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Since birth we have been fostering our neice. Both of the parents have a history of drug abuse and had a baby pass with "sids" (mother smothered it while co-sleeping and tested positive for drugs at that time) There is also a toddler that was taken away at that time but the parents were given the chance to get her back..after failing many drug tests and not completing the required classes they voluntarily gave up their rights on the toddler. (we have never met this toddler but would love to have her in our own home as well)
Our little princess did not test positive for drugs at birth bc the mother was in jail the last few months of her pregnancy. However, since birth princess has experienced several different medical problems which the doctors relate to the birth mother's drug abuse before and during pregnancy. Tho mother will DENY DENY DENY any drug usage while pregnant! But was arrested twice during pregnancy with drugs and paraphernalia in her possession. Everyone must carry pipes and drugs in their purses--that's normal RIGHT? ;-)
Princess has a few minor medical problems but some that are a little more serious:she has problems with sucking her bottles and pacifier; has only gained 2.5 lbs in 2 months; lower jaw is underdeveloped; deaf in one ear and has had seizures since birth! (she is just now starting meds for the seizures so we pray that it works)
Both parents are pending drug court dates. But the state has them to be RU'd even with their history. Being that we are relatives and close to the situation we know their exact history and lifestyles. We are trying to be supportive of the parents changing thier lives, obtaining jobs and finally getting a home for themselves after 2 years of being homeless. However, I find it nearly impossible to be support of them being reunited. I am beginning to hold ill feelings towards the mother for the lack of responsibility and/or concern that she lacked while carrying this beautiful little princess. To date, the only visits either parents have had is when we attend court date and nothing else has been done. Some of the family members feel we should encourage the reunification of the father but not of the mother. Now mind you, the father is NOT in jail at this time but does have that pending trial and just this week started a very low paying job and will have his wages garnished for 2 other kids he is suppose to be paying childsupport on. And he still doesn't have a permanent place to live either.Not that he doesn't love his children in his own way but even if he did have all of the above- he still hasn't expressed enough responsibility through his past with drugs and prior children to be reunified IN OUR OPINIONS! Not to mention with all of her medical needs it would be nearly impossible for a single man to miss so much work in order to attend appointments.
How can anyone feel they should be reunited? Am I wrong for praying that the princess stays with our family and we are allowed to give this baby the proper love, education, morals and tend to all of her medical needs? Our other children LOVE the princess and WANT her to forever be part of our immediate family.
laundry: :love: :grouphug:
MOTHER OF:
SD 18 yrs old :hissy:
BS 14 yrs old :disco:
BD 10 yrs old :cheer:
FD 2 mnth old:paci:
Even when they know that RU is not in the best interest of the child that most often seems to be the plan. CPS seems to want to see the bios fail before they will consider other options.
It doesn't sound likely, if things remain as they are, that the bios would be in any position to get this child back.
Love her and care for her and hope that the "powers" that be will see that she is right where she belongs.
You say some of the family things you should support RU with the father - but does he even want that? Does he feel like he is in any position to raise her?
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I am in the same situation. I have my nephew and it is VERY hard to be supportive of RU when you know the Bios history. I was very supportive in the beggining, but when I saw that she was still in denial about her addiction and even about why he was removed..I started to lose my resolve..now that she is using again, lost her job and is living with a random guy...I have lost just about all hope. They are now withholding visits due to her drug use and to see if that will kick start her back on teh right path.
I am terrible concerned that she will eventually get him back....who will kick start her back on the straight and narrow when she starts using then...
BD is just oo immature to care for a child fulltime.
I believe that CPS HAS to show that they TRIED for RU even in the most horribly obvious cases....Keep your head up...once the time frame has passed that they have to attempt RU, they will hopefully move for termination.
It is very hard doing relative placements......you look like the bad guy. I have lost several family members because they blame me for my sister losing her child...and blame me each time she gets caught by CPS doing somethign wrong or failing at her plan.
Both the bios think they have done nothing wrong and both want to be reunited. Mother is possibly looking at several years in jail but that doesnt mean she WILL get it. Jail isnt the best learned lesson on things like this but it does keep her (hopefully) drug free for a longer period of time and just MAYBE she will not fall back on it when she does get released. Dad seems to be doing well, passing his urine test but refused the hair test (we know why and so does the SW) This case isn't new to any of them so they are familiar with their old tricks.
It is only a few family members who want the father reunited. They are the exact ones who wanted US to get the baby in the first place. They gave us all the information we needed!! Before our involvement..with the past children..they are the ones that turned them in to CPS many many times and even tried to get custody of the toddler but was given to the mother's grandmother instead. SOMETHING ISNT RIGHT AND I'M SURE YOU ALL WILL AGREE WITH THIS.