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Click Here to see Crystal's television interview
Crystal is a friendly, polite girl who has good social skills. She seems to be overcoming a challenging start in life with a friendly, experienced foster family—with lots of nice pets and people to talk to. Her big active foster family has made a huge difference in her outlook in life. She enjoys her foster mom, dad, and grandma, several older grown up foster siblings and their young families, some teen aged foster brothers, and her four year old little foster sister—along with six cats and two dogs. She likes all kinds of active outdoor family fun, and “girly-fun”—doing hair and nails, and going shopping or out for errands. Her family says she is not usually a morning person, but at other times of day Crystal is good for lots of non-stop but charming conversation.
Crystal loves to be a part of all the family’s activities. She also is helping train the dogs and she keeps the cats and kittens company. She helps sweep or vacuum, and takes out the trash. She likes to help bake cookies. She wants to keep her littlest sister safe and happy and to help her learn to read. This summer she has enjoyed going to the zoo and going to a swimming pool and water park. She liked checking out all the zoo animals, and explaining all about them to her four year old foster sister. She also is helping teach her foster sister her letters, her shapes and colors, and a bit of reading by having her repeat words and letters. She holds her little foster sister’s hand in public places like the zoo—or in parking lots to keep her safe.
Crystal has some other thoughts about being around younger kids. She adds, “Watch what you say, and watch what you do,” because little kids will repeat your words and actions. Crystal says that she is careful to set a good example when she is around younger ones, and not to say words like “freakin” around them.
Crystal also likes teaching the family dogs to fetch, sit, stay, or heel. She uses either a piece of chicken or a pretzel stick as a reward to the dogs. She repeats the words, “Good boy!” to let them know they are doing the right trick or behavior. She imagines what it would be like to own a pet store someday, or work in one. She thinks that her dream pet store would be just fine with no snakes at all—only cats, dogs, and birds. Crystal is definitely not a fan of either snakes or spiders—“nothing creepy,” she says! Her foster brother teases her about snakes sometimes, so she is pretty sure about this point.
In school Crystal starts a specialized ninth grade program in the fall, getting special help in reading and language arts on her own level. Although her reading level is for “Junie B. Jones books,” –usually read in elementary schoo, she still enjoys reading them now. Reading is still her very favorite subject, even though reading and writing are more than a little challenging. Crystal has an improving attitude this year, realizing that she has a real talent for dog training and pet care, putting an emphasis on her own strengths. She also feels proud about things she has taught her little foster sister. Crystal says she used to be a bit of a picky eater, but not so much anymore. Her foster dad makes her fish tenders and fries, and now that she’s tried some new foods like that, she has become more adventurous at the dinner table. She loves to go to the Chinese buffet on special occasions, where there are new foods to try.
Crystal has had her share of ups and downs early in life, but now that she is growing up, she is finding ways to focus for longer periods of time on her interests and talents. A supportive, encouraging, relaxed family with the right balance of safety rules, opportunity, and family fun will be a good match for Crystal’s needs. If an adoptive family has friendly, furry pets that need some extra training or care—Crystal is ready and very able to help. She says she would love to help out sometimes with little ones, too. Is Crystal the daughter you have been planning for? Can you give her a helping hand? And, do you also love to chat? Crystal can be very good company. Please call today.
