Jonathan's Story
Viewing comments for Chapter 2 "Introducing Jonathan"Our fostering journey with a severely disabled boy
27 total reviews
Comment from Mrs. KT
Goodness, Wendy!
The courage, dedication, and unselfishness of your family are palatable.
I applaud you for agreeing to bring Jonathan into your home and provide him with a loving and stable environment. I can only imagine the large and subtle challenges of such an undertaking... but a rewarding one as well.
Thank you for sharing!
Looking forward to the next installment.
diane
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2024
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Goodness, Wendy!
The courage, dedication, and unselfishness of your family are palatable.
I applaud you for agreeing to bring Jonathan into your home and provide him with a loving and stable environment. I can only imagine the large and subtle challenges of such an undertaking... but a rewarding one as well.
Thank you for sharing!
Looking forward to the next installment.
diane
Comment Written 09-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2024
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Thank you VERY much Diane for this very supportive review and encouragement. Appreciated.
Wendy
Comment from Tom Horonzy
You do show a bit of humor now and then. In this I loved Joe getting nappies. Quite inventive and a visitor who would throw the toys over the fence, maybe for later pickup after it left, like stashing the take in the woods voiding he/she of evidence. Well done.
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2024
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You do show a bit of humor now and then. In this I loved Joe getting nappies. Quite inventive and a visitor who would throw the toys over the fence, maybe for later pickup after it left, like stashing the take in the woods voiding he/she of evidence. Well done.
Comment Written 09-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2024
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Thanks Tom. I appreciate your review.
Wendy
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
I'm so sorry, Wendy, that I mixed the name Marco with Jonathan (I'm very embarrassed and you were so sweet not to correct me). I'm really in awe of the responsibility and commitment you assumed. And that Frost quote sums up for me the lonely, scary path you took. Especially the legal and governmental implications. It would have been so easy to walk away on that more travelled road. Instead, you obviously battled the fear but hardly surprising the toll it must have taken and still does. What I think is so commendable, as your story unfolds, is the down to earth message you're putting out to other carers/potential carers which is not about instant gratification but a lengthy and deeply challenging journey to longer term fulfilment. It's an amazing achievement! (sorry to go on:) and this book will be equally illuminating. Take care Debbie
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2024
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I'm so sorry, Wendy, that I mixed the name Marco with Jonathan (I'm very embarrassed and you were so sweet not to correct me). I'm really in awe of the responsibility and commitment you assumed. And that Frost quote sums up for me the lonely, scary path you took. Especially the legal and governmental implications. It would have been so easy to walk away on that more travelled road. Instead, you obviously battled the fear but hardly surprising the toll it must have taken and still does. What I think is so commendable, as your story unfolds, is the down to earth message you're putting out to other carers/potential carers which is not about instant gratification but a lengthy and deeply challenging journey to longer term fulfilment. It's an amazing achievement! (sorry to go on:) and this book will be equally illuminating. Take care Debbie
Comment Written 09-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2024
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No problem re Marco/Jonathan - I knew who you meant. Oh, you are so right. There was no instant gratification - it was a long, hard, lonely road, and I appreciate that your insightful review shows that you understand. I will be exposing some significant failures (and corruption) at all levels along the way. Many thanks for a wonderful and thoughtful review.
Wendy
Wendy
Comment from jmdg1954
Hi Wendy.
This case worker changed your lives at the very last moment. Sorry to say, but she had it planned as she knew exactly when she was leaving the foster care program.
Your last line - Little did I know that one day I would be threatened with legal responsibility if he should die...
I don't really know how to respond to that line.
This is going to he a very interesting and complex book. Thank you for sharing.
John
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2024
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Hi Wendy.
This case worker changed your lives at the very last moment. Sorry to say, but she had it planned as she knew exactly when she was leaving the foster care program.
Your last line - Little did I know that one day I would be threatened with legal responsibility if he should die...
I don't really know how to respond to that line.
This is going to he a very interesting and complex book. Thank you for sharing.
John
Comment Written 09-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2024
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Thank you so much John! Yes, she did - you are exactly right. Yes, it'll be interesting and complex, and there will be some exposure of high-level corruption as well. But I have enough self-belief now (it's taken me all these years to get that) to have a go at it.
Wendy
Comment from Navada
This is so beautifully fluent and clear, and you articulate a crazy overwhelming series of events with such a calm steady hand. I can't begin to imagine the steepness of the learning curve when beginning relationships with each of these agencies as well as a new special school while parenting three other children and completing post-graduate study. What extraordinary capacity and compassion you have!
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2024
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This is so beautifully fluent and clear, and you articulate a crazy overwhelming series of events with such a calm steady hand. I can't begin to imagine the steepness of the learning curve when beginning relationships with each of these agencies as well as a new special school while parenting three other children and completing post-graduate study. What extraordinary capacity and compassion you have!
Comment Written 09-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2024
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Thank you Navada. I didn't and don't see those qualities in myself - I feel so very ordinary and many timesI lack confidence. But I think his story needs to be told - it's difficult and complex, and there will be some corruption (at all levels) exposed. I know it will be hard to write it, because of reliving some things, but I'm going to give it a good shot.
Wendy
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I suspect that the people that feel they lack confidence are the people with true humility and are precisely the right ones for a job like this.
Comment from royowen
Well done, you've shown not courage in taking on this little boy, but also you've shown a great deal of courage. I can't begin to really understand why you did it, but I do know that everyone is precious to God. Beautifully written Roy
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reply by the author on 09-Jan-2024
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Well done, you've shown not courage in taking on this little boy, but also you've shown a great deal of courage. I can't begin to really understand why you did it, but I do know that everyone is precious to God. Beautifully written Roy
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Comment Written 09-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2024
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Most people don't understand why we did it, nor what it involved. Hope you'll enjoy the future chapters - but they won't all be easy reading.
Wendy
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Well done
Comment from Wayne Fowler
It takes a certain kind of love to venture forward as you and your family did. This piece is very well written, and should make for a book that ought to be required reading for foster parents and caregivers in general.
A natural response would be "No," stick to the plan, or the deal is off. Glenn would not be affected by a midterm change. But all things considered, Glenn's needs had to rise above other's faults.
Good luck with the project.
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reply by the author on 09-Jan-2024
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It takes a certain kind of love to venture forward as you and your family did. This piece is very well written, and should make for a book that ought to be required reading for foster parents and caregivers in general.
A natural response would be "No," stick to the plan, or the deal is off. Glenn would not be affected by a midterm change. But all things considered, Glenn's needs had to rise above other's faults.
Good luck with the project.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 09-Jan-2024
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2024
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You are right, and now I would refuse. But then, I trusted her too much, and was naive. I hope you'll enjoy the read, with the highs, lows, and exposure of corruption that will come.
Wendy