Relief at Last!

It took most of yesterday to recover. We'd been so busy with out latest placement that we'd hardly had time to just sit. I feel terrible for the little guy - but he was out of our realm of experience.

We're still not sure how such a small child could have been left alone by his parents - but he was a great object lesson for our own kids who always want to know why they just can't do whatever they want. A child that rants and raves, kicks, bites, throws things, smashes things, opens oven & dishwasher doors, runs out of the house, scratches, etc. He'd not been given any guidance by any adults - and he is the one who will suffer for it. Not since my nephew had I personally seen such a severe case of Reactive Attachment Disorder.

It is HARD to keep your cool as you're chasing him through the house - or trying to protect the other people in the house. We just kept looking at him and wondering what series of events led to this - constantly remind everyone that this was not his fault. He'd not been taught ANY social skills or appropriate behaviour modification. Maybe his mother didn't know how to mother him? Maybe she has mental issues of her own? We'll never know the answers to these questions as he has been placed with another family that has more experience with his condition - and sadly, that was a RELIEF for our entire family. I think poor DH will need a longer break before he agrees to do an emergency respite placement again.

It was nice to just be with our younger children last night. We played a fun game of cards that DH calls "The German Game". I think it's a lot like Uno, and yet not quite. The boys did really well learning how to play, but sometimes got angry when they didn't win a hand.

At one point V told DH that he was "Cheap! With a capital 'P'!" After a good giggle, we explained that "cheap" didn't start with a 'P' - that letter came at the end. His retort was, "I know! You're cheaPah! Pah! Pah!" as if to emphasize the 'P' sound that should clearly be capitalized! Sometimes, their condition makes our boys super entertaining - and they just can't understand why...

Another great example of this... Yesterday at Superstore, we stood at the deli counter. As S was looking at which meat she'd like to buy for lunch, V sees a very large Kubasa sausage behind the glass. Without warning he yells out, "Mom! Look at that huge wiener!"

The poor guy behind the counter couldn't contain himself. "Did I just hear your kid yell out to look at a big wiener?"

I responded, "What kind of a place are you running here?" Poor deli guy started laughing so hard he couldn't even stand up straight. And all the while V asking what was so funny. "What did I say that was so funny?!" Life would be so boring without kids.

Three Things I'm Grateful For -

1. The emergency placement kid is gone! Sad - but true! We were exhausted and our house was destroyed! We're glad he's safe with a different family now.
2. Time with my family again. It was such a nice day yesterday - and I have the afternoon alone today! YIPPEE!!
3. School starts this week! "It's the most wonderful time of the year!" Even the boys are anxious to get back to a routine and see their friends again.