a successful visit

Phew, it is Monday evening. One more day until the schools are back. It was a mad day of last minute shopping for school bits and bobs, school clothes labelling and general sorting out of school uniform parts that still fit. We have so many uniform items given to us that I have a polo shirt for every single day of the week for all children, except Sam who wears shirt and tie! Actually, I have two sets for each of the younger children. These are now sorted and labelled so I know what is what. Should have done this before the holiday of course, not at the last minute. If only.




Thank you all for your good wishes for our Sunday visit to James' and Alistairs' foster parents. This was our second meeting with the boys foster family. The first one went horribly wrong, James was so upset that he was physically sick. For that reason we left another meeting until one of the boys expressed the wish to see them again. James has a much better understanding of his circumstances now and he is also a curious chap and asks lots of questions and the time seemed right.

I was very nervous but it seems that was just me. James was exited. Alistair seemed neither nervous nor exited but this didn't surprise me all that much, he has little recollection of his life before he came to live with us, and most of these memories are probably learnt ones from talking to us.

We showed up in full formation, all six of us. I suppose Sam only came because I changed the password for the computer....:) (I am thinking of writing a post about life with a teenager). At first, all was a bit awkward but only a few minutes. James and Alistair soon went of to play with their old "brother" and two new foster children. When I say play, I really mean that they went of to explore all things electronic. It is a house of big screens that are on by default. But I am not here to judge, we have all different views of the world and mine includes smaller screens and somewhat more planned screen time.

We had cakes and chocolates, explored old bedrooms, the infamous cereal cupboard which was a favourite hiding place and the spiral stair case that James used to be scared off. We talked about what we all had been up to during the past two years, and what our plans for the future were.

When we left, we left with a good feeling. I was a successful and happy reunion and I think it was important for the boys to revisit the past. We took a bag of toys and pile of photos home to look through. We'll choose some favourites to add to James' and Alistair's memory boxes before returning the lot. 

We ended the day by spending the last of our Christmas money at Mother India, a favourite Indian restaurant where curries don't all taste the same. Thank you mum and Monika! James had a bit of an iffy tummy but soon tucked in. He was maybe more nervous than he had let on.

Bedtime was stressful because both boys were all wired up and naughtier than usual. They are tired today and all is quiet. Phew.

Time for a spot of knitting I think. As always, thanks for stopping by. Have a lovely evening. Cx

P.S. The photos were taken today after wiping the face paint off before hopping into the bath for a good scrub.









Comments

  1. I'm so glad the visit went well and was a good positive experience for you all. It sounds as though they'll sleep well tonight! No doubt you will too. Your schools go back much earlier than here, we have another three weeks, thankfully, I'm not ready to let the summer go yet. I hope you have a lovely last day, and that re-entry goes well. CJ xx

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  2. Thank you for sharing your visit to the boys's foster parents with us. Not an easy day by the sounds of it. We go back on Thursday, not fully organised yet either, as I can't bear to do much school related stuff til the last minute. X

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  3. I'm really glad the visit went well. I'm sure it wasn't an easy time for any of you. I wish all of you a happy return to school. We're starting back on Wednesday.

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  4. Such good news, it can't have been easy. I don't have anyone to organize anymore as my daughters are all grown up and have children of their own, but I do remember the last minute panic of labelling.

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  5. So glad it went well. They look like lovely happy boys and you are doing a great job as a parent.

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  6. glad it was a successful visit. hope the return to school goes well xxx

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  7. Am really pleased it went well. I hope the return to school is as smooth and you can breathe out...(hope the job applications went in OK too)...

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  8. Hey Christina,
    They are proper cuties, aren't they? And I share all the sentiments above. I think you and your husband and Annie and Sam must be a special family to scooch up and make room to love and nurture the way you have. The success of the visit is obviously an indication that you are all a big noisy, happy family now!! Not worded very well, but you know what I mean (I have been in Bristol for too long. I'm starting to think and talk like a Bristolian again).
    Leanne xx

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  9. I'm so glad the visit went well. I can see why you would have been nervous leading up to it though, especially after the way the first visit turned out. Our family has not had these kinds of experiences due to the fact we adopted internationally. We have had to do other things to keep them in touch with their lives before they entered our family. James and Alistair are adorable with their messy faces!

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  10. I'm glad the visit went well The boys look so happy and full of fun :)

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  11. I am so glad it went well, and so glad for the boys that they are firmly ensconced in your home so they felt safe to explore their past a bit. I know from working with medical foster families that the children who return to visit often have questions. They do not quite understand what brought them to this family, and why they only stayed for a brief time. I guess those questions are answered differently in each situation. I so applaud you for listening to their needs as seeing that they had the opportunity to visit. Little Buddy's medical foster parent are coming to visit him Thursday morning, he is a bit young to understand exactly, but he knows them still and loves them. I hope they are always a huge part of his life.
    Meredith

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  12. Gosh, wherever do you find the time to get down to kitting? :) I did enjoy reading your most interesting post and am glad to read your visit went well. Thank you for commenting on my 'The Year in Books' post - I left you a reply back over there on my blog.

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  13. I just found your blog!! We have much in common... We have a teenager and I have many kids as well!! lol... Hey, us moms have to stick together right??? I look forward to following you. Though I seem to have come right in on a serious topic, I know what it's like to have a teenager, changing the password is a great idea by the way! I also know what it's like to go through things as a family. So I wish you luck and I hope your week is going well, I look forward to following you! Tammy x

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  14. Those cheeky faces say it all really. They know they're loved, your boys, you can see that in their eyes.

    Teenagers ... for a while there we had four in the house ... even the youngest is over 20 now though. I can't say I'm missing the teenage years one bit. But then again, their growing up goes so fast I kinda wish I could have the whole thing back to do again.

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  15. Happy to know the visit went well. Those lovely cheeky faces are definitely of well loved children. Don't even start me on teenagers!

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  16. I am so glad that all went well for you and the boys too. It sounds as though it couldn't have gone better in fact. Hopefully it will bode well for life just getting better and better! xx

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  17. I am glad the visit went well for you all, it must have been a very scary thing to do Christina and I can understand why you would be anxious. I know what you mean about big screens, we have smaller TVs here but I have been tempted to get something bigger. Mainly because everybody comes here and looks at our tiny telly! We are the only people in our families who haven't invested in some massive, fancy TV! Ha ha. I haven't give in yet though and I probably won't. :)

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Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you, I really do. I sometimes reply by email but I am not all that reliable... Christina xx

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