Post by tyke on Dec 6, 2014 0:43:58 GMT
Apologies for the formatting, cut 'n paste from word doesn't work that well 
Day before Planning Meeting
Met with the school headmistress today to discuss about coming into school for a couple of afternoons to prepare LO for starting her new school in the new year.
Pleasantly surprised, the Headmistress made all the right noises – come in as you see fit she said, invited us along to the school panto trip, drop in for a couple of afternoons to spend an hour or so in class. Headmistress also asked if she could contact LO’s current school to prepare for transition, before we even asked her to ☺. The current head is an ex foster carer, and there are another 2 adopted kids in P1 (of a class of 8!) so all sounds good.
First meeting
Arrived at FC’s house 30 mins early and drove around the area to make sure we weren't waiting there outside for ages. We hoped she didn’t see our car drive away again thinking we'd changed our minds(!)
When we got out of the car at the appointed time her wee face was a picture at the window waiting for us, she rushed to open the door and then scurried off behind FC’s legs. No worries about her being shy after we came through the door though, Mum came prepared with an Elsa Doll which LO was delighted with. We sat down in the living room with FC & SW, LO sat between us chatting away happily, Mum asked her if she'd seen Elsa in the photos and we could go over the photo album then answering any questions she had (such as why our dog was called why it was!). SW then suggested we go into LO’s play room and read her a story – she dragged us off, proceeded to show us all her toys, which stories she wanted and plonked herself between us for mum to read a story with me still bemused, dry mouthed and unsure what to do. Mum was a natural. We read Sleeping Beauty & Cinderella to her.
Must admit, I melted when LO was sat on my knee, snuggled in and held my hand……ahh.
After an hours first meeting, LO said she was hungry, perfect prompt for us to go through to SW and FC, see the rabbits in the garage and say our goodbyes. LO & Mum went off to refill the water bottles for the rabbits (during which time LO told mum proudly that she’d puked in the bathroom earlier). When we were getting in the car (why don’t you have 2 like on the pictures LO said?) we got a big hug & kiss, before heading off. Big Grins.
Day 2
Late day today, arrived at FC’s at 3:30pm, big hug when we arrived, LO had been asking all day where we were and why weren’t we coming till later.
Watched 10mins of kids TV before we got dragged off to her playroom for another round of peppa pig’s treehouse & racetrack. Also got into lego – she’s very good with her hands at putting things together, puts me to shame. I disappeared for a few minutes to have a chat with the FC about questions we had (clothing size, shoe size, detergent used etc etc). We had a couple of hours play with LO coming to us both and involving us, I was taken into her bedroom, put in bed (wearing a pig mask. Lovely.), soft toys piled on me and then LO got into bed and said ‘we’re playing at sleeping now’, can you and mummy have a sleepover today? Ahh….
Mum rescued me (not before being included in the sleepover, 3 in a bed which was a squeeze) and distracted her with loom bands.
We stayed for tea (bit of a flap for the FC as their water had gone off earlier in the day!), LO was fine, wasn’t as long with her food as we were led to expect and well behaved at the table. We disappeared soon after tea after a cuddle and promised we’d be there when she got up in the morning at 7:30am.
Really bonded with her today, the FCs are starting to take a back seat and are incredibly laid back and easy to get on with – no awkwardness about being in their house at all ☺
Day 3
Struggle to get up today – pitch black, lashing down with rain and have to get to LO for 7am after a drive over the mountains!
We arrived in ‘fairly’ good time (10 mins late – good job she can’t tell the time yet!), LO was up and more fresh than we were.
LO cuddled into Mum watching a bit of TV, FC got the kettle on and some much needed coffee.
FC got the toast on, LO ate 2 slices brown toast & jam (minus crusts!). Got LO dressed in the living room and some spare clothes for any ‘accidents’ (good job!) and headed off to the park.
