**New to my blog? You may want to start here**
-About me (if you must)
-Timeline
-Frequently Asked Questions
-A Typical Day
-The Sleep Report
-You're Evil If You Don't Co-Sleep
-"But Don't You Get Attached?"
-The Major Players
-How can Snap's Mom take him to rehab?
-Letter to Snap's Law Guardian
-Typical Snap Rehab Visit
-Visits SUCK
-Letter to Eaglet
-"White Babies"
-What's an ok motivation to foster?
Links
Become a Foster Care Parent in NYC
Fosterhood Forum (connect with others)
Other Fosterhoods
NYS Citizens’ Coalition for Children
New York Times series on Foster Care
Become a Court Appointed Advocate
National Foster Care Coalition
Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute (Best Research Site)
CFSR (the answer to all your questions)
"Crack Babies"- article by NYTimes
Theme by nostrich.
12 notes
I don’t know how I got such rockin readers; I love you guys. Most of you are hard-asses! I ended-up giving Jacket a little bit of chocolate with the stipulation that next time the ca-ca had to go into the potty.
12 notes
I wish you could see this hairstyle from the front; I call it ‘Rockabilly Braids’. It suits Jacket’s personality perfectly.
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When you see child abuse on the subway →
Way before I thought about being a foster parent, I had and overheard many a conversation about “those parents on the subway”. What can you do? I never had an answer until I dug this up on the ACS website. I wish they had it in a more prominent place. If you ever try it, let us know how it worked out…I’ll turn it into its own post if you’re willing.
Don’t give the parent dirty looks or make snide remarks. That may increase the parent’s anger and make things worse. There are positive, supportive things you can say and do. For example, “It looks as if it’s been a long day for both of you.” “Children can wear you out, can’t they? Is there something I can do to help?” Strike up a conversation with the adult; see if you can direct the parent’s attention away from the child. Praise the child and parent at the first opportunity.
11 notes
I just couldn’t resist, we went back to the thug park. While discovering rabbits eating some one’s vegetable garden, we met Edwin and his rocks (see above).
Guess what the rocks are for?
You might want to put your sandwich down first… Edwin uses those rocks to kill rats. Now, I’ve been in New York for a while and I’ve seen plenty of rats in the subway. I’ve also seen some scurry through the garbage while walking home in the middle of the night. What I haven’t seen is a rat during DAYLIGHT hours. So naively I asked “You’re here after dark?”
To which he replied “No, I’ve killed three already this morning.”
reblogged from Housing Works Bookstore Cafe 66 notes
Worlds colliding… Emily (above) and Rachel (Housing Works Event Coordinator) are two brilliant, real-world friends I’m incredibly lucky to have made through this blog. Not sure if I can put Emily’s book down long enough to make it out tomorrow night, but I’m gonna try!
Housing Works: Events: The And The Heart Says Whatever Talent Show and Variety Hour
C’mon people — this is effin’ TUMBLR! Spread this bidniz around, wouldja? Julie Klauser is bringing back-up dancers!
10 notes
Until we find our dream farm vacation, I’m getting this pool for Jacket. Where, might you ask, will I have outdoor space to enjoy such a glorious hot mess of plastic love? Kate has volunteered her apartment’s outdoor space in Park Slope, Brooklyn! Turns out, her (childless) neighbors have been particularly loud and rude as of late and having this item delivered, inflated, and venerated by a squealing toddler for the summer to come is a perfect marriage of our interests!
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- Middle-Aged Latina Lady: Is she yours?
- Me: Yes! (what else am I going to say?)
- Wow, you look really young to be a mother.
- Oh, ok....................
- Is her father around?
- No.............Wait, how old do you think I am?
- Hmm...19.
- Wha? Seriously? I'm 33.
- No, you've got to be kidding me. I actually thought you were 15 or so.
10 notes
Meet Kate! She took the most extraordinary Easter photos of Jacket and did some crafty egg dying herself. A lifelong memory was formed when she said to Jacket “Here, you crack the eggs open like this.”. What!? I couldn’t believe she taught Jacket to break the eggs, but once Jacket started digging all of the yokes out like they were gold nuggets it took our afternoon to a new level of hilarity.
24 notes
SHe can wink!
I just winked at Jacket and she winked back. We did it about 20 times! I don’t think I could wink until I was 15.
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Was not expecting her to eat all of the Easter egg yolks before we even finished dying them….
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My second babysitter, who I’ll call Teasha, asked to take her mom along to Jacket’s visit at the agency today. “Absolutely, I said. The other babysitter always had a family member go with her”. She also mentioned that her mom used to work for an ACS daycare center. “Splendid!”
When I came home Teasha and her mom were sitting at the dining table. Her mom couldn’t be any more opposite from Teasha. She is old, timid, missing most of her teeth, and while she speaks with incredible kindness it can’t mask her lack of education. I doubt she made it past 6th grade.
We hugged, I thanked her for raising such an incredibly mature and bright daughter. I apologized for having such a messy apartment. All three of us talked for a while about how delightful Jacket is. When they started to leave, Teasha’s mom gave me the above little outfit she bought just for Jacket. I was so, so incredibly touched.
reblogged from Ted Roden 32 notes
This is Sal. I used to live 1 block from his pizza shop and I spent half of September 11th with him because he had a tv (in my uber hipster days I didn’t) and he was the only establishment that remained open. Funny to see him here on Tumblr.
Maybe I should consider having Jacket’s birthday at his joint…
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