Deena Saunders-Green, M.S.W.
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Blogging is not my thing

2/20/2017

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I’ve come to the realization that I am a horrible blogger - which probably comes as no surprise to anyone who happens to glance at the date of my last entry. I've had a number of things to share, but for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to do so until now. Here’s a summary of the events that have transpired since August of 2015:

November 2015
  • Two of the young adults (YA’s) in our lives ended up homeless and moved in with us
  • We felt God leading us to put them into an apartment and cover their expenses for at least (3) months
  • I knew they’d blow it so I attempted to ignore the aforementioned feeling
  • Told God we couldn't afford it, and an unexpected check arrived covering all expenses
  • God reminded me that my job is to reflect His unconditional love, regardless of the outcome
December 2015
  • Found a fantastic 2-bedroom apartment in one of my favorite communities in Long Beach
  • Started an informal transitional housing program modeled after THP-Plus
  • Our amazing family, friends and community partners created an informal Wraparound program
  • Worked with YA’s to create goals and guidelines to help them develop independent living skills
  • YA’s proceeded to ignore many of the aforementioned goals and guidelines
  • Chaos and ridiculousness ensued
January 2016
  • YA #1 was given a 30-day notice with an option to move back into our home, as more supervision was needed
February 2016
  • YA #2 chose a relationship in lieu of stable housing and moved out of the apartment
  • YA #1 moved back into our home
  • Ridiculousness ensued
  • Experienced blissful solitude while using the empty 2-bedroom apartment as my office
  • YA #1 moved out of our home
March 2016
  • Returned apartment keys to Management Company
  • Told God that I was tired of dealing with the YA's in our life
  • Told God that I was going back to a 9 - 5 so I could at least get a salary and benefits
  • Told God that I was specifically done dealing with YA #1
  • Decided to work exclusively with transitional age youth who actually wanted help
  • Applied for counseling positions at local colleges and universities
April 2016
  • Prince Died
  • Decided to take a break from fostering
May 2016
  • Spent time with pleasant YA’s
  • Realized that I would have to denounce Christ to be free of YA #1
  • Did not denounce Christ
June 2016
  • YA #3 attempted to sabotage living arrangement, caregivers fought to maintain it
  • Reconnected with YA #1 (verbally, not emotionally)
July 2016
  • YA #1 moved into own apartment
  • Gave YA #1 a thumbs-up and kept my distance
  • YA #3 visited for a week
August 2016
  • Started working with community partners to assist local Transitional Age Youth
October 2016
  • Interviewed for my dream job at a local college
  • Realized that my dream job would impede my writing, withdrew my application
  • Sent manuscript to Editor
  • Emotionally reconnected with YA #1
  • Visited apartment of YA #1
November 2016
  • Spent a week touring the East Coast with a high school band & drill team
  • Discovered that 23 hours on a charter bus from Philly to Alabama is not fun
December 2016
  • YA #3 had a melt-down and left home, caregivers fought to stabilize 
January 2017
  • Released Angelique - A Transitional Age Youth Novel
  • Started hearing from other young adults and caregivers dealing with chaos and ridiculousness
February 2017
  • Spoke with all three YA's (and got a shout-out from a 4th on social media)
  • Discovered that all YA's are stable and doing relatively well at the moment
  • Discovered that I can finally say the same about us

Now that my blog is current, I can officially say that blogging is NOT my thing. I may still post from time to time, but my only consistent writing will likely be novels (and maybe Facebook).
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    I'm a social worker, a foster parent, a mentor, and a writer. I enjoy working with young adults; particularly those who are navigating through life after foster care.  

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