Sunday, July 22, 2012

Shall I Burn the Box of Foster Care Records?

We've had the twins 2 years.

I have this HUGE box of papers given to me by the Adoption Social Worker. I went through it all. Much of it is medical records. Children's Hospital HAS all those records. so does our Pediatrician. Another big section of it is their school records. The local school has ALL those records at their fingertips. I can't share anything with them that they don't already know. Then there's the social workers notes from the 2 years of foster care. Every visit, every little thing that happened. The arguments between the bio mom and the system, the arguments between her and friends/boyfriends/ kids/mother/ sister... even the records from every time CPS was called and why. Do I really need this stuff? Can't I just burn it?

I'm cleaning the closet. I've gotten rid of HALF the clothes. I'd like to get rid of this box also, unless someone gives me a good argument as to why I should keep it.

It's past lunch and James still has not made a single move to get dressed, make his bed, or talk to me at all.

7 comments:

:)De said...

I have gotten rid of everything that I know is duplicated with a professional somewhere.

I thought of you today as I ended up taking my 8 yr old girl to church in her pink, footed pajamas as she refused to get dressed this morning! We can do this. God is a good God with a great sense of humor!

Jennifer P said...

On the other hand, I have saved everything, and I mean everything. Maybe the twins won't be at a place where they "need" or want to see it in black and white or maybe they will. I feel like it is the only piece of history they have. I could weed some of it out but still...I'm conflicted. It feels a little like never telling the kid he was adopted.

Mama said...

I would keep it just in case some time in the distant future the twins want it. It's part of their past, their history and all they have from those days before you. If you have room, I'd keep it. OR you could buy one of those document scanners and put everything on a hard drive or DVD. Just a thought
Natalie

Anonymous said...

I would also consider how difficult it would be to get the records again.

C Dawn's bucket said...

I don't have any compelling reason but my gut says to keep them. So hard to know what to do. I understand your feeling to move on and let that part of everything go. I do wonder if it might mean something to the twins some day though, it would be a difficult regret.

Oldqueen44 said...

After three years of the children being in their forever home those records became vital to their pending case. With all that has been on their plate, trying to duplicte them would have been extremly burdensome. Just store them in the barn.

rachel said...

I keep it all. I am nostalgic myself and have a hard time throwing out my childrens stuff. But also for them when they are older, it could mean a lot to them to have those records of their past. Once you get rid of it, its gone forever.