What a relief.....

So we had a house visit yesterday from a social worker for Croydon.  We'd spoken a few times on the phone and I'd had a mental picture of her but it didn't quite match up to the real thing.  At first sight she looks a bit disorganised and a little frantic and when we first started chatting David and I both thought she was going to chat forever.  As it was, she did.  Well for 3 and a half hours anyway!
For a first interview it was fairly probing but not a patch on our first experience with Tower Hamlets.  The only thing that stopped our meeting with Tower Hamlets being a Cold War style interrogation was the missing light shone directly into our eyes.  She on the other hand was thorough and firm but also very giving and nurturing.  She gave us lots of advice as she took us through the form and explained everything we need.  At some points it almost felt like a counselling session as she gave us advice on how many children we could practically deal with, how we could improve our finances and how I, in particular, could improve family relationships.  She definitely took a real shine to David, referring to his medical knowledge and calming nature.  She was very intuitive and wise and just like a good social worker should be.
As the end of the very long session she marked her timesheet as 2 hours instead of the 3 and a half and told us that most of the things she told us she wouldn't normally say at this stage of the proceedings but she had a good feeling about us.  Good for us!!
She then had a look around the flat.  This was my biggest worry.  It is a lovely flat but is it really child friendly?  Well, she thought so.  What a total relief.  When we looked at the spare room she was even giving us tips on how we could decorate the room effectively for a child and also make it work for us.  She is good.
So this is how it's left.  She'll be writing up her notes and will be recommending the we move on to the Preparation Groups which is the next stage.  She said that she believes we are a 'good resource' for Croydon and that can only be a good thing.  We're both looking forward to the preparation groups and the challenges they may throw our way.  To be honest we just want to be in the process.
It's another hurdle but there are many more higher hurdles to come.  I'm sure we can jump then together.

We went to the pub with some friends after the Royal Wedding today.  The pub was rammed and there where lots of kids running around, enjoying the sunshine, the pub garden and each other.  David and I were issuing parenting tips.  I wonder what kind of parents we will be???

Progress....

I was on the bus heading home thinking about what comments I would right in this blog about the fact that nothing seemed to be happening.  On Friday, I had to contact Croydon again because our social worker still hadn't been allocated and that was 3 weeks from the date of the letter we recieved and not the 2 weeks that it stated on the letter.  They informed me that we had in fact been allocated but she was actually off sick at the moment and that's why she hadn't been in contact.  So along comes Tuesday and still no contact. 
I was beginning to stew and then of course the phone rings.
As first impressions go, the social worker seems quite nice.  We had a bit of a chat to set a date for our initial visit so we can discuss what sort of child we are interested in adopting and what we have to offer a child.  If the social worker and the Adoption Team considers that on the basis of the information given we would be able to offer a Croydon child an adoptive home you will be asked to complete a formal application form afterwhich the assessment process will begin.
So meeting is on Thursday 28th April.  I can't wait,  fingers crossed.

A glimpse into the future

We're still waiting for Croydon to assign us our social worker.  We had a two week window in which to hear about who we were getting but as yet..... nothing.  I know it's early doors but it's really frustrating as we are so keen to get on with it.  The process is long enough with delays right at the beginning.  Well, hopefully we'll find out this week and then the work can begin.  Fingers crossed, or I'll be on the phone again!!!

On Saturday we went to Theo's 3rd birthday party.  Claire put me in charge of the bouncy castle.  'Easy', I thought to myself.  25 little loves, me and a bouncy castle....No problem.  Ah, right!! Who am I trying to kid. 
If truth be known, it actually wasn't that bad.  I tried my best to interact with them as they bounced, trying to get them to compete and see who could bounce the highest.  For the most part they warmed to me fairly quickly although a couple of them did look at me like I was the grim reaper.  It all went a bit pear shaped when one of the little girls bounced and landed on a little boys head.  He cried, then she cried, then I felt like crying as the parents quickly turned up to remove their children.  So David and I then retreated to the kitchen, we're good in there, and proceeded to help serve the kiddies their sandwiches and sausage rolls as the adults stood around the edges happily chatting and enjoying a moments of grown up time.  But it was good fun and a real glimpse into the future.  Hopefully one day we'll be the ones throwing a kiddies party or maybe our little one will come home with an invite to a little friend's party and we can be the ones drinking a cool beer (more likely a glass of wine) and chatting with the other dads (more likely with the mums).  Personally, I can't wait!!!

Had another reading session with Maisie today.  She's such a lovely little girl and she's really starting to relax with me now and she's starting to talk a lot more.  I showed her how to split a word up when she can't read it and she has started to demonstrate it and always gets the word.  That's brilliant as it really makes me feal like SHE is getting something from our time together.  She's starting to ask me what words mean as well, which means that not only is she reading but she is taking in new words.  But it's the Easter holiday's next week and I won't see her again for four weeks so let's hope we can pick up where we started.

So let's hope that Croydon get in touch, because if not....what am I going to write about next week????

Slow week

Not a great deal has happened this week.  Not a great deal to report.

I did in fact meet and read with Maisie on Monday.  And she is (so far) a little sweetie.  Very nervous but then who wouldn't be?  When we arrived at the school in our little blue bus the kids were waiting, books in hand, and I was introduced to Maisie.  She read a Horrible Henry story and for an 8 year old she reads really well but I'm glad I was able to help her with some words and meanings.  Hopefully this week she'll be a little more relaxed and I can find out more about her and get to know her a bit better.  After, more than just reading at each other I hope she starts to trust me and enjoys our time together.

Fingers crossed, we should be contacted by Croydon council this week with details of which social worker has been allocted to carry out our initial visit.  Hopefully they'll be nice and we can get the ball rolling.  I'm still a little nervous in case they don't find our flat suitable.  Essentially it's a double batchelor pad, but hopefully they'll see the potential in the flat and us and move us through to the next stage.  Croydon only do four preparation courses a year and we are both really keen to get started as soon as possible.