In-lieu of the support of a local meeting (which I don't have at the moment, for numerous reasons), I'd love to ask those here to hold my family in the Light. I'm a single mom to three very high-needs foster kids, and we are again hitting some very trying times. I've been working hard to drum up all the resources I can for my five year old son, who has started feeling secure enough (I'm told) to start really blooming with some very trying behaviors. Things have been challenging enough lately that I've had to start considering whether I'll be able to continue parenting all three kids. I believe that they are supposed to be here, and wish to make it work.

I know I have good parenting skills and am consistent, firm, creative, and loving. When a kid is losing control, however (hitting people/animals, grabbing/throwing things, ripping trim off of cabinets, scratching cars with rocks, etc.), there is only one of me. I have to stay with the kid who needs monitoring, and then I have a three year old and an eight year old, each with their own problems. We are working on the theory that at this point the other two kids could read together, but considering they also are a) kids and b) kids with their own issues, this sort of idea doesn't always work.

I don't know that I'm looking for advice as much as support. I'm a teacher, and am gathering as many supportive/diagnostic/nutritional/emotional supports as I can for this kid who is struggling so mightily. (He also has cognitive delays, language delays, and possible sensory disorders, which all complicate things.) School will start in a month, and the consistency of that will help notably. We have structure to our summer days, but it does vary some from week to week, and that's hard.

These times are when I am tempted to land back in a traditional Christian church, though I know I don't belong there and can't really go back there in clear conscience. I am tired, and worried, and aching, and would love to read words of encouragement and wisdom from Quaker sisters and brothers.