LO loved her car seat with the shapes on it (diamonds/stars etc). She’ll be overjoyed when she sees the really cool one I’ve got ordered. After 10 mins up the road we heard ‘are we nearly there yet?’ and had to give a minute by minute count down. She’s not a sleeper in the car…..felt really conscious when I was driving in traffic about having a nipper in the car and drove much more carefully than normal!
We let the beast loose in the park, as soon as we got to the playground it was ‘I want a wee!’. Mum took her in the bushes and she peed down her leggings ☺. Thank god she pees in bushes, it’ll save hassle in the long run.
We sat in the dwarf kitchen while LO served us sand porridge, sand tea (which we weren’t allowed to drink until we’d eaten our porridge), went down all the slides, had to try every swing, had a race down 2 big slides and shouted to each other up the big tube slide. Quite cute when she needed us on some rope bridges when she said ‘I’m scared!’….
Greenhouses in the park were closed, so plan B – go to a Pets Farm (it’s closed from October to March). Mum suggested we go to Asda to buy a comic – LO had no idea what a comic was but knew what a magazine was.
Went to Waitrose (less chance of bumping into birth mum there, sorry if that sounds snobbish!), LO was great – wanted to carry the basket, wanted a toy from a machine but accepted when we said no. Picked a Peppa Pig comic, wanted frozen stickers and was happy to have them on her santa list. Passed the fruit section and identified a pineapple. Showed her a coconut which she had no idea about but wants one for Christmas (every year from now on).
We went and paid at the self service till which LO had obviously done before as she scanned her comic, put the money in the slot and took our receipt!
Down to a local farm shop (on the way she ate a bunch of grapes and offered us her last 2!) – Sat down & LO immediately wanted a pee where her and Mum met two of her nursery pals & mum. LO introduced Mum as ‘my new mummy’ which took Mum by surprise. She wanted Heinz tomato soup & a ham & cheese sarnie (sure winner), and drew in her comic. Happy out – ate well, didn’t have much soup but devoured the sandwiches. Wanted pudding afterwards but we said no which she was happy with. Also didn’t complain when she got water instead of juice.
Dropped her home afterwards and she wanted us to stay and play but we said we couldn’t and only stayed 5 minutes – no complaints from LO (and I got 2 hugs, Mum felt cheated and b*tched about it all the way home ☺)
Day 4
Different day today, got to FC’s for the tea/bath/bed routine at 17:30hrs, still lashing rain.
LO answered the door to us but more interested in the cake tin we brought with white chocolate & raspberry brownies instead of us! We still got hugs though. She was wearing a rather small tinkerbell (age 2) dress. She wanted a real iPad for Christmas (dream on princess!) and wanted to play on FC’s iPad – she had a Frozen game on it which LO had a go on, and as a typical kid got sucked in and stopped interacting as much with us, apart from asking for a bit of help. FC called her for tea, iPad put away with no complaints and she sat at the table to play with her mashed spuds, gammon peas & corn. FC brought out a box of LO’s Nursery school work so I guess distracted LO while we were looking at it. LO took me off for a game of snakes & ladders (she cheats – I have to be firmer) while FC & Mum had a natter. We all played snakes & ladders then (FC doesn’t allow cheating).
Bathtime – Mum & I bathed LO, she’s no worries about getting water in her eyes, has a real attachment to her name which she spelt in her bath letters . She wanted more bubble bath when the bubbles had gone, FC said no and distracted her with a onesie which did the trick. Got her out & dried, into her bedclothes for a Paddington bear story in the FCs living room. She let Mum comb her hair instead of the FC. She appears like she’s not listening but she does follow the story and point out characters in the pictures.
Story over, LO got a piggy back to her bedroom, arranged her soft toys as she wanted. We told her the plan for the next 2 days, she’d come to her new house with FC and go in the hot tub/make pizza. She asked how far it was – we said just over the mountains, 2 sleeps. She was very happy with that, gave us both a kiss & cuddle – we went out of the bedroom, no noise from LO, looks like she settled down fine. We left pretty much straight away to let FC get on with her own evening. When we were leaving, FC’s son said to Mum ‘LO’s really lucky to be going to live with you’. How sweet ☺
Day before Planning Meeting
Met with the school headmistress today to discuss about coming into school for a couple of afternoons to prepare LO for starting her new school in the new year.
