Transitioning our first placement to our home!

[Abarat]

I just wanted to share!

We have what may be an unusual situation with our first placement.  A friend of mine has had two brothers (2yo and 6mo) placed with her for about 6 months and she's having to move them from her home.  I've known them since she had them and they're great little boys.

So, we've been transitioning them to our home as our first placement!  We took them for respite for almost a week at the beginning of the month.  I'm really lucky to get this much time with them before they're placed with us.  I'm also really lucky that we saved most of my son's toys, furniture, etc. so the transition has been easier...they've been able to get used to a ready room, not one we keep having to add to.

My 5yo DS loves them and they fit into our household really well.  It's a ton of work going from 1 to 3 but we're all really enjoying it!

[Smithie]

Congratulations!!!

Going from 3 to 4 has been wonderful for us. 1 to 3 would be a lot more dramatic of a transition, whoah! 

[IncompetentHousewife]

Congratulations! It sound like you will have your hands full and your heart even fuller.

Just curious, do they have to leave your friend's home for a negative reason? If so this transition might be a good time to learn all you can about meeting their needs. This spring we took in our foster son as his former guardian was needing to move him because of his extreme behaviors. I had about a week's notice and wish I had known his diagnoses then so I could research them before life got so busy. But maybe none of that applies in your situation.

Good luck in tripling your number of kids!

[Abarat]

There aren't any negative reasons (i.e. behavioural issues, etc.) for the move.

She's due with her first baby in Oct, works full time as a nanny and her husband will be working evenings so she'd have her hands way too full...it's just too much.  She feels awful about having to move them but at the moment it looks like their mother isn't working her plan (is actually getting worse) and they'll go up for adoption and she and her husband decided from the beginning they wouldn't adopt.  Ever since she got them I thought about adopting them and I'm pretty sure we will if they do TPR the mom.

Luckily I hear about any issues they have and their life all the time, she's been great at informing me to get me ready.  I feel quite prepared and excited to have them in our home.

[IncompetentHousewife]

That's great to hear! Best wishes to your friend, too. You will both be (happily) busy.

[christophersmom]

Congrats! We have a 2 year old adopted daughter and a 9 month foster. It is definitely fun and interesting.

[LessTraveledBy]

Thanks for sharing. Our dd is about 9 months older than your son and I have been wondering how we would all feel if we received two babies, instead of one. Our situation is quote different from yours, though, as we will do short term care, only. (Up to a year, most likely much shorter.) The social workers asked how we felt if they needed a home for siblings, e.g. 12 months old and a newborn. It was more of a joke at the time (about how close in age even biological siblings can be) but got me thinking. I am afraid, thinking of how much our dd's life would change. Yet, I am also a bit intrigued and don't think I could say no.

Please come and update every ince in a while.