Perpetual Ruminations

Blindsided

Some years back we adopted two grandchildren out of foster care. They ended up there as a result of abuse and neglect at the hands of some relatives who are also related to my wife (her first husband and their daughter)

This made things very difficult because the children could not have contact with their mother, aunts, uncles, and grandpa as a result of the abuse and the likely hood of being abducted. (This was all explained to us when we started this ordeal, along with facts to support it all)

There's a lot more involved, but I want to keep this short. The younger child was always a mommy's girl and really misses her. A few years back, she tried to run away, but there was no evidence found that she was trying to get to her mom. Whomever she was in contact with, we never learned.

However, after the police located her, and attempted to bring her home, she realized she was in a lot of trouble. She had stolen my billfold and spent over $500.00 before being located. To avoid getting in trouble, she claimed that she was being abused in our home. This resulted in her being placed in protective custody and almost ripped our family apart. In time the investigation revealed no evidence and with the older child insisting that it was a wonderful loving home, the younger child was allowed to return home.

The older daughter is now 18 and can have contact with the family she was not able to see. A few weeks ago, she went to visit her mom, and after the visit moved out. Over that week, she not only continued to visit with her mom, but also with her uncle and her grandpa who had abused her, her sister, and her brother. She also posted pictures with these people at the school both of them attend.

We're sure the younger child saw them but do not know if they made contact with her. However, everything was going fine until last Wednesday when both children filed abuse charges against us, again. The older child is 18 and staying with her boyfriend's family and the younger child is being held in protective services again. Through my sister-in-law, we have learned that the children's mom and her grandpa may be involved, but there's no proof.

In about ten days, we go to court to see what's going to happen. As of now, no one has been charged or arrested, there is no proof of any abuse, and it's our word against the children. In ten days we will go to court again, and now we are waiting for the paperwork to arrive, file and see if we qualify for legal assistance, or if we need to hire an attorney. This is what I get for giving this child a second chance and letting her come back into the home after the last time.

I really need to write this out and try and get my stress down to a safer level. The next ten days will be hell, and we will need to spend time talking with the attorney. It also means my wife will be missing more work (she was laid off for the month of April, so money is tight).

Everything was going so nicely; so nicely I didn't see anything coming and got blindsided.