Pleasantly surprised, the Headmistress made all the right noises – come in as you see fit she said, invited us along to the school panto trip, drop in for a couple of afternoons to spend an hour or so in class. Headmistress also asked if she could contact LO’s current school to prepare for transition, before we even asked her to ☺. The current head is an ex foster carer, and there are another 2 adopted kids in P1 (of a class of 8!) so all sounds good.
First meeting
Arrived at FC’s house 30 mins early and drove around the area to make sure we weren't waiting there outside for ages. We hoped she didn’t see our car drive away again thinking we'd changed our minds(!)
When we got out of the car at the appointed time her wee face was a picture at the window waiting for us, she rushed to open the door and then scurried off behind FC’s legs. No worries about her being shy after we came through the door though, Mum came prepared with an Elsa Doll which LO was delighted with. We sat down in the living room with FC & SW, LO sat between us chatting away happily, Mum asked her if she'd seen Elsa in the photos and we could go over the photo album then answering any questions she had (such as why our dog was called why it was!). SW then suggested we go into LO’s play room and read her a story – she dragged us off, proceeded to show us all her toys, which stories she wanted and plonked herself between us for mum to read a story with me still bemused, dry mouthed and unsure what to do. Mum was a natural. We read Sleeping Beauty & Cinderella to her.
Must admit, I melted when LO was sat on my knee, snuggled in and held my hand……ahh.
After an hours first meeting, LO said she was hungry, perfect prompt for us to go through to SW and FC, see the rabbits in the garage and say our goodbyes. LO & Mum went off to refill the water bottles for the rabbits (during which time LO told mum proudly that she’d puked in the bathroom earlier). When we were getting in the car (why don’t you have 2 like on the pictures LO said?) we got a big hug & kiss, before heading off. Big Grins.
Day 2
Late day today, arrived at FC’s at 3:30pm, big hug when we arrived, LO had been asking all day where we were and why weren’t we coming till later.
Watched 10mins of kids TV before we got dragged off to her playroom for another round of peppa pig’s treehouse & racetrack. Also got into lego – she’s very good with her hands at putting things together, puts me to shame. I disappeared for a few minutes to have a chat with the FC about questions we had (clothing size, shoe size, detergent used etc etc). We had a couple of hours play with LO coming to us both and involving us, I was taken into her bedroom, put in bed (wearing a pig mask. Lovely.), soft toys piled on me and then LO got into bed and said ‘we’re playing at sleeping now’, can you and mummy have a sleepover today? Ahh….
Mum rescued me (not before being included in the sleepover, 3 in a bed which was a squeeze) and distracted her with loom bands.
We stayed for tea (bit of a flap for the FC as their water had gone off earlier in the day!), LO was fine, wasn’t as long with her food as we were led to expect and well behaved at the table. We disappeared soon after tea after a cuddle and promised we’d be there when she got up in the morning at 7:30am.
Really bonded with her today, the FCs are starting to take a back seat and are incredibly laid back and easy to get on with – no awkwardness about being in their house at all ☺
Day 3
Struggle to get up today – pitch black, lashing down with rain and have to get to LO for 7am after a drive over the mountains!
We arrived in ‘fairly’ good time (10 mins late – good job she can’t tell the time yet!), LO was up and more fresh than we were.
LO cuddled into Mum watching a bit of TV, FC got the kettle on and some much needed coffee.
FC got the toast on, LO ate 2 slices brown toast & jam (minus crusts!). Got LO dressed in the living room and some spare clothes for any ‘accidents’ (good job!) and headed off to the park.
LO loved her car seat with the shapes on it (diamonds/stars etc). She’ll be overjoyed when she sees the really cool one I’ve got ordered. After 10 mins up the road we heard ‘are we nearly there yet?’ and had to give a minute by minute count down. She’s not a sleeper in the car…..felt really conscious when I was driving in traffic about having a nipper in the car and drove much more carefully than normal!
