These particular kids had been with
us for about six months at the time, and every minute of it was an adventure.
We certainly had some “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” moments, which was
good because “a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down”-the memories
being the sugar, the medicine being that we would have to say goodbye. The goodbye
came that same day as it was the day they went back to their mom. It was hard
to let go. To tell you the truth I don’t know that I ever really did, or ever
truly will. And that is why this next character is Mary Poppins. Because I am
coming to realize being a nanny and doing foster care aren’t all that different
from one another.
Mary Poppins comes into a broken
family to show them what they are missing. The foster family takes the children
into their home when the parents become unable to care for them. Mary Poppins
shows the children love and teaches them the balance between fun and responsibility.
The
foster family shows them love, gives them structure, room to grow, everything
they need while their parents figure out their lives. Mary Poppins cares for the children while
nudging the parents in the right direction until the family learns how to do it
on their own. The foster family takes care of the children, but it is up to the
foster care and the court to determine how to help the parents and decide when
they have proven themselves. When they determine they have, they send the kids
back, leaving the foster family behind, sometimes to never see them again. Mary
Poppins teaches the family how to be a family, and then she must leave. Though
it breaks her heart to see them go as she lets the wind take her away, she must
leave. And that is what makes the story of Mary Poppins very much like foster
care.
Mary Poppins is a nanny. A nanny
who I am sure has cared for many, many children and who must then leave those
same children, perhaps to never see them again. Nevertheless, she must do her
job and be there for them in their time of need. She knows she must leave when
the job is done, yet she does it anyway with joy and grace. Something I am
trying, and failing, to accomplish. Foster Care is technically a job, and some
people do it for the money I’m sure, every system is corrupt. However, for some
people the “job” is to be there for those kids, even when they know it’s
temporary.
After those kids had gone back to
their mother I started having a new approach when it came to the kids who came
to stay with my aunt and uncle. I did everything I could to make sure they were
happy and healthy, while still knowing this may be short term. Treating it like
Mary Poppins would. Teaching them, loving them, giving them tools they’d need
for the future, all while knowing I may never see them again. It wasn’t easy,
still isn’t, but I have learned to use every moment, every adventure, as a way
to better prepare them for whatever troubles lie ahead, just as Mary Poppins
would.
Mary Poppins is “Practically
Perfect in every way” and I am far from perfect. Especially since, “practically
perfect people never permit sentiment to muddle their thinking,” and sentiment is
always muddling my thinking… However, it is clear she is saddened by her
leaving the children, so I suppose even Mary Poppins is still only human (or
Time Lord as some may suggest). Still, despite my emotions often getting in the
way, there is hope for me yet. Mary Poppins is also quite fond of order yet
knows when and how to have fun. Now that is a balance I am getting the hang of!
It is a delicate balance of giving
these kids all my love without losing myself in the process. Between knowing
when to be stern and when all they need is a little love and a little fun. Knowing
when to hold them close and when it is time to let go. Giving them the tools
they need to conquer whatever troubles lie ahead and help them grow into the
amazing people God has called them to be. I don’t know how Mary Poppins does
it. How she manages to love, teach, and leave these children time and time
again. Though, I would imagine having friends like Bert to lighten your heart, a
loving yet stern outlook on life to keep you balanced, and a little magic along
the way wouldn’t hurt… I suppose it’s time I find some magic, or a Bert, of my
own… It looks like I’m going to be in this Mary Poppins chapter for a while…
