This morning, Wifey and I made the last minute decision for her to drive to the City for food and supplies for graduation. It was one of those round trips in a day. Snarky came by our place this morning looking for the preacher who comes up on Sundays. Snarky is Jme’s current foster care provider. She’s been a pain in my side all year long about a variety of things unrelated to Jme. When Snarky, ever the opportunist, heard that Wifey was driving to town, she declared that she would ride to town with Wifey. That’s her style, not to ask but to simply declare. Whatever; I would have said no, but Wifey is much more gracious than I. And as it turns out, it was just the opportunity we were looking for.
During the drive, Wifey and Snarky started talking, and Wifey asked about Jme. Snarky said that she was really ready to be through with Jme, and that Snarky planned to put her in a group home in the City as soon as school was out. Wifey asked, what if there was a family in our community that could take her? Snarky said, “No one here wants her. And no one could pass the background check anyway” (a background check is required to become temporarily licensed as a foster care provider). But Wifey persisted, and asked, but what if there was a family that could take her. Snarky then asked bluntly, “Why? Do you want her?” Wifey said, well, yes, that she and I had talked about Jme over much of the past year and had imagined the possibility of having her come stay with us. Wifey told me that Snarky seemed very enthusiastic about the idea, in a "yeah, take her, please" kind of way.
So now, Wifey and I are planning to talk to the chief of the local tribal council and the tribal ICWA (Indian Child Welfare Act) worker to discuss the process of possibly gaining custody of Jme. It’s a scary prospect. Wifey and I have talked a lot about the challenges and pitfalls we could potentially face. But when we then consider what could become of Jme if she remains in her current situation, or if she is moved into a group home, we know it’s the right thing.
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