Normal

"There's a new kid on our bus Mom, and he sits by me." Great, I thought while I listened to Reid describe this child. He seemed like a very nice young man. Every day after that Reid came home to tell me something else he'd learned about his friend on the bus ride to & from school. He was in a car wreck, his brother is still in the hospital, his Mom is in jail, his Mom was driving drunk & caused a wreck that almost killed his younger brother, he lives w/ a new foster family. The story kept getting worse as the week went on.

I talked to Reid about it & of course he had a ton of questions. I checked on the family to ask if they needed anything since they are indeed a foster family & had just inherited a couple of boys. They said they were OK & were actually happy that their new "son" was talking to someone since he says nothing at home. The stories this child says are true & so much worse. After 2 weeks this child had unloaded all of his burdens & was finally able to talk about something else.

After learning what foster care meant Reid was sad he may one day lose his new friend. He asked me one night if we could ever adopt his friend & his brother, like The Blindside movie. I explained life isn't like a movie. There are laws, rules & circumstances beyond our control. I told Reid that God had chosen this certain foster home, this bus & him to help this child heal. To listen, learn & be grateful. Saturday when I looked outside Reid was playing with this child & they were both so happy. So normal. I said a silent prayer that this precious child get as much "normal" as possible.