June 2011
1 tag
Do *not* try this at your local bodega
The past two days at work have been complete hell. The kind of social worky hell that I don’t dare blog about because I expect it to blow-up in the news at any moment. So after a day of calling 911 and every governmental agency hotline in the city, listening to and comforting crying staff, then me crying in my supervisor’s office, it’s 11pm, I’m home and all I want is a...
2 tags
Policy maker has asked me to poll ya'll
If you’ve ever been a foster parent who has been investigated (ex. due to allegations by the bio parents) now’s your chance to speak out about your experience and make it better for others.
Here’s his/her question:
What parts of the OSI investigation process are discouraging or otherwise negative experiences for foster parents and that help drive foster parents away from...
3 tags
Link to my Australian Radio National Interview
At one point in the show Richard said “Coming up, the woman who fostered New York style”… so much could be read into that :).
Here’s the full interview
Just an update
Lot’s of back and forth with phone lines here in Argentina. Too much of a delay so Radio National is going to do a pre-recording with me in an hour and then edit out the delays. Will let you know when it will air…
Hola!
I have the Australian ABC Radio National Interview in 3 hours and I’ll be calling in from Buenos Aires. My trip was delayed a bit due to the Chilean volcanic ash but I eventually made it here and, if you’ve ever visited Argentina then you know that my vacation has been absolutely amazing.
I thought that this get-away would take my mind off Jacket, but it’s actually been the...
Off to Argentina!
I come back Wednesday, June 22nd and that night I’ll do a live interview (7:30pm) with Richard Aedy on Australia’s ABC Radio National (Thursday morning Australian time).
Word up to my Aussie Posse! (Yes, I just typed that)
P.S. I found my passport in a pink WIC envelope in an old tote bag. I guess I can’t blame that one on Jacket!
P.S.S. The conversation continues at...
2 tags
Spoke to Jacket and her Mom
Jacket’s Mom called this morning- she said she just wanted to say hi. It’s been over a month since I’ve spoken to her. I haven’t spoken to Jacket since before Easter.
Jacket’s Mom wanted to make plans for next week but fortunately I didn’t get all crazy and cancel my trip to Argentina. I asked how I could reach her when I returned but she said she’d...
Ugh ugh ugh
Just saw that I missed seven calls from Jacket’s mom last night between 9:30p and 10:30p. She even left a nasty voicemail message saying “I’m trying to call you but you won’t pick up your phone”.
She still didn’t leave a call back number and her phone still registers as ‘blocked’.
So upset I missed this call and she got my...
My Message is...
I’m doing another press thing (TBA) and I was asked what my message is. I was all…you mean something other than “Don’t be fooled by ‘child scissors’. When in the little hands of a determined soul, a hole the size of Texas can be cut into your favorite new blouse”? And they were like “Yes, please.”
Although I haven’t posted about it,...
Passport found!
Someone please stop me from becoming a foster care...
Oscar (friend): I was thinking about doing the big brother/big sister thing.
Me: Fuck that shit*, go all the way in and become a foster parent!
Whoa, I don't know about that.
Come on, there had to be one of those sweaty little fifth graders you worked with in the Bronx that you wanted to take home.
No.
What? What about that artsy one you were talking about?
No.
Oh you would be so great. Do it, I'll co-parent with you.
You can't do that.
Yeah, you totally can. In fact, you're supposed to have a co-parent. They even have a term for it.
What?
A "back-up". Rachel was my back-up foster parent.
Like when I get sick of the kid you'll take him?
Sure, why not? I live only two blocks away. We can totally do it.
No.
O.........kay.
(*Disclaimer: I support all mentoring activities. Words spoken in jest)
Why, might you ask, did I let a two-year old play with my passport while waiting 35 minutes for the grocery cashier to ring up our complicated WIC checks? Because she already lost my driver’s license somewhere at the airport. Duh.
Dear jacket
Maybe tonight will be the night when I look up at the moon and you look up at the moon too and we both remember the times we stared at the moon together. Only this time you will tell the moon WHAT YOU DID WITH MY DAMN PASSPORT.
I love you, Rebecca
2 tags
Jacket-speak
Brian and I sometimes still have whole conversations in “Jacket-speak”. It usually starts with him saying “I no like spicy”, and me responding “no shut no door, Brian!” referencing a time when Jacket struggled with all her might to string words together at bedtime while standing in her crib. Here are some more that I don’t want to forget:
Bonky, bonky...
2 tags
I answered a call from Snap's Mom (who's in...
Snap's Mom: Rebecca, I'm in Riker's, I want to talk to you about Snap. Can you come visit me?
Me: Wait, what happened, why are you back in jail?
There was an old warrant out for me.
Wouldn't that have been taken care of when you were in Riker's two weeks ago?
No, it wasn't, could you....
Ok, stop. You know I look everything up online. Inmates.com says that your charge is criminal possession of a controlled substance- a felony.
I don't know...will you come visit me, please?
Last time I visited you were high and you couldn't even hold a conversation.
No that's because the doctor gave me drugs for my head, you know I was in the psychiatric hospital. Come visit me, please?
It's a minimum of five hours, I'll see when I have the time again.
Listen, I know you won't put money in my commissary but could you bring me some underwear again? Or even if you'd just mail me some T-shirts.
Also, if you could bring me some crossword puzzles it would be much appreciated.
What are your plans for Snap?
Adoption.
Then you HAVE to tell your lawyer.
I know...
Getting crossword puzzles to you in jail is not my priority. A permanent home for Snap (and our 10 minutes were up and the prison phone disconnected).
Jacket’s mom and the detective (Lifetime movie hero) had a falling out a couple of weeks ago. I’m still hopeful they will reconcile…
“Rebecca, REMEMBER the puppy.”
– stern response from my friend Stefanie 3 years ago when I first told her I was going to be a foster parent (referring to my miserable, 10-day dog sitting experience in which I openly considered tossing the animal out the window because I couldn’t bare how much he invaded my personal space, ha...
2 tags
Another goodbye
Just had a final termination session with a private practice client I’ve worked with for six years. She’s a social work supervisor who works with, surprise surprise, families at risk at one of the city’s big agencies. It was only after my second foster child that I realized what she meant when she was stressed over having too many “indicated” cases (families that...
“Some liberal brought this in for you.”
– Precinct cops to the detective- referring to me (Seriously? Is Brooklyn the new Wasilla?) 