Chapter 12: Hey, do you think you wanna be our kid?

By the first week of October, we had completed our required Trauma-Informed Care training; met, by phone, Charlie's guardian ad litem (his attorney); had physicals done for all five of us; got fingerprinted (Chris, Robert, and me) and submitted paperwork for background checks; and completed our required CPR and first aid training.  That, however, was a joke.  In fact, we often joke around with Charlie to be careful, because we didn't learn anything in the class!  I had actually looked forward to it, since I hadn't taken training like this since Christianne was a baby (or maybe even before she was born), but it really was a complete waste of time.

And taxpayer's money, too, I guess.

We took Charlie with Grace to see BFG for our next visit and then grabbed some pizza for lunch and went to the park.  After the kids played awhile we took a walk along the dry lakebed before we had to take him back to his foster family. 

We were [strangely] invited to a foster parent appreciation dinner the next evening, put on by the county.  I say strangely because we weren't even yet certified, let alone had a charge in our care.  Still, we went (free food and all that), and we enjoyed it.  We got more resources and met more people, and we won a couple of prizes which were completely appreciated but absolutely undeserved.  Still, it was a very nice dinner.  We can only presume that by next year's dinner, we won't be foster parents any more.

Lord, I really hope not.

The second week of October included more of our home study and the completion of entirely too much paperwork, and our weekly visit for Charlie included make-your-own pizzas at our house, backyard play, and games.

On the 19th, we were invited to Charlie's foster home to, as we thought, observe what a typical monthly caseworker visit looks like.  Charlie's caseworkers (old and new) were there, as well as the Dursley's; his CASA worker; and of course the Dursleys and us.  It wasn't long before the visit felt atypical to us.  One of Charlie's caseworkers asked if we had any concerns, and then Mrs. Dursley asked the caseworkers when they would be telling him that we were his forever family.  Although this wasn't a problem for us, we really didn't see it coming!

The caseworkers took Charlie aside for their private discussion, and talked to him about moving in with us.  When we re-grouped, we all discussed it together.  He seemed happy and smiled a lot, although he wasn't exactly doing cartwheels.  He almost seemed bashful.  We spent about 20 more minutes just talking to him about it, asking and answering questions.

With Charlie, we assured him that we do go often to the store (Mr. Dursley clarified his concern by reminding us that is his way of being sure we would always have enough food) and Mrs. Dursley asked him if he thought he might like to change his name (at that time, he had decided on being Robert).  Later that evening he called me to ask if we had a shower.

It's amazing what we take for granted, you know.  Stocked pantries and indoor plumbing.

There was definitely no turning back now.  He knew.  He knew and there is no way we will ever break his heart by making him feel unwanted again.