I need your prayers!!!

The best interests of this child are all that matters. Whichever way things go, that is paramount.

Foster parents know the score - it is hard, but help will be at hand for them - and no doubt a string of new babies/children to be fostered.

If she hasnt had training before, she will get some help if she needs it. It is all part of being a short term foster carer.

Well done nannynoo, you have every right to feel proud of yourself. You have worked so hard for this.

I wouldn't worry about the foster family. They will most likely have another child with them soon,to care for. It can't be easy to take a child in, see him become almost part of the family, and then have to let go. Not sure I could do it. I would just be very very thankful that he has been so well looked after, and has a period of much needed stability.

I would suggest a big bouquet of flowers when the time comes. With heart-felt thanks.

The social worker even said to my DD she is LUCKY she has a Mum who is willing to take on the full time care of her GS as not all Grandparents DO

I am HAPPY to do it and I will do all the same things the foster carer does with the added BONUS of the love and security and happiness he has with me , he is my GS after all lol xx

The foster carer really doesn't seem to like it when my GS's face lights up and he lets go of her hand and runs up to me and plants a huge kiss on my lips but it is silly to even 'try' and complete with that and this is not some sort of silly contest for his affection so I am not getting into it and am doing what is best for my GS! x

I need to share some REALLY PERSONAL stuff but it really helps me , so please bear with me! x

It is the foster carers first placement ever with my GS and she is fine with him I have no worries thankfully and she is looking after him well

At the meeting today the they mentioned me having him and that 'plan C' would be long term foster care with her which she agreed to

The social worker assured me after the meeting that they are 100% looking for plan A to go ahead which is him being placed with me by July so he can settle in over the school holidays and start his new school in September

The foster carer did not seem to believe this would be happening , or perhaps she did not want to believe it as she has got VERY attached to my GS and I don't blame her because he is ADORABLE , he really is!!

Her family have got fond of him as well and of course he goes on all their family outings and holidays etc and ''everybody loves him'' which is no surprise to me but I feel the foster carer may have a very hard time of detaching soon as only a couple of months to go and he will start coming over to mine for the weekends at first

I don't feel she wants it to happen and she said he never talks about me or his Mum or mentions us and made a dismissive face as if to say he wasn't bothered about us and is blissfully happy where he is

The social worker is commited to him being with his family though and the foster carer will need to detach however hard it may be as it's weird that I care about her having to go through the sadness of letting go of him and as it is her first placement with SUCH an adorable boy at that I feel she may have become very attached to the point of not wanting to believe he will be going soon , it is like she did not accept or acknowledge at all that would actually be happening!

What kinda hurts me is when she walked away with my GS at leaving time she did not care that I was crying in the street on the way home or upset , missing him unbearingly , my flesh and blood , watching her walk away with him every week kills me and yet no thought of that from her yet I am feeling sorry for her as I feel she will find the letting go painful

She seemed to not like it when my GS used to run over to me , say ''goodbye ***'' ( her name ) as soon as he saw me and not want to know her ( even after all she has done for him ) and after spending the weekends here at first I KNOW he is not going to want to go back and she could very well take that PERSONALLY as she seems to already!!!

Nice she is very fond of him but not nice to not realise that we are his FAMILY with a huge attachment and bond which has grown over 7 years solid of extreme involvement with him as a family member , it is a family bond , a flesh and blood bond I am sure she has with her own Grandchildren who she has with her as in not separated from her and no need to take it personally that he wants to be with his FAMILY rather than HER lol

I am grateful for all she has done , honestly , but she has to realise this whole process is about returning the child to his / her / their family if at all possible and IF possible and viable / feasable it WILL HAPPEN , so she will have to prepare herself for that however hard as it is part of the job but I can't believe I am feeling sorry for her when there was absolutely no sorrow for me whatsoever even though all Grandparents must surely know how painful it would be to be separated from their Grandchild and only be allowed to see them for 2 hours a week even though they had done nothing wrong but were a family in crisis!

I've just caught up too Nannynoo - fingers and everything else crossable is crossed for you. You are so brave and so committed to that DGS of yours that I feel sure it will all come right. Well done you! You are an inspiration.

only just caught up with the thread, well done, I think that us that do have and see our Granchildren cannot imagine what it must be like to have gone/going through what you have..good news,lots of fun ahead

I've been away so only just seen this thread nannynoo. I'm so pleased for you and your grandson. You've been so consistent in your efforts in spite of so many stresses.

