They are supposed to look at family members first, before moving to adoption. It sounds as if you're doing everything right, and keeping a record of everything which is essential as you've already learned. Keep bringing any concerns here, there are lots who have been through similar experiences so y...

Happy New Year to you all and to your loved ones :) We've had a shocking few days, not relating to our daughter and g/d but to our son, girlfriend and baby, but tonight things have settled enough for us to be ready to sit down with a DVD and see in the New Year peacefully, then hopefully get some de...

Amen to that - wishing peace and blessings to everyone in this great community of kinship carers and your loved ones.

Bless you Irene I shall raise a glass too, and I'm sure many of us here will do the same. I hope you have a peaceful Christmas, and wish the same to all of us and the children we love so dearly.

It's very hard when Christmas triggers memories that are traumatic. Irene, I didn't mean to sound flippant with the comment about it being relaxing not having the contact around Christmas - to get to that point things must have been very bad for some time. You're absolutely right to protect your gir...

Thanks Suzie, that's useful to know. I'm quite surprised at the percentage of contact visits taking place at the carers' homes as it doesn't seem to be mentioned all that often in the forum. It would be encouraging if that was because it isn't causing too many issues for most, but hard to believe it...

I'm tempted to say it sounds as if Christmas Day must be blissfully relaxed now you've stopped physical contact close to it, Irene. But it must have been a rough road for you and the children gettinng there. There are so many different situations we have to deal with here. Our daughter does maintain...

I should have added that I know for many having contact in the home is not appropriate, but even with all the complications we have, our granddaughter loves mummy coming and is really looking forward to having her here on Christmas Day. For anyone else in this same position, where their adult child ...

For us there is tension and sadness about the way our family is now so fractured and the pressure Christmas Day places on us. Our son won't speak to our daughter (g/d's mum) due to her actions, and I got to the point after Christmas Day two years ago that I couldn't have them both here together any ...

Welcome back youngagain, have a wonderful Christmas with your little ones