What was I thinking...

People tried to warn me, but I didn't listen.  After all, I taught middle school and high school, I knew what teenagers were like: self-sufficient.  They were not like babies, who had to be cleaned and fed and supervised.  Teenagers, generally speaking could feed themselves, handle their own hygiene and only needed minimum supervision.

Fine.  I will say it: I was wrong.

Between physicals and dentist appointments and baseball and homework and meals, there is hardly time for anything else.  I mean, what was I thinking?!

In the handbook, they tell you that you are only responsible for 3 meals a day and a place for the student to sleep, but it is so much more than that.  I feel like maybe I should do more research.  There are "things to help you and your student adjust" but I think I thought I wouldn't need that.  I know what kids need.  I take care of kids all the time!  Both my husband and I have been in foreign countries, so we can relate and support.

We did take him to Taco Bell, which he loves, so we are not complete failures.

Also, he hasn't said he wants to go home.  At least not to us.  And the regional coordinator met with him today and did not immediately remove him from our care, so we are doing something right.

There are other fun things.  He is starting to come out of his shell.  He has a great sense of humor.  He he a really hard worker and enjoys school.  He sleeps well and hangs out with us at dinner.

I do find myself saying "Don't repeat that" a lot.

But the other awesome thing is my family.  They have been so good to Finn.  I know he is completely overwhelmed by them (I have 2 sisters who each have a husband and 2 kids plus my mom and dad plus my bestie and my friend Jennifer) but they have been a huge help.  Sarah (the youngest sister) picked him up from school and both she and Amber (the middle) helped him with his DNA project.

The Brit (my hubby) also helped a lot and has taken care of entertaining Finn while my sisters and friends and I celebrated my birthday all week.

It's like prom, your wedding day, That was going to be all about how you build up to a moment and then it is over and you are left with a hole.  I felt like that the day I was writing this blog, but today was different.  That is another true statement: Every day is different.