I hope your daughter engages with the help she desperately needs. I empathise with the conflicted feelings, you will always love her but need a bit of emotional and well as physical distance from her whilst she's drinking.

Sending and very best wishes

It's all good preparation and learning to grab those moments of respite and relaxation while I can in order to keep well , those moments will be VERY important to my wellbeing so will make sure I always have them

It is difficult still as have always hated the contact centre itself , it is not a relaxing place to be , plus being watched , notes been taken about me , having to interact with my DD there which is not always easy , plus social worker visits and meetings , foster carer interaction etc etc BUT it is ALL ABOUT MY GS , it is all for him and about him and he makes it all worthwhile because he is worth it

I have to remember that right now , everything I am doing and going through is for HIM it is all about him and if I focus just on him in spite of everything else going on around me I can deal with everything else!!! xx

Even the stress is worth it! x

Will relax and unwind over the weekend as have a meeting on Monday , Doctors on Tuesday for a new patient check up , gardeners coming on Wednesday , Garden rubbish collectors and dentist on Thursday and a day of rest till my visit again on Saturday! lol

It's all go at the moment but maybe good preparation for the real full time busyness ahead

[smile

I don't think I have EVER experienced SUCH a feeling of RELIEF before

Along with the shock and it all sinking in it is actually a weird new feeling to get used to as I have never felt this much relief before

Think it will sink in over the next couple of days and it become my REALITY as it feels a bit like I was dreaming it when I WASN'T

I am slowly unwinding now and the relief is settling in , there was a build up to the meeting obviously so now I can relax and unwind , literally over the next few days

And then concentrate on things like getting the garden done :-)

It is so lovely to have so much to look forward to now , simple things like a trip to the park and an ice cream , playing with the puppy and mainly seeing him happy and secure! xxx

Great news wonderful for you both ((huggs))

So happy for you. I hope this is just the beginning of better times for you all

I am so so pleased I've just come across this update. So happy for you and your grandson. What a lovely note on which to end my day

My thoughts are with you, I have so much love from my DGD and DD that I can only imagine how you must be hurting. Take heart I was working as a volunteer at a centre for alcoholics and many clients managed to stay off alcohol long term so fingers crossed for you

Good news for you and your DGS nannynoo Pleased that you have had a hopeful turn of events after such heartache, May the future be the one you want.

Thank you you have been SO wondeful here , so supportive and caring , it is a lovely community and I feel so happy and safe on here ( unlike on some other forums previously )

I feel your love and support and understanding

Grandparenting is a very special role - I have EXTREMELY fond memories of my Granddad in particular , him bouncing me on his knees and singing to me from an early age - I felt his love and responded to it , he was so lovely with me and I loved staying over at his house for the school holidays etc

My bond with him and the memories I have I will ALWAYS treasure now that he is gone and am so grateful I had a male in my life who loved me and who I loved as my Dad was a cold and distant man and we had no bond there so I at least knew GRANDDAD LOVED ME!!! :-)

I don't even know why I am sharing this but to say we have a very important role and bond and it is lovely , so happy I can ENJOY it again as the 2 hour visits in a contact centre enviroment aren't quite the same as him being here with me , laughing and content , secure and HAPPY which is what I want for him and it makes me happy too and good to know I am happy to work with social services and WORK WELL with them which is what I have always wanted so THAT is a relief too!!!

Am still in shock , it's still sinking in , it's like ''did that REALLY HAPPEN???'' lol

I thought they didn't ''see it'' all the stuff I was doing behind the scenes but seems they very much DID thankfully and it all worked in my favour!

It has been SO TOUGH , the worst most painful time of my whole entire life but to have it RESOLVED is fabulous to know my Grandson will be safe , well and happy with me for however long that may be the whole family benefits from it and my DD didn't want him in foster care and is relieved that at least he will be with family and then the rest is up to her

I forgot nannynoo's

Nannynoo I am very pleased for you. Good luck with this.

Oh, I'm so pleased for you, nannynoo, this is such wonderful news! You certainly do deserve to be proud of yourself!

nannynoo, you did it, well done! This has been one of the most difficult and saddest times of your life and you never gave up, I bet you are now ecstatic. This really is good news and I am very relieved and happy for you.

nannynoo What a perfect day for you after all the waiting and tears. You certainly deserved this. I am soooo happy for you