|
Birthmother is still MIA and doesn't know she even has a case plan much less working one. She has active warrants out for her arrest so she is laying low. She lost custody to the first three of her children due to the same issues with the ones I have now...drug use and leaving them with any warm body she comes across for extended periods. They were not adopted by family members.
The birthmom is very young and has already permanently lost custody to three children, is on tract to lose custody of the twins I have and their slightly older brother who is in the care of either his birthfather or his family (CPS not involved). Multiple members of her family have lost permanent custody of children and the state doesn't consider any one of them as viable placements. The aunt that has come forward for the twins lives in another state (VT), so hopefully that branch of the family hasn't fallen prey to the evils of meth, etc. I don't know why she wasn't located before so the siblings could have remained with family as well. Since she is a foster parent who has very recently adopted herself, I am confident the girls would be raised in a positive environment as long as they limit contact with the family members who are involved with drugs (a large portion of the immediate family).
I followed each of the pp stories and am very happy things have worked out for each of you. I told myself as I read your posts that should I face a similar situation I would not needlessly fight it. If I wholeheartedly believed their great-aunt's home out of state would remain a positive environment throughout their lives, their moving would be much easier. Of course, I know nothing about her - only the mulitude of family members I've located while trying to fill out the girls' family tree. It's amazing what all you can find on the internet - especially MySpace. Their birthmother apparently caught on and has since set her page to private, but not before I was able to save pictures from the day they were born. I just have to remember that simply because a majority of their family has had brushes with the law, it does not mean this particular aunt has. She may the one person in the whole group who has her stuff together and if so, I commend her for taking on foster children in addition to her extended family's problems.
I'm not going to pitch a fit and beg that the girls get to stay here with me. I would love to have the opportunity to add my own family to their lengthy tree, but if it isn't meant to be, I will definitely work with the great-aunt in transitioning them to join her. I am very thankful that due to a change in jobs I was able to spend every minute of every day with them since they were placed here. Unfortunately, that has come to an end as I will be returning to work next week. I thought having to enroll them in daycare was hard, but that is nothing compared to the possibility letting them go forever when I feel like these truly are my babies.
Thanks for your replies and encouragement.
|