We let the beast loose in the park, as soon as we got to the playground it was ‘I want a wee!’. Mum took her in the bushes and she peed down her leggings ☺. Thank god she pees in bushes, it’ll save hassle in the long run.
We sat in the dwarf kitchen while LO served us sand porridge, sand tea (which we weren’t allowed to drink until we’d eaten our porridge), went down all the slides, had to try every swing, had a race down 2 big slides and shouted to each other up the big tube slide. Quite cute when she needed us on some rope bridges when she said ‘I’m scared!’….
Greenhouses in the park were closed, so plan B – go to a Pets Farm (it’s closed from October to March). Mum suggested we go to Asda to buy a comic – LO had no idea what a comic was but knew what a magazine was.
Went to Waitrose (less chance of bumping into birth mum there, sorry if that sounds snobbish!), LO was great – wanted to carry the basket, wanted a toy from a machine but accepted when we said no. Picked a Peppa Pig comic, wanted frozen stickers and was happy to have them on her santa list. Passed the fruit section and identified a pineapple. Showed her a coconut which she had no idea about but wants one for Christmas (every year from now on).
We went and paid at the self service till which LO had obviously done before as she scanned her comic, put the money in the slot and took our receipt!
Down to a local farm shop (on the way she ate a bunch of grapes and offered us her last 2!) – Sat down & LO immediately wanted a pee where her and Mum met two of her nursery pals & mum. LO introduced Mum as ‘my new mummy’ which took Mum by surprise. She wanted Heinz tomato soup & a ham & cheese sarnie (sure winner), and drew in her comic. Happy out – ate well, didn’t have much soup but devoured the sandwiches. Wanted pudding afterwards but we said no which she was happy with. Also didn’t complain when she got water instead of juice.
Dropped her home afterwards and she wanted us to stay and play but we said we couldn’t and only stayed 5 minutes – no complaints from LO (and I got 2 hugs, Mum felt cheated and b*tched about it all the way home ☺)
Day 4
Different day today, got to FC’s for the tea/bath/bed routine at 17:30hrs, still lashing rain.
LO answered the door to us but more interested in the cake tin we brought with white chocolate & raspberry brownies instead of us! We still got hugs though. She was wearing a rather small tinkerbell (age 2) dress. She wanted a real iPad for Christmas (dream on princess!) and wanted to play on FC’s iPad – she had a Frozen game on it which LO had a go on, and as a typical kid got sucked in and stopped interacting as much with us, apart from asking for a bit of help. FC called her for tea, iPad put away with no complaints and she sat at the table to play with her mashed spuds, gammon peas & corn. FC brought out a box of LO’s Nursery school work so I guess distracted LO while we were looking at it. LO took me off for a game of snakes & ladders (she cheats – I have to be firmer) while FC & Mum had a natter. We all played snakes & ladders then (FC doesn’t allow cheating).
Bathtime – Mum & I bathed LO, she’s no worries about getting water in her eyes, has a real attachment to her name which she spelt in her bath letters . She wanted more bubble bath when the bubbles had gone, FC said no and distracted her with a onesie which did the trick. Got her out & dried, into her bedclothes for a Paddington bear story in the FCs living room. She let Mum comb her hair instead of the FC. She appears like she’s not listening but she does follow the story and point out characters in the pictures.
Story over, LO got a piggy back to her bedroom, arranged her soft toys as she wanted. We told her the plan for the next 2 days, she’d come to her new house with FC and go in the hot tub/make pizza. She asked how far it was – we said just over the mountains, 2 sleeps. She was very happy with that, gave us both a kiss & cuddle – we went out of the bedroom, no noise from LO, looks like she settled down fine. We left pretty much straight away to let FC get on with her own evening. When we were leaving, FC’s son said to Mum ‘LO’s really lucky to be going to live with you’. How sweet ☺
