O/T Something I have always wanted to do.
I have always wanted to do respite care. It's where you take a kid in every other weekend. I used to work with underprivileged kids and unlike being a stepparent it is so rewarding.
When I bought my house and before having SO and SKs move in that was my plan.
These kids are so appreciative of the opportunity to get to things they wouldn't normally get to do, and to be able to just be a kid. I have kids I used to work with who are now adults and it feels good to see how excited they get when we see each other. It feels good to feel like you made some sort of an impact in thier life.
Also unlike being a stepparent I always had such a good relationship with Thier mother's or grandmother's. They often didn't have a lot of family support and enjoyed having a break. They used to treat me like family when I would come over.
I enjoy taking DS places and doing things with him. I would like for him to have another kid his age to go with us. Someone who would enjoy those things and actually appreciate the opportunity. DS is such a social kid, it would be good for him too.
Dear neice moves out in a few months to go away for her BS degree. I will have the extra room and am thinking about finally doing it. It has been in mind a lot more lately because of all the negativity SKs bring into my life. I am looking for something that will bring some positivity.
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You should absolutely do it.
You should absolutely do it.
Is this respite because they
Is this respite because they have behavioral issues in the home? or more like just a chance for underprivileged kids to experience new things (like the "Fresh Air" kid program in NYC).
I ask only because as someone who works with kids with mental health challenges, those kids can really be hard to manage - vs. the second type, where it would be much more rewarding.
More like the fresh air fund.
I was looking into the fresh air fund my friend did it every summer when her kids were younger. I was also considering the program I used to work for that uses certified persons for respite..
I do not plan to be certified to be a therapeutic respite home. You have to have a special certification here for kids with mental health or behavioral issues.
The kids with those types of issues the program I would go through has a contract with a local residential facility they utilize for respite for kids who require a higher level of care and supervision or they use therapeutic foster care placements.
I was looking more at doing respite for the part of the program that works with at risk youth.
I live near a city where there is a high poverty rate. There are a lot of cases where you have single mothers or grandmother's who have to work and have no family support and are just overwhelmed.
The program also provides full disclosure to the potential respite home. So you are well informed before agreeing to bringing a child into your home. They usually will do a few introductory visits before hand because it's voluntary it has to be something the child is comfortable with also.
Yes, that sounds very
Yes, that sounds very rewarding. When I was growing up my friend/neighbor had the same Fresh Air kid every year.
Isn't your SO's unruly teen
Isn't your SO's unruly teen still living with you? If so, do you think it is a good idea to expose another child to her?
I'm not trying to be a downer....but doesn't she have really poor behavior?
That's a good point.
That's a good point.
That's why I was only
That's why I was only planning on doing every other weekend when DS is here. We go places and do things together and when the weather is nice DS likes to be outside. I have friends who we hang out with at thier pools for the day.
YSD spends most of her time in her room being miserable. I can't bring her to my friends houses anymore nor would I want to because of the way she behaves and is rude to thier kids.
Plus she is so socially awkward. If I had a kid here she didn't know she would likely avoid any and all interaction.
I love that idea! Maybe that
I love that idea! Maybe that is how DH and I will start.
We decided that when SS stops coming we are going to foster. It has always been important to me to do one day and DH grew up with parents and a home that would foster.
I say do ir
I made a blog here many, many years ago about a tubing down the river trip I took with the neighbor up the street and her two kids who were my kids friends. She passed out at our little weekend vacation house and I couldn't wake her up til 9 pm. Everyone here said drugs and they were right. She left her husband and whored it up and one of her boyfriends died in her house of an overdose. She lost custody and went to rehab. Anyway the dad is a nurse and works crazy shifts (as do I) and had to spend all of his money on court and work a bunch of overtime to pay for it. He moved when they got divorced and I thought that would be the end of the kids friendship but nope. Years and years later I still have the girl all the time. She is over right now for a slumber party with my 12 year old. I take her to Disney with us. I pretty much take her everywhere with us. The grandma will Drop her off and one day we were talking and she just started crying and thanking me profusely. I have four girls and her brother is a teen. He does come over every once in awhile and he is going through some stuff for sure. He has a lot of anger because I of his mom and says he thinks he is trans. But I really think I have helped give the girl some really good childhood memories with my kids. I wish I could do more for the brother but I don't really have the skill set to help him but I help where I can and I think you should too
The girl is my Facebook memories pretty much everyday . Today it said this date four years ago we are at a drive in movie and she was with us. They are in six grade now and have been friends since the first grade
That is such a beautiful
That is such a beautiful thing you have done and continue to do for her! She needs that example of a good mom and strong woman! <3
While not formally in respite
While not formally in respite, I did grow up very poor but had a friend with a lot of money and a normal family life. This family took me under their wing and let me stay in their home so often that today, if I saw them, I'd have to thank them for being a positive influence in my poor childhood life.
Do it; it's a good thing!