New Kids on the Block fanatic for those of you who aren't cool like that. Hehehe

Shopping for car seats and strollers

It has been a few years since we had any need for baby gear. Boy, have things changed! When my girls were babies I looked everywhere for girly, pink stuff. But there was nothing! Now though.... NOW there is TONS!

Graco SnugRide 30 Infant Car Seat - Mirabella

I am in love! I want the incredible adorable pink SO BAD! I can't get a pink stroller because it's not practical. I can't get a pink swing because it's not practical. I can't get a pink bouncer because it's not practical. I don't wanna be must be practical. *sigh* The reality is that as soon as I get something pink we will probably get a call for a boy or two or three. Soooo.... I decided to go with this....





Graco SnugRide 30 Infant Car Seat - Odyssey

It is practical. It is gender neutral. And it's still cute. I'm okay with that. Really, I am. Kinda.

But WAIT! What is this link at the bottom of the product page!?! Oh....Em....Gee!!!!

Elmo Car Seat Cover

Hmmmm.... I do believe that I may have a winner! Now, I can have my pink and have practicality too! I will get one Graco SnugRide 30 Infant Car Seat - Odyssey and one Graco SnugRide 30 Infant Car Seat - Mirabella and one Elmo Car Seat Cover! I am all set for a boy and a girl, 2 boys, or 2 girls!

AND I GET MY PINK! YAY!!!! :D

Now, you may be wondering why I'm so stuck on the Graco brand. It's because I came across something so utterly amazing that I am planning everything else around it. See, I had 2 of my girls 12 months and 10 days apart. Twelve years ago there weren't a lot of double strollers to choose from. I tolerated liked the one we had, but of course there are many more styles and bells and whistles now. While browsing online I came across a terrific double stroller.
 

Graco Ready2Grow LX Stand & Ride Stroller - Odyssey

  



And just look at all the different positions! TWELVE different positions, not including if you use it as a single stroller.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Bn8U8FYPxt0

  



I do believe they must have had foster parents in mind with this genius invention. Way to go, Graco!

DCS Lady called

I got a voicemail from a lady at DCS. A very lengthy message... LOL... Instructing me to sign up for classes and basically repeating what the first lady said. I thought it was funny that they are already on different pages. But, really, I expected that. They have better things to do than to call each other to follow up with new foster parents' training. ;)