Random Note of Kindness – Week 3
For anyone paying attention, I skipped Week 2. Did you notice?
I was hit with some issues in Week 2.
#1 – I started to remember that the person for Week 1 already had older kids, and maybe my advice was unneeded. I checked around, and yup, sure enough, she does have older children. So now I’m thinking I have to re-write Week 1’s note.
#2 – It’s a bit scary to start. I mean, it shouldn’t be hard to say something encouraging to someone, but somehow putting it in writing is making it more difficult. The other side of the coin, I guess (I hope, anyway), is that a written note will mean more than just a “good job” kind of a comment in passing.
#3 – In my procrastination, I ended up with a serious road block when my computer died. Yup, the night of the BIG snowstorm here in the Northeast, it took a dive into the Blue Screen of Death. So, after spending a day trying to diagnose it, it turned out I needed to re-install the operating system. Re-installing an operating system takes disks, and who do you think had disks??? Nope, not me! So we ordered them. They came the next day, which was great, but then I had to install (actually, The Hubby did this part) the OS. Then the programs. Then start the Carbonite backup process. Then wait 40 hours. Seriously – it took DAYS to get this done. I have too much crap on my system, I know…. Then, I had to find my Firefox profile so I could get all my bookmarks back (man, is it hard to live without my bookmarks!). Then, I could finally get on here and write all my excuses reasons for the delay. (I know you were all waiting with bated breath on how this all went – did my recipient like my note – or even acknowledge it? OMG, the waiting is killing us both!)
So, issue one: I have to re-write week one.
Next issue: who do I write to next? I am stumped.
But, while I am thinking about that, here is Week One, Revised:
I wanted to let you know know that I think you are doing a great thing by adopting XXX. I had always heard that God gave us babies so we could grow into being parents and I found that true enough with The Boy. To take in a teenager is a big task, but one I think you and XXX are up for it.
Usually friends and family throw a baby shower and give the new parents advice with their various baby paraphernalia. I always chime in with the classic “Sleep when the baby sleeps”. But, with a teenager, that would mean you’d stay up til midnight and sleep in until noon if you could! So, maybe some better advice (if you want it) is to find yourself a support group – whether that’s a formal group of foster parents, an online group, or just a bunch of friends you can count on. Make sure you take time for yourself – whether it’s a coffee at Starbucks or a half hour walk around the block to help clear your mind.
There may be days you feel like you were crazy for doing it, but the rewards will overshadow any of those days when you look back on them.
Ok – so now I have to re-write the note and get the damn stamp on it and MAIL it tomorrow!! (at least I do have the stamps in my purse – no procrastination there!!)