Making an Impression
Well, today was quite a day. We had a visit from the social worker to complete our court report for the Alameda County Re-Adopt and our first post-placement visit for China. In case you are new to the adoption process, we readopt our kids in the State of California in order to get them a US birth certificate. With this, School and Sports registration is a much easier process. Addionally, the Chinese government requires two post-placement visits, the first at about 6 months after you get home, the second at about 12 months after you get home. Basically, we were trying to use today's visit to kill two birds with one stone.
I am always a little on edge when the social worker comes-a-calling. While we have been working with her for over 4 years, 'visits' feel a bit like a job interview and I always want to make a good impression. In preparation, the house gets a good cleaning, the kids are dressed appropriately and the wild dogs are safely hidden. This visit, however, was different. While I did get the house picked up, the kitchen floor mopped and the family room vaccuumed, this was the least prepared I have ever been for a visit. I was secretly hoping our social worker would forget the appointment. I am just so tired of paperwork and answering questions. But, she showed up on time, as I was lecturing the girls to be on their best behavior.
The visits from our social worker are fairly short and the questions are standard. She asked about Maggie's development, her transition to our family and our transition to her. All went well. The girls were patient. Maggie had one of her full conversations with the social worker. The poor woman kept asking if I had any idea what she was saying and I said that I didn't. Of course, I think Maggie was trying to disclose the house was unusually neat, the kitchen floor is never that clean and that she buffaloed me into allowing her not to eat her vegetables. I had no proof that is what she was trying to say so I kept quiet.
The visit was a non-event until the last 5 minutes. As the social worker shut down her laptop and started to put away her files, Maggie sensed an opening to make the visit unforgettable. Charging from across the room, Maggie adeptly knocked the social worker's coffee cup spilling it into her brief case, while making sure the mug hit the social worker and the couch on its way down. There was a puddle of coffee in the poor woman's brief case and the bag actually dripped when she picked it up. Sadly, the loaded lap top compartment took the brunt of the spill. After a few moments of stunned silence, the adults sprung into action wiping up coffee, while Maggie stood back and smiled. The social worker said that it was normal for a toddler to have such an accident, but we're pretty sure it was an intentional act of aggression on Maggie's part.
After such a memorable ending to a home visit, the poor woman had to drive an hour to her home with her coffee soaked clothes and dripping briefcase. The lap top did fire up before she left, I hope it survives. As she was walking out, the social worker jokingly commented she thought she should include something about 'mischievous' in her report. Well, with that comment, I know she saw the real Maggie. And I can guarantee you, Maggie made quite an impression.
I am always a little on edge when the social worker comes-a-calling. While we have been working with her for over 4 years, 'visits' feel a bit like a job interview and I always want to make a good impression. In preparation, the house gets a good cleaning, the kids are dressed appropriately and the wild dogs are safely hidden. This visit, however, was different. While I did get the house picked up, the kitchen floor mopped and the family room vaccuumed, this was the least prepared I have ever been for a visit. I was secretly hoping our social worker would forget the appointment. I am just so tired of paperwork and answering questions. But, she showed up on time, as I was lecturing the girls to be on their best behavior.
The visits from our social worker are fairly short and the questions are standard. She asked about Maggie's development, her transition to our family and our transition to her. All went well. The girls were patient. Maggie had one of her full conversations with the social worker. The poor woman kept asking if I had any idea what she was saying and I said that I didn't. Of course, I think Maggie was trying to disclose the house was unusually neat, the kitchen floor is never that clean and that she buffaloed me into allowing her not to eat her vegetables. I had no proof that is what she was trying to say so I kept quiet.
The visit was a non-event until the last 5 minutes. As the social worker shut down her laptop and started to put away her files, Maggie sensed an opening to make the visit unforgettable. Charging from across the room, Maggie adeptly knocked the social worker's coffee cup spilling it into her brief case, while making sure the mug hit the social worker and the couch on its way down. There was a puddle of coffee in the poor woman's brief case and the bag actually dripped when she picked it up. Sadly, the loaded lap top compartment took the brunt of the spill. After a few moments of stunned silence, the adults sprung into action wiping up coffee, while Maggie stood back and smiled. The social worker said that it was normal for a toddler to have such an accident, but we're pretty sure it was an intentional act of aggression on Maggie's part.
After such a memorable ending to a home visit, the poor woman had to drive an hour to her home with her coffee soaked clothes and dripping briefcase. The lap top did fire up before she left, I hope it survives. As she was walking out, the social worker jokingly commented she thought she should include something about 'mischievous' in her report. Well, with that comment, I know she saw the real Maggie. And I can guarantee you, Maggie made quite an impression.
posted by One Lucky Mom @ 8:32 PM
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