Fosterhood in NYC

I just left the current ACS worker a voicemail message (at her office, not her cell since it’s so late) explaining the conversation I just had with Jacket’s mom (see previous post about “The Super”). Hopefully she’ll document it if only to save my ass down the line.

Another new strategy I use with Jacket’s mom that has been really effective is to respond in a confused way. Sort of like matching crazy for crazy (Sounds like something you might have taught me Erika?). She gets lost in the conversation and the accusations that she’s building in her head lose steam. I didn’t do it this time, but sometimes I’ll say something like

“She wants cauliflower for supper? No? What did she want? Oh, bubblegum for supper? No? The Super? Who’s the Super? (Turning it back on her) You mean like the guy who is in charge of the Board of Education? Did you meet him? I’ve never met him. It would be cool if Jacket met him….” Etc. Etc.

But this weekend I’ll try to address her real concern, which obviously is about Jacket getting molested. No doubt she experienced, or at a minimum witnessed, such trauma in her own childhood. Going to finally do a quick internet order for the books you all recommended before. Hopefully I’ll get one by Sunday and we can all read it together.