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Hi all, sorry this is long.
FD has been with us almost three years. TPR was over a year ago and we are still hashing out the adoption details, but are close to getting that filed.
She has not seen either first parent in two years. Phone calls stopped about 18 months ago. They still send notes, and first father sent items (including a framed photo of himself) to her through my MIL (he is my BIL). When that happened, we made it clear that any contact must be direct to us, not proxies. He has respected that so far.
First mother seems to be fading away and is far out of state. First father recently moved into a long-term res. rehab within driving distance. He immediately wanted visitation, but ss said no (as would have I, if it had been up to me). Both still send occasional notes and I now send them a one-page quarterly update with photo and a CD of photos at the holidays.
When he was asking about calling or visits, I said that when it is our call, it will be a call based on fd's needs, not his wants, and that he will have to have shown us that he is ready...but I refused to say what that would look like, just that he ought to know what he needs to do when he has enough recovery.
Here's the thing: I feel fairly strongly that, even though fd says she has no conscious memory of most of the evil that went on, the impact on her has been enormous. I, the sw, and fd's former therapist are also fairly well convinced that there was more to the abuse than CPS brought to court. I would never, ever, leave this man alone with her or any other child. At 8, she is beginning to realize just how many issues she has that most other kids just don't have to deal with.
She has been as well educated as possible for her age by us and her therapist on addictions and mental illness and how they warp people's actions. And, everyone says children need contact from their first parents; affirmation of some kind of love from them (which he can give her); acceptance, if possible of their new position in a new family; negation of the mystery and phantom family--that sense of the reality of who and what they are--etc. I agree with all that.
But, is it unreasonable to insist that he (1) acknowledge to her the harm he did, (2) apologize, (3) try to make (some kind of meaningful) amends, and (4) come up with this on his own by having the character to think about what she must need from him now, not what he wants?
All his notes and letters are light-hearted, superficial chit-chats about the weather, old pets, etc. He TOTALLY ignores everything she has been through. NOTHING that acknowledges that anything has ever been out of the ordinary or happened. With us, he has never actually even asked about her physical, mental, or emotional well being. For the first time recently, I told him a little about some of her learning issues. He didn't respond to that at all, just focused back in on when could calls or visits start up again.
So is it asking too much to wait for him to come around and show some sign of being ready to deal with what he has done in his relationship with her? This family has a long pattern of ignoring the elephant in the room and just staying on a cheery, superficial level (until things blow apart, but then they go right back to status quo asap). I don't want that to repeat another generation. I don't know if he'll ever have that awareness, but I feel as if if I tell him what he needs to do, it won't really be him doing it, kwim? Or am I just rationalizing not re-opening the relationship?
First off...sorry about all the turmoil your lil girl had to go through. Second...Im sorta in the same situation. Only my lil girl is only 18months we have had her for over 13months. She was victim of alot of abuse both during pregnancy and in her first few months of life. Her bio-dad is my husbands nephew. TPR happened over a month ago, neither have called since first week of December and have not seen her in over 6mo. Both VERY violent, very heavy into drugs and alcohol. We are struggling with any type of contact. Although my lil princess does not know who her bio-parents are, and I pray that she has no memory or consequences of her abuse. I still wonder what the right thing to do is. Now I cant even begin to consider any type of visits. But I question if even letters and pics are what we should do. Neither bio-parent has really showed any interest in her...unless it was to deter us from adopting, they have not even requested a good-bye visit.
With your daugther being older Id say it would have to be in her best interest and it really does NOT seem like it is. One thing that our SW suggested was that if visits were agreed on, they would take place in front of a therapist whom could decide if the visits were going to hinder the child, and if they were visits would be terminated! I feel like its so hard when dealing with family, especially when the child they hurt...is the child that you love so much. Its hard to see any reason they need to be part of the childs life. I pray that you find the answers that you are searching for!
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Hadley2
But, is it unreasonable to insist that he (1) acknowledge to her the harm he did, (2) apologize, (3) try to make (some kind of meaningful) amends, and (4) come up with this on his own by having the character to think about what she must need from him now, not what he wants?
Actually what you are referring to in the above paragraph is right out of the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous... (just substitute "narcotics" for "alcohol" in Step 1 of the following passage).
The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
If your BIL in currently in a residential rehabilitation program, he most likely is being exposed to either AA or NA. And if he's serious about staying clean and sober, he should continue going to these meetings after he's discharged. Most AA sponsors suggest that newcomers attend a daily meeting every day for 90 days. During this time period, he should get a sponsor, start working the steps, and do what his sponsor suggests. After several months of meetings, a lot of people in recovery can cut back to several meetings a week.
Maintaining sobriety is a lot different than just simply not using drugs or alcohol. A lot of drunks and addicts can stop using their drug of choice all on their own, but many of them become what is known as "dry drunks" or addicts, meaning that much of the maladaptive and negative behavior seen during active alcoholism or addiction is still present in the individual. Working the 12 steps of the program teaches them a whole new way of life.
IMHO, your daughter's bdad probably won't be able to stay clean and sober on a long-term basis unless he deals with the damage he's inflicted on her, as well as on other family members. But he's probably not going to be ready for this step of making amends for a while longer, at least not in a meaningful manner. Before he can acknowledge to your daughter that he harmed her and before he can make any amends to her, he is going to have to acknowledge to himself exactly what it was he did...and that is what may take some time. (That's one of the reasons it's so important for people who join 12-step programs to get a sponsor ~ the sponsor kind of gauges how far to push someone in working these steps.)
I hope this makes some sense to you. I don't think that I've done a very good job here of explaining what I'm trying to say. I do agree with you that your BIL needs to take responsibility for the damage he's inflicted in the past, especially if there is going to be any degree of openness in the relationship. I would also go with your "gut" feeling about not leaving him alone with her. Those type of instincts are really important and shouldn't be ignored, IMO. Good luck, and I'll keep you in my prayers.
Thanks, Raven, yes, I am fairly familiar with AA--I was an Al-Anon family member for about six years and still do readings, etc.,...my feelings was just that direct contact (calls, face-to-face) needs to be led into by some kind of at least opening talk about the reality of what happened in their lives and some kind of evidence with regard to fd's needs that he is in real recovery, not just dry. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't fully consciously aware of everything that did happen--blackouts were frequent. Anyway, if I'm reading you right, you agree...thank you.
Just wanted to say we have been through something similar.
Our boys first dad was abusive, neglectful etc. When we finally got direct contact with him (4 or more years ago when boys were 9 and 8, adopted at 3 and 4) at first initial contact was with us. Then he started writing letters addressed to the boys directly (of course, written to me to pass on to them as I saw fit).
He has #1) taken full responsibility for what he did #2) apoligized over and over again. #3) offerred some sort of explanation for his behavior that wasnt excuse oriented, but did show that he loved them, tried his best, but his best was not good enough and lots of that was based on his own childhood. #4) is supportive of their position in our family
He actually did this to the point that I had to write him and say "ok, we understand you are sorry, NOW MOVE ON PLEASE" :) I would love letters that were chit chatty -- now all he wants to do is beg them to love him again and how sorry he is.
Anyways, I think there is NO problem with you having those boundaries.
Thank you, Jens. If he is just not capable, we'll think about maybe trying to guide him into it, but for awhile, anyway, I'd like to see it come from him....
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