Finding Thankfulness in the New Rhythm
As I started thinking about this article, I went back in the archives and re-read the one I had written during this same season last year – and all can think is, wow, how things have changed. Last year, I was looking forward to the fall and getting back into a normal family routine. This year, it’s easy to forget what a routine even looks like; and it’s hard not to wonder if we’ll ever have a “normal” routine again.
I want to encourage you – and I need this encouragement just as much for myself – that, yes, we will find our new routine. And if we really think about it, in many ways we probably already have. Yes, it’s a different routine – but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s all bad. And, in spite of the very real struggles, we can find positivity and thankfulness in some of the seemingly small things that have resulted from this new norm.
For me, at least, this summer was slower, less structured with activities, camps, vacations, and appointments, and more centered around time outdoors with family and close friends. Our foster son had family visits virtually, and eventually out in a park where they could run around and kick a soccer ball, rather than sit in a stuffy government building; and with work, therapy, tutoring and many other appointments going virtual, we weren’t spending days and evenings transporting ourselves and our kids back and forth across town. This was a refreshing change of pace for our entire family. And, when I really stop to think about it, it was a pretty great summer.
Heading into the fall, we, like all parents, face some new and very real challenges; and as foster parents, even more so. With family visits and other foster-related appointments going back to in-person, how do we protect the health and safety of our families? What if someone gets sick? As schools go completely virtual, what will learning look like for our kids, many of whom have special educational and emotional needs? Will we be able to effectively meet those needs along with the economic and emotional needs of ourselves and our own families, while many of us work full time and deal with the stress of this socially-distanced season?
I was glad to see that Fairfax County Public Schools recently announced a program – through SACC – to provide full-day on-site programming to help meet the educational and social needs of school-age children this fall. While not everyone will be able to participate in this program, I do hope it will benefit some of our families who need it the most – by allowing parents to work, especially those who don’t have the option of working from home, and by supporting kids who have special educational or emotional needs. I hope to see programs like this expanded in the future to allow wider-spread access across our communities. I encourage you to look into it and talk to your caseworker if you think your family could benefit. Or, ask about a daytime respite if you simply just need a break. There are lots of fellow foster families out there who would be happy to help out.
During all of this uncertainty, there’s one thing that’s for sure – this fall will bring challenges, some of which we’ve never before faced. As a foster community, we’re so used to being supports for everyone else let’s not be afraid to lean on our own supports, admit when we’re struggling, and ask for help. And remember, while our routines may not be the same, will find our rhythm again.
Thanks for all you do!
Bethany Shively
President
Fairfax County Foster Care and Adoption Association (FCFCAA)
This article posting is part of the Foster Family News monthly newsletter designed to keep foster parents informed about all the new and notable happenings in Fairfax County.
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