Arlington County Government, VA Human Services (DHS), 25 Jun 2009

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From YouTube: Here/now: We're All Arlington: The Reels

Description

A segment of AVN's monthly magazine show, "Here/now", "We're All Arlington" features short biographies of Arlington residents, highlighting our county's amazing diversity. This episode's subject are the 2009 Foster Parents of the Year: Elda & Curtis Reel.

A

A

Met my husband at a carnival which was interesting, I strolling.

B

Around to the carnival grounds, one night and few of us went together and I've noticed this cute little thing: walking up the Midway over there with a couple others so started talking and decided to take a few rides and one thing led to the other and.

A

Started, you know just seeing him occasionally, then we started dating and we ended up getting married and he had to go. He was in service, so he had to go to Korea and I stayed at home a lot.

B

Of interesting letters and about every day, every night, it was a letter going out or let her coming in and.

A

By that time, I had was pregnant and had a child home. He was gone. He.

B

Was born in April and in the files in Korea and I didn't return to from Korea till November, so he's about seven months old when I first saw him so that was quite enjoyable. I was.

A

A the neighborhood babysitter and finally, when we bought our house and moved the woodbridge I said: that's the end of that I'm, not being the neighborhood day to sit anymore well, what happens? I was lonely and bored and got into foster care and we've been foster parents every sense, since nineteen sixty-four one.

B

Day we got to call it try after we were still interested by the Department social service said. What's your so they said. Well, we have three children, three small ones. We need a place for and and.

A

I said: have you forgotten? We have three children, they.

B

Brought those out to us and that's what really got us started. Oh we.

A

Got we got more before those three left? I we were in place with an infant and it just kept. You know they kept happening. We've.

B

Had about 250 children to our home, we.

A

Have one to leave I, we bug them for another one. Well, you know I think that children don't have the problems when they walk into my house and they're in a heartbroken. You just have to be very compassionate understand, they're, not the reason they're there. It's been a family problem and you know we just work with them and let them know that we care and love them and will be always be there for me even after they leave if they need us. You know why the workers said that's one day.

A

If you are thinking about you know giving it up. Just let us know and I said I'm giving it up. That's our plans to take them as long as we camp.

B

It's just like the first child into a family that brings a wife and a husband Koecher, together the vote and after they're going to fall in love with that child they're, going to share their own love with that child, and it just cause you to grow closer together. I believe it's.

A

Been our life, my name is elder real. My name is Curtis real mine, Arlington, foster parent love them all.