Author |
Message |
Twiggyish
| Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 6:34 pm
setting up.
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Kaili
| Saturday, February 15, 2003 - 8:30 am
Okay- so Chapter two. Again very good and I find myself getting SO angry that nobody is helping him. What kind of Reverend is the foster dad anyway to let this happen? Why aren't the case workers noticing whip marks, or anything? Grrr!!! I'm thinking off topic...are foster home situations always this bad? I just read White Oleander a few weeks ago and the girl in that book had some awful experiences too. I've never been in that situation, and I've never really known anyone well who has.
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Seamonkey
| Saturday, February 15, 2003 - 12:12 pm
I have known people who were in foster care, or group homes, as children, and there are many many bad ones.. doesn't mean there aren't many good ones, but it seems like all too often children may be removed from the good ones for whatever reason. Anyway, the anger, for Antwone, is how his foster mother worked the system, so often avoiding contact with the system, or intimidating them, and when someone was able to talk with Antwone, he really wouldn't talk. Goes to show how someone who seems almost mute, probably has an active and eloquent inside conversation going.
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Kady
| Saturday, February 15, 2003 - 4:53 pm
Kaili...I posted in the chapter one thread that my Aunt is a foster Mother. She gets kids that have been abused either mentally or physically. She only keeps the kids for no more than two years. She actually looks at it as a job that she is paid for. She takes care of them but says she does not get attached. It is really strange talking to her about it. Some of the kids she gets have really bad behavior problems. One little boy she had was always stealing things so she sewed his pockets closed. One little girl was sexually abused and she could never leave her home alone with her husband. They get what they need as far as clothing, education and disipline but I know they don't get the love they need. Some of the kids she has had were reunited with their families and others just moved to another home. I don't know how she can do it without getting attached though. It sounds cold...but I guess it is the only way she can deal with it.
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Twiggyish
| Saturday, February 15, 2003 - 6:53 pm
Kady, that's probably her defense system working. How awful for the children to be in those situations! But, it's good that she provides a home for them.
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Kaili
| Sunday, February 16, 2003 - 3:13 pm
I talked to my mom about it- she is friends with a couple who take in foster kids. Her response was similar- yeah, there are bad ones but most people who do it, do it because they really do care.
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Seamonkey
| Sunday, February 16, 2003 - 8:02 pm
Maybe they could recommend a good book for us??
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Kaili
| Sunday, February 16, 2003 - 8:11 pm
I found this doing a search for books and "foster children". I'm not sure if these are more focused toward children, however. The same site also had a page for books meant for foster children to read, so I don't know. Books Authored By Foster Children
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Seamonkey
| Sunday, February 16, 2003 - 10:16 pm
Thanks Kaili!! I also asked MyJohnHenry if he knows of any that show the good foster parent viewpoint. I think it is such a difficult situation.. kids go into foster care and often the parents refuse to give them up, or the system is so intent on bio parents that the kid is in limbo, as are the foster parents and anyone who really wanted to adopt them.
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Twiggyish
| Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 9:00 pm
I think Mrs. Pickett is an awful woman. She isn't an indication of the typical foster mother. (Putting this here)
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Seamonkey
| Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 9:35 pm
I agree..
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Ericka1012
| Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 10:04 pm
Twiggyish I agree...Awful, Awful Awful!!!
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Knightpatti
| Friday, February 21, 2003 - 9:06 pm
Miz P. did the opposite in his life turning him away from church instead of bringing him close to God. She needs some of her own treatment! I wondered when he talked about how no one came to their church if other people felt the hypocriscy of this woman. Although, she has done well to hide her ways from the authorities. He keeps asking God"When does it get good?" Heartbreaking story.
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Mak1
| Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 7:49 am
The foster care system Antwone grew up in had such major problems. He had a revolving door of caseworkers, all of which were probably overworked and underpaid. When one caseworker left and a new one was assigned, it seemed like no follow-up was done. They did well to get Mrs. Pickett to begin counselling. I'm appalled that she was allowed to get away with her manipulating of the system. The doctor, not her, should have been the one to determine when Antwone and Dwight no longer needed counselling.
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Seamonkey
| Saturday, February 22, 2003 - 11:01 am
I wonder if they were afraid to "rock the boat".. like if they crossed her, she'd send the kids back (which would have been good for the kids, but cause them more work)..
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Heyltslori
| Wednesday, March 05, 2003 - 11:17 am
In this chapter it seemed like he really started noticing how "different" he was from everyone else and really started feeling badly about the color of his skin. He noticed how the lighter skinned children or the kids with the better hair were treated better. The whole Christmas situation was very heartbreaking. It's so hard to believe that people could be so cruel.
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