An Adventure

Writers: AL, Noola
Date Posted: 2nd March 2010

Characters: Irlani, Dessie
Description: Two foster moms discuss the adventure of child-rearing while their kids play
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 7, day 15 of Turn 5

Dessie watched her foster child, Helick, play with several other
children in the snowfall from yesterday. The boy, nearly nine, was
gathering up ammunition for the snowball fight which seemed to have
sprung up amongst several of the children. They were divided into
nearly even groups, each defending a little territory and bombarding
the others with snow. It was really very amusing.

"Hello Dessie." Irlani greeted as her own two children streaked ahead
to join in the fray. Irlani was glad to let them get wet and cold
while she stayed warm and dry in her thick jacket and her furry
handwarmer into which her hands had disappeared. "Come out to enjoy
the snow?"

"Well, to watch Helick enjoy it, at any rate." Dessie didn't think
anyone over the age of perhaps fourteen actually enjoyed snow. Or
maybe that was just her.

"Ah, the exuberance of youth." Irlani stated with amusement as she
watched the children diving in and out of the snow. Their squeals of
delight echoed and caused Irlani's smile to grow. "At least they will
sleep well tonight."

"There is that," Dessie agreed with a laugh. "And that is more than
worth sitting out here in the cold for a few candlemarks."

"As long as they tire themselves out? Yes, I agree." Irlani laughed
with Dessie. "Means a bit more freedom tonight. Maybe they'll even
sleep late tomorrow - who knows."

"Sleep late? What is this 'sleep late' you speak of?" Dessie pretended
confusion before grinning. "It would be nice though, wouldn't it? Of
course, with my luck, he'll wake up just as early tomorrow only with a
headcold."

"One can hope." Irlani chuckled softly. "Of course, since tomorrow
is a rest day, I won't have to worry about him. Gyta might sleep late
though. Then again, she might just wake up earlier."

"Well, I don't know about yours, but I've noticed with Helick, he'll
do about the opposite of what I figure he will. If I plan on him
sleeping late, he'll be up before the sun. If I need him up early,
it'll take a dragon's age to get him up and going. Boy is just plain
contrary sometimes." Dessie smiled fondly over at the little boy in
question, returning his enthusiastic wave when he spotted her
watching.

"It depends on the child, but yes, often it does tend to be the opposite
of what you expect - or want." Irlani had enough children over the turns
to know exactly what it was like. "Is he your only? Foster?"

"Yes, he's the only. First one too." Dessie smiled. She remembered
when she decided to become Helick's foster mother. The boy's birth
mother had been friends with her when they were both candidates.
Dessie's friend had Impressed and Dessie had not. They drifted apart a
bit during her friend's weyrling days, but when the greenrider had a
little boy, Dessie had been the one she'd asked to foster him. She
hadn't really known what she was getting into when she'd said yes, but
she was too old to Stand again and she didn't fancy drudgework. It was
the best decision she'd ever made, though trying at times.

"Any plans to take any more?" Irlani queried. Some foster mothers
focused on one child at a time. Irlani had done that at times, but it
had depended on the children. Some children needed to be the only,
especially if they had issues. Others were fine with siblings.

Dessie tilted her head, considering the question a moment before
answering, "I've never thought about it, really. When he was little, I
couldn't have managed two. I don't know how some people manage having
two or more little ones at the same time, honestly. But he's getting
old enough now, that I guess I could manage another one."

"I had five at once one time." All siblings of one another. Irlani
had loved them dearly, but their parents had transferred to a
different Weyr, so she had lost them in a sense. "It's not so bad,
and they always have someone to play with."

"Five at once! Shards, woman! One little boy ran me ragged when he was
little." Dessie laughed at the idea of chasing five small children
around. "Still, now that Helick is almost nine, it might not be as
bad. He could even help a little." It would have to be something to
think about, that's for sure.

"It would help teach him responsibility." Irlani pointed out. She'd
always had any older children help with younger ones whether they were
male or female. "It's good for his development. Of course, you don't
have to foster another child to have him learn that. You could help
out in the creche and have him do so with you."

Dessie looked skeptical of that idea. Fostering another child was one
thing, that would be just one little kid to keep track of in addition
to Helick. Helping at the creche would be dozens of small children and
infants. The only pro she could see in the idea would be that she'd go
home with just her one boy at the end of the day - but that was a con
too really. All the work and what reward? Raising Helick was wonderful
hassle. The trials were plenty, but were made up by the joys. "I think
I'd rather foster another child than do that, honestly."

"Twas merely a suggestion." Irlani knew that sometimes fostering was
a one child deal for a person and the creche certainly wasn't for
everyone. "Though sometimes you might find a child who needs a foster
parent there."

"That's a point," Dessie conceded. Helick's mother found her. If she
wanted to look into fostering another, she'd have to do the leg-work
herself this time. The creche -would- be a good place to start.
Assuming she decided to foster a second child, of course.

"One never knows." Irlani chuckled at Ravyan and Gyta as they
frolicked. "And having more than one is an adventure in itself."

"I can believe that!" Dessie smiled as well.

Last updated on the March 19th 2010

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