Going out for some air

If you haven’t noticed, Michigan needs more foster homes. Not only is there a need for foster homes, there is an even greater need for foster homes that will accept teenagers. I know what you’re thinking… Holy crap, your life is so exciting. I don’t know why everyone doesn’t want to be a foster parent! No? 

This job certainly is not an easy one. That said, I’m not sure how many things are both easy AND rewarding. I’ll take rewarding over the easy *almost* any day.  I’ve seen a lot of things that would likely blow your mind. I’ve also been able to experience being part of some fantastic growth and success. Anyway, if you have ever considered opening your home and spicing up your life, ha ha, there are too many children you count that need a safe spot with a family. Sales pitch over. Wayne to sell it, I know. 

Our house is one of the very few that accepts teenagers. So last Sunday I got an early morning text asking if I could take on a 16 year old male for the night, only if his current placement couldn’t be preserved. I don’t typically take boys, not because I don’t want to, (I’ve always enjoyed my boys and their friends), but because the layout and makeup of the house just doesn’t lend itself to that. The only place I had to put him was Shelby’s room, as she is away at school. Consulted with her and she didn’t have a problem with it. Workers dropped him off and said they’d see him in the morning. I assumed they had some plan for his future placement. Why I assume anything anymore, I don’t know. 

The next day, I get a text from his worker letting me know they have checked the entire state and had not been successful in finding placement. I could either continue or they would need to find a shelter or take turns staying with him at the office overnight. Yeah. I’m not that guy. So, there will be an extra at the table for a bit. 

Everything was going just fine. Very nice, and very quiet young man. He tolerated the obscene amount of estrogen in the house very well. By a few days in, he actually spoke to me, totally unsolicited. Which is what made this last Friday so difficult. I called him for dinner and he never showed up. Looked all over, and found all his things, just not him. Turns out, he decided he needed to get out for a bit, and took off out the window. Had he known me better, maybe he would have realized he could have just had a chat about it and used the front door, or any actual door for that matter. Taken a break safely and returned. 

As it turns out, his workers report this is just something he does. No one seems to know why. It’s now been over 48 hours as I write this, with no sign of him. (Yes, I’ve filed a police report.) Unlike Daytime Emmy Nominee, there was no event and no warning. No big display or announcement of departure. It makes me sad. I can’t put my finger on it, but it feels like the same failure I feel over losing Breezy. As if there was something I didn’t notice that I should have. I know trauma brain doesn’t make sense, so his choice to bolt should bother me so much. Yet, it still does.