When I started the 2017-2018 school year teaching 1st grade there was one little boy in my classroom who was living in a foster home. He was precious. The sweetest brown eyes and the most easy going child considering his situation. Kayson was put into my class because his foster parents had a biological daughter who they wanted in my class. They requested for them to be together so communication, notes, agendas, etc. would all be the same for both children. Just a coincidence right?! HAHA! I believe in coincidence about 0% of the time, and the rest is God.
As we talked in class and became familiar with one another throughout the first week of school, I shared that I was a foster mom. Most of my students didn't understand what this meant, so I tried to explain it the best I could. When I was finished talking this brown eyed boy had a glow in his eyes and slowly raised his hand. He had a tiny grin on his face and said softly, "I'm a foster child." I had known he was a foster child but wasn't going to address this with him until he was ready to share with me. As he shared I could tell he felt "normal" talking with me. I could relate to him! I was a foster mom! His little face lit up, and he wasn't ashamed to be a "foster child" at school any longer.
The months went on and I watched all my students grow and learn. I watched Kayson even more knowing he would probably never return home to his biological parents. I also wondered what his future would be like. Where would he go? Did I know any foster families who may be interested in adopting this child? These questions stayed in the back of my mind always. When I read the email from his foster mom that stated his parents rights had been terminated my heart hurt. What now? Where would he be going? I immediately emailed her back and asked what the plan was for Kayson? There was no plan. No family...nothing. I came home to Eric that night and told him all about this child. I then reached out to his case workers and asked what the next steps were for this child. The only plan that they had discussed was to put him and his two sisters on KLTV's kids of the week. My heart was so torn. There was no way we could take all three, but I had a relationship with this child and didn't want to see him on TV trying to find a home. As I started emailing with their CASA worker, caseworker, and their attorney they loved the fact that I had a relationship with Kayson and was open to bringing him into our home. They also stated that keeping all three kids together was what CPS would advocate for. Others on the case thought the oldest sister would be great in a home with fewer kids, but agreed that Kayson and Bailey needed to stay together. What now? I was in the middle of this thing but had no clue which way to turn. Do we try to just get him? Get all three? Or just get Kayson and Bailey? I didn't know Bailey at all, and this wasn't the plan at all! We wanted no children older than Brody, and they were both older than him. When we started this journey the plan was to adopt ONE LITTLE GIRL!
Eric and I prayed, thought, and talked so much about this in upcoming weeks. None of this was a sure deal, and this case was unusual because I was Kayson's teacher. There was no agendas that could be arranged that the kids wouldn't pick up on. Their foster mother, Maggie, was very excited for the potential of us adopting these children. She and I would talk through email often during this process. I still hadn't even seen Bailey at this point, but she could potentially be coming to live with us forever. I was more sure about Kayson, but a 9 year girl! Yikes! Am I ready to be her mom? Will I be good at it? I had the boy thing down...kinda, but a girl that is half grown was a bit intimidating for me. Maggie agreed to bring her by my classroom one morning while dropping Kayson off at school. Bailey and Kayson knew nothing about all the planning and talking going on with their case. When Bailey walked through my classroom door there was no denying that she wasn't precious. She had the most innocent smile and looked just like her little brother. She was happy and extremely mannerly. So here I was again...how could I say no? Once a face, name, and personality is attached to a "foster child" it makes them much more than just another "child in the system." They have names just like you and me, and they also have an invisible sign that reads "ADOPT ME!" Yes, just like the local animal shelter. Pick exactly what you like...boy, girl, black, white, old, young...you name it-they got it! It's easy to block just "another child in the system" out of your mind, but once you see their face it all changes. So it all changed for us after that day! I was persistent on getting these two children. My heart ached for their older sister in this process, but everyone involved in their case agreed at this point it would be too much for her and us to take all the kids into our home.
Finally the court date came where we were able to attend and let a judge determine if they could move in with us. Their caseworker scheduled a weekend visit with us and they officially moved in soon after that on February 2nd, 2018. I literally went from "Mrs. Christian" to "Mom" in one night. The look on Kayson's face when he woke up Saturday morning to me cooking breakfast in my PJ's is unforgettable. First graders freak out when they see their teacher at Wal-Mart, just imagine waking up to your 1st grade teacher with no makeup on and crazy hair who now is your new mom! It took awhile for everyone in our house to adjust and for Kayson he struggled most with what to call me. He was still in my class at this point, so it was a mixture of "Mom" and "Mrs. Christian" at school and home. Bailey called us Mom and Dad very quickly. She had longed for and prayed many prayers with her foster family for a forever home. She would pray before dinner after she moved in and thank God each time for her "FOREVER FAMILY." Bailey understands completely what her life was like before foster care and us. Kayson, on the other hand, was placed in foster care when he was 5 years old, so he doesn't remember much. They are extremely different in how they view life, which is expected. They are perfect for us though! They fit right in and have adjusted to our crazy country life just fine. Trying to think back now to when I was just Mrs. Christian is almost impossible. I'm only Mom now, and the rest is history. And just as God worked out all the details perfectly with Kayson and Bailey, He did the exact same for their older sister! She is currently being adopted by the sweetest family who only has one other girl who is the same age. She still comes to visit us and her siblings are very happy for their sister. We couldn't imagine life without Kayson and Bailey, and their sister has been blessed with an amazing forever family as well. It's crazy how God can change all your thoughts and plans when you just Love On Borrowed Time.
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