It took forever. I started this journey back in March with a phone call to the Department of Such Matters in my state. I was blown away when I got a live person on the phone with my first call. (One should note that this is not normal.) The screener I spoke with was very helpful, answered all of my initial questions and sent out an application packet in the mail the next day. She patched me through to the voicemail of a Certifier who in true family services fashion did not call me back for over a week and about 3 follow up calls on my end later. (Sadly, this is normal.)
Then I started the application process. It required letters of reference from friends and family, my doctors, my therapist and I was beginning to fear that I might need one from the pope. Seeing as how I am not Catholic, the last one was going to be a challenge. I had to write statements about my philosophy on discipline, drugs & alcohol, bedtime, fire safety, rules of the house and my personal favorite; the use of pornography in the household. Yes, you read that correctly. The Department wanted to know if I had pornography in the house and if I would be using it with or around the children.
Fast forward to June where I finally finished my certification classes and had my home inspected to make sure I didn't have any cleaning products in easy reach of kids, my medication was locked up and I wasn't keeping my handguns and other weapons of mass destruction on the coffee table. (Since I don't have a coffee table, I decided to stash them under the mattress.;) I had a couple of issues to correct (non working smoke detector - ooops and a lock box for medications) that required a return trip at the end of the month. I also had to get a bed and dresser for the child's room and wasn't willing to spend the money or relocate my office until my certification was eminent. But with the bed & dresser in place, I was ready for final inspection which launched a conversation that I was not at all expecting.
Certifier: "So, you decided to get bunk beds!"
Me: "Yeah. I was set on a single, but then a girlfriend was getting rid of these with the mattresses for about what I was going to pay for a new mattress and box spring. Used beds were out of the question unless I could get them from someone I knew because, well, bed bugs - EEEWWW!"
Certifier: "Well, that's funny that you got bunk beds, because I have a pair of sisters that need placement."
Me: "Sisters? Placement when?"
Certifier: "We would like to have them moved in the next week or so."
Seriously? Sisters. Placement. NOW? Not at all the direction I anticipated this conversation going. I was hoping I might have a placement by the time school started, but not right NOW.
The certifier had limited info about the girls, but put me in touch with the caseworker who has not called or emailed me back yet. I'm thinking about it. I'm thinking that I am likely going to say yes unless the case worker
I know this is what I was hoping for, I just had no idea that it could happen this fast or that it would happen with siblings.
Instant parent. Just add children.
