Recently, I’ve had crocheting projects that have been taking up any spare time I could possibly find. Yesterday, I officially ran out of the yarn I was using for a project, so while I didn’t have anything else tightly on the books, I decided to bite the bullet on a much bigger, much more important project.
Foster expenses!!!
To super quickly break it down, there are things I can send in to the ministry that they reimburse me for. Gas towards visits or appointments. Meals at certain times. Fresh clothing or toiletries when a new placement moves in. Babysitting and respite. Things like these. As foster parents, we’re expected to fill out forms for relevant expenses and hand them in each month.
You may or may not remember, but our very first placement was a shock to the system! Not only because we were new at the world of foster care, but the child also had incredibly high needs. Very early in the game with the Morsel, we spent a week at the hospital. Note taking and expenses went out the window while we just worked to keep our heads above water with this little baby. It took a long time before we felt caught up in our life in any real significant way, and at that point, I knew I had to catch up on expenses before I really started tracking current expenses.
You know how this goes. It is VERY easy to get lost this way. I should’ve just started tracking all the current stuff, and hung onto the month I needed help with. But, I didn’t. It took a LONG time before I finally got my first batch of things in to the finance department. If I remember right, it was about six months worth, and I felt really good about that!
Aaaaand that leaves me where I am now. I have not handed in expenses since. I could hand over all my great excuses, but you probably already know them, and I don’t need to say them anyway. I am just waaaaay behind. This time, the big hangup was Brady’s brain surgery. Not to mention the month before that where the Morsel also had surgery. I did not keep great records of who watched which kid and when, and because I didn’t do that, I was hung up on expenses. I knew I owed people money, but I didn’t know the details and I felt SO crappy about it. I kept reassuring myself that I would sort it out soon, and I would somehow be able to read old blogs, scroll through pictures, and jog the heck out of my memory until I had it all beautifully locked down.
And you know what? I. Just. Can’t. I’m not sure that info ever stuck in there, considering the circumstances, but I know that didn’t make it fair. So rather, Brady and I decided to pay our people each just a good chunk out of pocket, and start fresh. I will expense for the things I KNOW with confidence, such as mileage and meals out. But childcare and extras will go by the wayside for now, and thats ok. Even with gas and groceries alone, there is a LOT to ask the ministry for 😬
I feel incredibly accomplished, however. I did not rest today, which I actually do very intentionally most afterboobs (Ha! Afterboob is back!) but thats ok. We don’t always get our ideal, and I will find some rest time once the kids are down 🙂
Everyone will be home soon. The goal is to clean off the island, which is my dumping ground, and it has pretty much reached capacity. Wish me luck, all.