Well, after a hectic month of training and becoming certified it was made official today! We got the call that we were good to go and we could pick up our new proctor daughter today. To be honest, I was a little nervous and overwhelmed. We had to make some changes at home with the kids and we told them that someone would be coming to live with us for awhile. They seemed okay with it but I was nervous. Would this girl be a good fit for us? Would we be able to get along? Would she be okay with our rules and guidelines? Would she feel comfortable in our home and neighborhood? All kinds of things run through your mind, and mine was on overload!!
Layne and I were able to meet with Erika, as well as her case manager and the program managers. Erika, Layne and I, and her tracker are ALL new to this system. So we were all in the same boat not really knowing what to expect. The meeting was beneficial. We went over her history and her goals and then they turned her over to us. She literally had nothing but the clothes on her back so on our way home we stopped to get some necessities. I was able to get to know her better on the drive home.
It was an adjustment for everyone. But the kids took to Erika right away, especially Julia. She now has a big sister and right from the get go she would call he,r her sister! Julia wants to dress like Erika and do her hair like Erika. She loves being with her. They color together, listen to music and watch movies together. She has fallen in love and I think we all have. Christian is constantly making her laugh. Layne is absolutely great with her. He breaks everything down and explains why we do things. We are hopefully providing a good learning environment for her and giving her good rules and boundaries to abide by. She seems to really appreciate the advice and the help we are providing for her. We want her to succeed and we want her to be able to change and be able to return to her family.
Its been a little over a month and Erika has been fantastic. I believe she truly "gets it." She knows what she is suppose to do and how to do it. Unlike a lot of other kids in this program, Erika knows that she needs to make better choices and do better. She isn't just going through the motions. She is involved and truly wants to get back home to her family. Erika is so smart and does well in school. She is talented and can draw and write. She is a great kid and we really couldn't have asked for a better kid to start off this program with.
It's been a great experience thus far with Erika. The program and the communication between everyone involved gets a little crazy at times but we try and deal with it as best as we can. I think having Erika around is preparing me for when my kids become teenagers. They are so busy and have lots of things to do. It seems we are always running around to meetings, therapy, activities, and community service. I thought it was busy with work, Layne's internship and my 2 kids.....I think it will only get worse as we get older. But we make sure we still make time for each other. And I think that's what matters most.
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