Holidays

The Holidays are upon us!! Here is some ways to enjoy them.
1,  Communicate.  If you are a foster family or group home this is the most important thing you can do.  Imagine a home in which several of the members don't know what your ideas are.  They don't know what to expect in your traditions, and yet they don't want to give up their traditions either.  Some children have never had a Christmas, and some were given gifts only to loose them because they were moved again. They don't want to get their hopes up only to be disappointed.
2.  Allow the children to share in making traditions for your day, so they don't feel awkward.
3.  Be kind and even generous to visitations with natural families.  Help the children prepare gifts for their natural family.  Our Resource Center (thrift store) will let any foster child select gifts for their family at greatly reduced or even no cost.  Help them select gifts for their foster family also.  It is hard for them to allow themselves to feel at this time of the year because they have often been disappointed.
4,  Don't expect gratitude or an open show of any appreciation.  If you are going to give, just give, and know there may be little reward in it for you.  The reward will come when they know how to treat their children some day in the future.
5.  Model the spirit of the season - the hardest thing to do.  Oh - don't forget to communicate!