The "sweet" news of this week is that her mom FINALLY enrolled her at the school she's been attending since the second semester of her Freshman year. Prior to this school, I believe she attended a different school every single year (or at least switching every other year). She needed this stability, but, as all who read are aware, her mom doesn't really give a sh*t about what her kids need. It was a long three months of waiting and wondering and I couldn't say it better than the teen "it's a relief" was what she texted me. Yesterday, she went with a friend to decorate her "little sister"'s locker...a tradition that has been going on for over 20 years (each Senior is paired with at least one Freshman as Big Sister-Little Sister).
Her mom waited until the last minute to make her appointment with the school. I got a text message from her at 9:15 Monday morning asking if I was at work. I was not, but after a busy and stressful weekend at work, I was planning to sleep until I felt like getting up. She then texted that she had a meeting at 11, but never actually came out and asked for a ride...it is so irritating when people do that. I told her that I'd bring her there or take her home, but not both. She said she'd take the bus home, so I forced myself out of bed and got ready to pick her up. I asked if the teen was coming and she said she had to work. I offered to bring her to work if she didn't work until later, but she did not respond to that. During the drive to the school, she told me that the teen was at work. Well, come to find out, she really was not at work, she was "at home cleaning" (that's what she told the person at the school). Lying to my face after I'm going out of my way to help you is totally not cool.
The teen didn't come, but the little one did (and some friend that was in town visiting...I don't know what was up with that). The little one babbled, talked nonsense, and partially in baby talk the whole way. The bits and pieces I understood were present-day discussions about her "school" which in reality was the day care she attended when she lived with me and hasn't attended in nearly 11 months. It was like she was in a time warp. She has had no direction or stability at all during these months and is just lost...it was SO sad to witness that and how much she has regressed. Her mom said she is going to school, but the teen told me she is not. She will be FIVE on the 27th, so she really needs to be going to pre-K or Head Start or something otherwise she's going to be a six-year-old Kindergartner who doesn't know her letters, her numbers, how to interact with other children, how to sit down to complete tasks, etc...that poor Kindergarten teacher.
I'm almost glad that I don't have more contact with her because it makes me so sad. It's hard enough to see what kind of shape the teenager is in after she spends some time with her mom.
I'm not sure what is going to happen with her job once school starts. I think she should try to find a job closer to home since they are struggling with transportation all the time (eg. she often takes a $20 cab home...not too great when you "only" make $8.25 an hour). Her mom's solution is for her to buy a car ($1000) from her brother, but I don't think she understands that insurance, tax, license, and gas will not be cheap either. It's unfortunate because the teen likes her job and she has been able to make good money. She paid the $600 this week for school (her mom didn't put in anything AND I know the teen made a payment to the cable company among other things this week too). I'm not sure if she still has to pay for books or anything else or if that is it. The teen understands that she has been given a gift and I reminded her not to take it for granted and continue to work hard (her mom has no clue as she was "owed" this...she's not on my happy list this week, although I'm thankful the teen has an opportunity to graduate from this school).
So, the bitter and the sweet. I told my agency that I'd start accepting phone calls in September and I think I'm ready. I need some help putting together the day bed I bought, but the "new kiddo" room has come together really nicely. Of course, some of the junk was just relocated to other rooms in the house (mostly my bedroom), but I did do some "purging" and quite a bit of organizing. It will be nice to be a mom again (remind me I said this when I am wishing I had some alone time...ha!) I'm looking forward to seeing what God has in store for that part of my life journey. I want to continue to be present for the teen, so will be a little picky, but she will be a great person to have in a future foster child's life too.
Until the next time...
No comments:
Post a Comment