Fast Forward

When becoming a foster parent, there’s a lot of waiting. You’re warned ahead of time of this because nothing is ever guaranteed, but still, the wait is longer than you could imagine. At the beginning of training, there’s so much preparing. You’ve made this decision to change your life and, like most new things you’re excited about, you spend so much time getting ready and planning. But then, as the months go on and you finish training, things slow down. Sometimes they slow way down. Slower than you wish them to. Sometimes you have to stop thinking about the decision you’ve made because of how slow things are going and you can’t continue to dwell on why you’re still waiting.

And then…

You receive a call. You hear about a little girl and then your whole life goes into fast forward in a matter of seconds. Emotions crash over you like a huge wave. You’re happy and scared to death at the same time. Your friends ask what you need, what are you still missing, what can they do to help and you can’t even remember what you have any more, even though everything is meticulously stored in labeled bins at home. Then, those same friends stop asking questions and just start collecting things and telling you what’s coming your way, because obviously, you have no idea what you’re doing. You realize very quickly that all of a sudden you are different. You have to be different. You’re not ready, but who can ever truly be ready to be a parent?

You make a decision that will change everything. Then you prepare as best you can in the short time you have, because ready or not, the wait is over.

I can’t wait to meet you in a few days, little one.