Today we had the class I was dreading. First, it was on Saturday for 8 hours. Second, I couldn't see how this subject matter would in any way be "fun".
But you know what? It was. I didn't know how much I actually LOVE hearing other people telling about their "Whooping" stories. Everybody had a story about how their parents whipped them growing up in one way or another. Some were probably beaten at or close to the level of what would considered to be abuse these days. But everybody told their story and had some humor to add with it. We spent most of the morning laughing.
With Foster Care in CPS - You can NOT physically discipline your kids. Period. Some people in the class have a hard time with that. More than I originally thought. A lot of parents in class already have kids and the threat of spanking is a real consequence for bad behavior. I think everybody understands WHY you can't spank a child who has been physically abused before being placed with you. But a lot of parents have a hard time figuring out alternative ways.
I felt like this was right in my wheelhouse. Maybe it's because I'm still "Uncle Steve" and don't have kids of my own. But, I was proud of the questions that Lori and I had that "real" parents commented on. At one point, a couple that we have become friends with told us during a break that he thought we were going to be excellent parents. We think we are, too. But to hear that from someone that I have learned to respect as a parent was cool.
We didn't have as many activities today. We all participated as a class instead of individual groups of 2 or 4. I like the classroom discussions more. I get a LOT more out of the REAL situations that some of these parents have already been through rather than trudging through the printed material. Marlene (our co-instructor) opened up a lot more about her past with foster-care. That really has been the most helpful part of all of this for all of us I think. I think our case-worker, Carry, has REALLY improved since the first class. I think it helps to know our little inside jokes, who to rely on for the answer she is looking for, the joke she knows in coming. I feel like we're a little more connected than we were. We even cracked some jokes about the uncomfortable situations that have popped up in previous classes. I thought they would have avoided it, but they hit it head on. I'm glad about that.
I'm glad to get the "Big" class out of the way. That's been looming large on our calendar for some time now. Only two more REAL classes left - Sexual Abuse and Preparing for Change. Then, the last Monday night is Panel Night. That's a class I'm really looking forward to.
Then give me a dang kid! No. After that, or maybe even before, our "home-study" starts. I think I'm looking forward to that. But, quite frankly, I just want them to give me a kid. I thought at this stage we would discover that there's a lot more we need to know before we're actually ready. Now, I think we're as ready as we can possibly be. We know we don't know everything. But I don't think there is much more we can learn before we're thrown to the wolves.
Can you hear the excitement in my typing? I'm just as excited today as I was when we decided to start doing this.
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