Casey Watson and her husband are specialist foster carers in Great Britain, meaning that they get the most difficult to handle, hard to place children in the foster system. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? In Too Hurt to Stay, Watson tells the story of Spencer, an 8-year-old boy who, reportedly, came on his own to the social services office, seeking care. Other caregivers warned the Watsons about Spencer's behavior, but he seemed so cute and sweet, they were reluctant to believe the reports.
At first Spencer did seem sweet and polite, but it didn't take long for his behaviors to show. He began a pattern of serial theft from the Watsons, neighbors, and local businesses, bullying kids and animals, running away, and destructive vandalism. I'm sure the Watsons are wonderful people, and their patience with Spencer may qualify them for sainthood. But I cringed at their continual habit of shrugging off his behaviors, covering over the consequences, and too quickly reestablishing his freedoms so he could return to his offensive ways.
Watson's writing is entertaining and heartfelt. I couldn't help but admire her and be taken in, to a certain extent, by her endearment to Spencer. For a memoir of one family's experiences with a very difficult kid, Too Hurt to Stay is a decent read. But I was disappointed that she didn't offer more insight into the foster care system and the root causes of Spencer's awful behaviors.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic copy!
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