As you can see from my signature I have four smilies side by side for one of my former placements. They were my first placement and a family placement. They were r/u over a year ago. Since then I have stayed a very close part of their lives, as I was before they came into my home. I have watched as their family situation has slowly deteriorated over time. I have voiced my concerns of their safety to Dfcs, but no one would listen.
While these children were in my home they were all doing very well in school had regained some of their self esteem and for the first time experienced the stability and security they deserved.
I have watched over past year as their grades have dropped, relapsing in bed wetting has occured, eating disorders have taken back over, drugs have entered the picture and insecurity has set back in.
About six months ago I agreed to watched the kids overnights, 3 nights a week, while mom worked. I would drop them back off to their dad on the weekends so he could spend some time with them. That only lasted a month and then mom found out how verbally abusive he was being and that the kids were scared of being hurt by him. So I started keeping the kids here with me while she worked. It has gotten to the point where they do not want to go back home. It is always can I stay one more night. I have to remind them that they do not live here. Well here I sit with them sleeping once again in my home.
I received a call around midnight that mom was checking herself back into the hospital overwhelmed and having suicidal thoughts(extensive history). How do I tell these children when they wake up that their mom is back in the hospital? How do I look in their eyes and break their hearts? How do I make sure they are kept safe and secure. I will have to call cps in a few hours. The last time she was hospitalized (about 4 months ago) they did nothing with the kids because she had left them with me in a safe environment. They can't continue like this they need services they need HELP!
I love these kids with all my heart I have since the day they were born. I don't want to break their hearts this morning and I have to. I want to see thier mom healthy and able to care for them and she can't. I want their dad to stop putting his drug use before his children and he wont. Please pray for these children and their family. They are going to need every prayer they can get.
I am going to wait until after their morning activities to tell them. If you have any advice on how to help us all get through this I welcome it. Thanks for listening.