Jamie Maverick Beige

 Jamie Maverick Beige (names have been changed, except his middle name) is a 5 year old in my program. He is being adopted by Daddy-O and Papa in June. Daddy-O is a very tall, round guy that looks like a lumber jack, Papa is a tiny hipster guy and Jamie is their son. Jamie comes to us from a behavioral program during the day. The little guy can’t keep his hands off of people, he runs, swears, spits, pulls things out of people’s hands, you name it he does it. He does well with us though, and he and I have a special bond. I spend one-on-one time with him, he is developmentally around 3 years old. He likes to play in the sink with the water, until he splashes it all over the room and I have to put and end to it. He likes to feed the chinchilla, although he is a little afraid of her. He helps me sweep, until he starts sweeping up other kids. He is a handful, but I have seen him come millions of miles since he started with us. He usually has home visits on Thursdays. His mom may show up, my be a grandparent, random cousin or nobody at all.

Daddy-O and Papa are fighting to have these visits stop all together, they are not opposed to him seeing his family, but the consistency is not there. Jamie trusts very few people, but he really trusts Daddy-O and Papa, when he gets hurt he cries for them, when he is super excited he wants to call them. To see the bond they have formed is amazing, sweet and refreshing. This little boy has found a place in my heart too and I am rooting for him and his family to make it. The adoption has been put off a few times for various reasons, this upsets Jamie. He needs the consistency and the knowledge that Papa and Daddy-O are his forever and they will not be taken away.

Yesterday, there was a major hiccup in home visits and the adoption process.  Jamie has decided to take Daddy-O’s last name and had started practicing writing it, the adoption date was on the horizon, they were all going to buy new suits and have a party. They are also talking about changing his middle name, Maverick does not work for them. Then the rug was pulled out, everything was put off until June and his home visits simultaneously were changed to everyother Thursday. All of this was too much for 5 year old Jamie. He was out of control and violent, spitting, headbutting, swearing. I had to call Daddy-O to come get him. My heart was broken, so was his. He cried Leeeeaaaaah, please let me stay, while he was sobbing away. As hard as it was, I believe he needs consistency and if he breaks the rules he goes home (that is a rule for everyone). He cried as he left and apologized over and over, I was in turmoil the rest of the day about it. He has so much going on, it’s no wonder he was lashing out. I felt it was the best decision for him, I still care about him and will be happy to see him today and give him a hug like I always do. But, he needs to follow the rules there are consequences for his behavior.

I dreamed about him all night. At least I know he had Daddy-O and Papa to talk about it with. And I have my Nola, one of her first questions when we see each other at the end of the day is “how is Jamie?”