First Visit with Birthmom

Today the kids had their first visit with their mother. I assume this was their first time to see her since they were removed from the home just over 2 weeks ago. Ironically, yesterday they started calling me "Mama".

Since we wanted to be sure that the mom would show up we didn't tell the kids where we were going until about 10 minutes before we arrived. It was then that we finally reached their caseworker who said she hadn't heard that she wasn't showing. The kids' response to us telling them where they were going: complete silence for a while. Then, Josh said, "Are looking forward to seeing your mom?" Uno finally replied, "I love my mom."

Josh and I both were able to take them. We arrived at the DFPS office and a person who was to supervise the visit met us and asked if we wanted to meet the birthmom. I was not prepared to do that at all. I guess I didn't know how it worked, but Josh thought it was no big deal but apparently I have a lot of emotions to deal with after knowing what she has done/allowed to be done to her children. I did not want to meet her, honestly. 

We took the kids back to a very small room, where a woman sat in a comfortable chair. She was looking at the kids so I don't know if she even noticed us. The room looked like a tiny living room with just two chairs as far as I could tell, but I couldn't see the entire room. We immediately left and went to a nearby restaurant for the next two hours.

We returned early because we wanted to ask permission to get the kids' hair cuts, especially Uno. Apparently, that has to go through the caseworker so that got delayed. No haircut for Uno yet.

The kids came out with coloring books, crayons, gum, and silly bands. They were excited about what they had received, but Tres was crying and wanted her birthmom. The supervisor said the visit went really well and that the mom was nice (who wouldn't be at a time when you're trying to get your kids back!) and the kids didn't fight. She also told us that their mom promised that one of her friends was going to come get them and they could live with her. We'll see what happens in court tomorrow.

Oh, after the visit we took the kids to a nearby restaurant. Minutes after we were sitting down the birthmom and supervisor showed up at the same place! Thankfully, the lady saw us through the window and I gave her a look like, "Um, nope, not a good idea!" They turned around and went to another place. I assume they couldn't legally have been there with us either.

Surprisingly, the kids still called me Mama right after the visit. Their behavior was good, too, for the rest of the day.