marisuewrites on HubPages

I write. I have a lot to say, and I love reading what others say.   As a parent of 3 boys, now grown, and a former foster parent of over 250 foster children, for 20+ years, my husband and I have had quite a ride. 

Sometimes we were overjoyed; sometimes over-whelmed; and sometimes we were just over it!  Our life was often a roller coaster from outer-space.  We survived and lived to tell the tale, and we are. 

My husband's law enforcement career is the rest of the story.  Tune in often for tales of the wild, tales of the depressed, and tales of joy.  You never know what you're going to get, but it's all good.  Come on in! See more of my writings and ramblings about life and family and read about Living In The Land of Odd

At the ripe old age of 37, I completed my degree in Elementary Education, with a minor in Reading Diagnostics.  Then, to make matters worse or better, depending on your view, I proceeded with my endeavor to obtain a Master’s Degree in Behavioral Science.  That and fifty cents might get you a cup of coffee.  I rarely mention the degrees, but for some people, it seems important for my, uh, credibility.  Now, don’t tell Fannie Mae, the mother of all student loans, that I give so little credence to the degree.  I think she'll get mad.  The degrees serve their purpose. 

More interesting however, was the 20+ years I spent actually working in the field of study.  Analyzing the behavior of kids, families in need, and all others in-between comes in handy, but only if you plan on acting on the information you’ve learned. 

I diffused anger; attempted to settle disputes between spouses and kids;  co-workers; adoptive parents; adopted children; tried to raise resilient, self-reliant and non abusive children belonging to other people;  and made huge efforts to paste families back together – the fancier term being “family re-unification.”  Mostly, I scratched my head and racked my brain a lot. 

I also tried to spend some time with my own 3 boys who found themselves stuffed into the foster care situation through no fault of their own; bless them for putting up with their parent’s choices. 

We were a normal family; just cooking for a few more than most; working to keep body and souls together as we reached out to the world in an effort to pay back the good we received.

For many years, I've worked with both private and state foster care, conducting numerous workshops, teaching concepts of loss and crisis, and various other curriculums. 

They included but were not limited to:  loss, separation and placement, grief, crisis intervention, child development, child abuse, family re-unification, impact of sexual abuse, domestic violence and the impact on family; and how to end an abusive relationship.

I'd have to say, that to pick a favored system in the child care field, I’d choose the state. 

I have found that a number of private foster care facilities can be dysfunctional.  They can be a puffed up group of people, surviving on egos, miss-information both incoming and outgoing, and frequently hire people who’ve read a book, but know nothing about kids in crisis and have raised none, one, or again, none.  Still, society benefits from the choice of both.

As a super cop, my husband was involved with investigating many types of crime and behaviors: murders, suicides, and then from sex crimes, drug crimes, domestic violence, and on to child abuse cases working hand in hand with the child welfare departments.  We had “it” coming from all sides, and oddly enough most crimes were intertwined. 

When child abuse was investigated, you found domestic violence.  When domestic violence was investigated, you found child abuse, and often drug abuse.  And, so the stories went. 

The years now fall to paper.  As I deal with empty nest, I am prone to tell all the little dirty details of foster care, adoption, domestic violence, drug crimes and other tales from the badge, behavior management, foster care systems, raising children, and strengthening relationships. 

Sounds like I know a lot of stuff, right?  Wrong.  I just know what I’ve been through and what I’ve seen.  In the middle, when we want to take a break from the heavy stuff, I’ll tell you some funny tales of farm life and taking care of my mom as she went from a top secret government career, to a blind person with a dog named Bonny. 

My dad was the rock upon which we all leaned.  He worked in the space program, testing missiles that have evolved into today's Patriot Missile.  He worked on developing statistics for breaking gravity; really important if you want to reach outer space and hit another planet. 

My brother worked on nuclear reactors, traveled the world, and now does nutrition research and computer things. 

My Dad, Mom, and my brother had government top secret clearances in their field of expertise and careers, except me.  I tell everything I know. 

What I don’t know about all of the above, especially The Law, my husband will whisper in my ear.  

I hope you enjoy my stories.

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Some of marisuewrites's 268 Fans

Sally's Trove

Your hubs are wonderful, marisue. Insightful, informative, entertaining, and both beautifully and authoritatively written. I learn something new every time I read one of your hubs. Plus, I love your profile pic!

Blogger Mom

I think I can learn a lot from your life experiences. Glad to be a fan!

funride

Welcome to hubpages Marisue, it´s great to have you here! Looking forward to read all your next hubs ;)

LdsNana-AskMormon

Thank you for becoming my fan.

I look forward to reading your Hubs and learning from you.

I experienced being a mother of two foster boys for a period of time... my hat goes off to you.

It takes very special people to do what you have done with so many.

tDMg
LdsNana-AskMormon

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