Nobody’s Son: All Alex ever wanted was a family of his own. Cathy Glass

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СКАЧАТЬ you will meet your parents and get to know them, and then the most important date of all – when you move in.’ This was life-changing for Alex, so it was essential I maintained the momentum of excited expectation that would have been started by Graham, Sandy and Debbie when they’d talked to him about being adopted and his new parents. I was also genuinely pleased for him. He’d waited a long time for a family of his own and finally it was happening.

      Alex smiled broadly and clasped his giraffe in joy. ‘Not long now!’ he said, his eyes sparkling.

      ‘Not long at all. Do you have any questions?’

      He thought for a moment. ‘Not really a question, but can you tell my new mummy and daddy that I’m so happy and I love them already.’

      ‘I will.’

      Alex said similar things to me the next evening – Tuesday – when I saw him into bed. ‘Not long now!’ he said excitedly. And he gave the soft toy elephant he’d chosen for the night a big squeeze.

      ‘Not long,’ I agreed. ‘The meeting is tomorrow. Any questions?’

      ‘Will you tell my mummy and daddy that I’m very happy and I can’t wait to be their son?’

      ‘I will,’ I said, tears pricking the backs of my eyes. ‘I’ll make sure of it.’

      On Wednesday morning Alex told us all individually that I was going to a very important meeting today where I would meet his new mummy and daddy and write important dates in my diary. Then in the car as I drove to take him to school he told us all again collectively that I was going to meet his new mummy and daddy.

      ‘I know, that’s great,’ Adrian said.

      But later, after I’d seen Alex into breakfast club and Adrian, Paula and I were in the car again, Adrian said, ‘Can we still see Alex once he’s moved? He’s my friend.’

      ‘I hope so, but it will depend on his new parents.’

      ‘If they’re nice, they’ll let us see him, won’t they?’ Adrian asked.

      ‘Yes, but remember he will only have been with us a few weeks when he leaves, so they might feel it isn’t worth it.’ Harsh, but in my experience true, and it was something the children of foster carers had to accept, difficult though it was.

      I saw Adrian into school, and then Paula into the nursery. I checked with Kay that she was still able to collect Paula at lunchtime and then I informed the nursery staff of the arrangement. Having thanked Kay, I kissed Paula goodbye and returned home, where I changed out of my jeans and into a smart skirt and jumper, ready for the meeting at eleven o’clock. I slipped on my coat and with my diary in my handbag I left the house and drove to the council offices, arriving with ten minutes to spare. I signed in at the reception desk and then sat in the waiting area until Jill arrived. My stomach had started to jitter with pre-important-meeting nerves, and by the time Jill appeared it was churning.

      ‘All set?’ she said, with her usual welcoming smile.

      ‘Yes, ready to go.’

      She signed in at reception and also checked which room the meeting was being held in. ‘So how has Alex been?’ she asked as we made our way up the spiral staircase to the first floor.

      ‘Really good. No problem. He’s a lovely boy and is so excited about having a mummy and daddy of his own.’

      ‘Great. He deserves it. And from what Debbie has told me this sounds an excellent match.’

      ‘Good.’

      We arrived outside the room, Jill gave a perfunctory knock on the door, pushed it open and stepped in. ‘Hello, I’m Jill, Cathy’s support social worker.’ I followed her in. ‘And this is Cathy, Alex’s foster carer.’

      ‘Hello,’ I said, smiling at the four people grouped around the table. Jill and I took the two free chairs.

      ‘I’m Debbie,’ Alex’s social worker said to me. ‘We’ve spoken on the phone.’

      ‘Yes, hello.’ Normally I would have met the child’s social worker by now, but the move had happened quickly and at the weekend, so this was the first opportunity. Debbie turned to the others at the table. ‘Would you like to introduce yourselves now everyone is here.’

      It was obvious they knew each other, so this was for Jill’s and my benefit. ‘I’m Lin from the Adoption and Permanency Team,’ the woman beside Debbie said.

      Jill and I both smiled and said hello. Lin would be the social worker who had matched Alex with his adoptive parents and given them his background details, and would now see them through the adoption process, when her role would end.

      ‘I’m Rosemary, soon to be Alex’s mother,’ the woman on Lin’s left said confidently and without being asked. ‘And this is my husband.’ She looked to the man seated beside her.

      ‘Good morning. I’m Edward, soon to be Alex’s father,’ he said with a disarmingly charming smile.

      Clearly a very confident couple, well spoken and smartly dressed, who I guessed to be about aged forty. Edward was wearing a light-grey tailored suit with an open-neck shirt, and Rosemary a sophisticated slim-fitting long-sleeve cream dress. We smiled and said hello.

      ‘Great. Let’s begin then,’ Debbie said with a big grin. ‘We all know why we’re here, and I see everyone has brought their diaries. I do so love these adoption planning meetings.’ We all agreed. Each of us was sitting ready with a diary and pen in front of us and the atmosphere was light and gay. Unlike some meetings I’d attended in respect of the children I fostered, this was a joyous occasion – planning Alex’s move to his forever family. ‘Lin will take a few notes,’ Debbie said, ‘but before we begin, does anyone have any questions?’

      Edward cleared his throat to speak. ‘My wife and I were talking on the way here in the car and we think it would be useful if Cathy could tell us how Alex has been with her since the move. It will give us an idea of what to expect.’

      ‘Yes, absolutely,’ Debbie agreed enthusiastically. Lin nodded. ‘Cathy, I appreciate Alex has only been with you a few days, but if you could tell us how he’s settled in, it would be helpful.’

      ‘Yes, of course.’ I was half expecting this. Foster carers are often asked to speak near the start of a meeting about the child they are looking after, as they usually have the most up-to-date information on the child.

      ‘Rosemary and Edward have already been made aware of what Alex’s previous carer said about him,’ Lin added.

      I nodded and looked at Rosemary and Edward as I spoke. ‘Alex is a delightful child who appears to be coping very well with all the changes in his life. I could see he felt rejected at having to leave his previous carers, but it hasn’t come out in his behaviour. He’s eating well – he likes a range of foods. He’s sleeping well and is in a good routine. His self-care skills are good. He likes all things that the average boy of seven does: playing games, riding his bike – he had a new one for Christmas – and watching television. He’s getting on well with my son, who is the same age, and also my daughter, who is four years younger.’

      ‘That’s reassuring,’ Edward said. ‘Our son is just eighteen months older than Alex. СКАЧАТЬ