Summer Camp for Reef, Enoch, and Mia
Donation protected
Nine months ago, my sister's three kids were put into foster care for the second time. My sister and her husband have a very serious alcohol abuse problem, but I didn't see it when I came to visit them in April, because they had sobered up for my visit. At the time, I couldn't figure out why the commonwealth still had their kids, because I believed them when they told me that they weren't drinking too much. I felt strongly compelled to move to Puerto Rico to be with them and support them. I didn't know how that would manifest, what it would look like, but I knew that it was the right thing to do. So I got permission to telecommute for work (thanks to my incredibly compassionate boss), and happily planned my move for the end of June. At the end of April, my sister called me in a panic, and asked that I move down earlier and take the kids to foster them myself -- the foster family was leaving the country in June and the three kids (12, 8, and 6-years-old) were in danger of being split up. So, I accelerated my plans and I arrived in Rincon, Puerto Rico three days ago.
When I got here, I finally saw my sister's problem. Last week she was in an accident where she flipped and totaled their car. She was drunk at the time. When I got to her house on Friday evening, she was incapacitated and has been ever since. At this point, I don't think she'll be able to get sober before their court date on Wednesday morning. She needs intensive, professional help, and at this point, she isn't interested in any, even though she knows that her life is out of control. She is in indescribable pain. My heart is breaking apart to see my big sister, who I have loved and adored my whole life, so tormented, unable to confront whatever demons are driving her addiction. Please hold her with compassion and love.
Before this week, I was optimistic that I would only have the kids for a short period of time and then they would go home, where they belong. Now I see that my sister and brother-in-law must bravely confront their addiction before the kids can go home, so they will be in my care for much longer than I anticipated. I still feel compelled to be here, and I believe that I'm doing the best thing possible for the kids and my sister, who I love so deeply. They need my love, stability, and patience (shout out to all of the men I've dated for helping me develop that bottomless well!). I know that I'm doing the right thing -- and I also feel totally unprepared to become a single, working mother of three in less than four days from now.
One of my biggest sources of anxiety is the cost of raising three kids. This summer, in particular, is going to be really difficult because the commonwealth won't provide any assistance until I'm a licensed foster parent (which will take a few months) and they don't provide any help with childcare over the summer, which means I have to cover the most expensive months of the year on my own, even though they're in the commonwealth's custody.
I'm asking for your help with childcare over the summer. So many of you have kindly, graciously asked if there is anything you can do, or have offered to send things to the kids. Your love and generosity has deeply touched me, and I know that you would want to know how you can help in a way that will be the most helpful, so here it is. I found a really great, well-regarded day-camp here in Rincon where the kids can make friends, develop their talents, and have fun this summer. I am hoping that camp is a respite from the trauma that they've endured over the past year; a place where they can just be kids (happily, it will also allow me to work during the day so that I can, you know, feed them). The cost of the camp is really reasonable: $325 per week, for all three of them. They'll be out of school for 7 weeks, so I'm raising $2,275 to cover the cost of camp.
I often feel like my $5 or $10 donation won't make a difference, but I want you to know that it will for us. It's hard for me to ask for help, but, just for these first couple of months, I need the love and support of my family and friends. Melissa needs your love and support. Reef, Enoch, and Mia need your love and support. I am already so grateful to all of you for being there to encourage and support me emotionally. I would be forever grateful for your financial support, too. Seriously, my anxiety can testify!
Thank you for reading this very long, fucked-up version of the annual family Christmas letter. Next year I promise we'll have better news. :)
Love,
Cristie
When I got here, I finally saw my sister's problem. Last week she was in an accident where she flipped and totaled their car. She was drunk at the time. When I got to her house on Friday evening, she was incapacitated and has been ever since. At this point, I don't think she'll be able to get sober before their court date on Wednesday morning. She needs intensive, professional help, and at this point, she isn't interested in any, even though she knows that her life is out of control. She is in indescribable pain. My heart is breaking apart to see my big sister, who I have loved and adored my whole life, so tormented, unable to confront whatever demons are driving her addiction. Please hold her with compassion and love.
Before this week, I was optimistic that I would only have the kids for a short period of time and then they would go home, where they belong. Now I see that my sister and brother-in-law must bravely confront their addiction before the kids can go home, so they will be in my care for much longer than I anticipated. I still feel compelled to be here, and I believe that I'm doing the best thing possible for the kids and my sister, who I love so deeply. They need my love, stability, and patience (shout out to all of the men I've dated for helping me develop that bottomless well!). I know that I'm doing the right thing -- and I also feel totally unprepared to become a single, working mother of three in less than four days from now.
One of my biggest sources of anxiety is the cost of raising three kids. This summer, in particular, is going to be really difficult because the commonwealth won't provide any assistance until I'm a licensed foster parent (which will take a few months) and they don't provide any help with childcare over the summer, which means I have to cover the most expensive months of the year on my own, even though they're in the commonwealth's custody.
I'm asking for your help with childcare over the summer. So many of you have kindly, graciously asked if there is anything you can do, or have offered to send things to the kids. Your love and generosity has deeply touched me, and I know that you would want to know how you can help in a way that will be the most helpful, so here it is. I found a really great, well-regarded day-camp here in Rincon where the kids can make friends, develop their talents, and have fun this summer. I am hoping that camp is a respite from the trauma that they've endured over the past year; a place where they can just be kids (happily, it will also allow me to work during the day so that I can, you know, feed them). The cost of the camp is really reasonable: $325 per week, for all three of them. They'll be out of school for 7 weeks, so I'm raising $2,275 to cover the cost of camp.
I often feel like my $5 or $10 donation won't make a difference, but I want you to know that it will for us. It's hard for me to ask for help, but, just for these first couple of months, I need the love and support of my family and friends. Melissa needs your love and support. Reef, Enoch, and Mia need your love and support. I am already so grateful to all of you for being there to encourage and support me emotionally. I would be forever grateful for your financial support, too. Seriously, my anxiety can testify!
Thank you for reading this very long, fucked-up version of the annual family Christmas letter. Next year I promise we'll have better news. :)
Love,
Cristie
Organiser
Cristie Cole
Organiser
Punta Higuero Lighthouse, PR
