I have been threatened that I am never ever allowed to say yes to two kids at the same time. Squirrel is having a difficult time staying home with them as I go to work. Sad part is that we wouldn't still need to stay home if all the adults just got their paperwork done right. We were supposed to finish all the day care/school paperwork this afternoon and potentially start Monday. Well, now we won't do that until next week and then I have a week of vacation after that so we won't be starting school for 2 weeks. As soon as we start then there will be a week off as the school is closed. *sigh*
Today I stretched my work day. I slipped home at lunch to give Squirrel a short break and then dashed back to work for an hour. After that we had another try at a family visit. This time the girls' mom showed up. It is very odd meeting the mom of your kids and knowing you have her kids because she did so poorly in her care of them. She was brought by her mom. Our visit was in a local park as our agency is now requiring a doctor's note from us and the mother's doctor that they are lice free before going back in the office. Hopefully we can get that next week because I don't want to be at the doctor every week!
About meeting their mother. First of all, who wears white when visiting your toddlers in the park? I know I'm judging here, but I know how serious things have to be to have your children removed from your home. Then I look at the grandmother and all I can think is that she was deemed unsuitable as a caregiver for the children, otherwise we wouldn't have them. We did introductions and then the kids were off and playing. Oh, almost forgot, the visit included the girls' 7 year old sister "Big" as well. It was absolutely wonderful meeting Ms. L, her foster parent. Watching the three of them play was hard. You could see how "Big" was not really noticed by her mother. She started by craving her attention, but within 15 minutes she was on her own. The grandmother just sat on the side and seemed to ignore the whole thing. I don't believe she ever addressed the kids by name. Her main concern seemed to be that she had to drive them to the visit. That and she asked me if we toilet trained the kids yet? Seriously? You are the grandmother, what was so wrong with you trying to toilet train them.
The kids played recklessly on the equipment as they always do. It seemed as mom had never supervised them on a park before. I felt so sorry for Big as she was so alone. Big and Sissy bonded pretty well as their mother seemed to really concentrate on Bug.
Big's foster parent Ms. L is wonderful. We exchanged numbers so that the girls get an opportunity to play more. She has been fostering for years and seems to have a wealth of experience.
When our visit was over the girls were content hopping in the car with us. There was not a tear shed between them about leaving their mother. The girls didn't even seem to say goodbye to their grandmother.
After the visit the girls immediately napped when we got home. Our visit was at nap time so they were very tired. A four o'clock nap is not a good idea. They slept until nearly 7 which now is making bedtime a screaming match.
About that toilet training... we bought princess underwear today. Sissy wore some for a few minutes before her bath (only because she was told that most kids in school do) and Bug was interested in them, but didn't try them on. We did let her run bare in the house for a few minutes and she peed herself in the kitchen and declared herself "yucky" and needed her new sandals off immediately since she peed on them. She was also very easy to convince at that time that it was bath time. Sissy doesn't seem to be too phased about being dirty... she stuck her own hand in her poo today and then wanted to touch Squirrel (before washing). I wouldn't be surprised if the 2 year old is trained before the 3 1/2 year old.
Bath time - no arguments... at least we are winning there.
Wait! It is quiet... The 2 1/2 hours of screaming is over! This is a more difficult night than most.
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