Shock and Heartbreak

I am sitting here at 4:21 am and I am still in shock and my heart is still broken for children I don't even know other than their names.

Some of you may recall entry that I posted a little while back regarding the neighbor across the street who was ugly to my mother in law while she was visiting my house...I wrote her an ugly note asking her to not yell at any of my visitors...etc. Well, her children were taken by the Department of Family and Children Services late last night.

Jamey and I noticed that the Sheriff's Department deputies have been over there quite frequently lately and one neighbor was told that the mom was the one who was constantly calling them over to help her discipline her children. The neighbor was also told that they repeatedly told her that they were not responsible for disciplining her children...they would make their reports and leave. Then we were told that she had been arrested and had lost her license. Over the past few days we have seen a steady stream of visitors some looking like case workers...clip boards in hand. Come to find out the visitors before yesterday were from the children's school(s). The gentleman who came over yesterday was the social services case manager.

We noticed he stayed for several hours yesterday and we would keep peeking out the window well into the evening and still saw his car parked on the street. Around 8:30 last night our doorbell rang and it was the case manager. He had come to ask us some questions regarding what we have witnessed across the street. Our slight reluctance to get involved disappeared very quickly because the mother's behavior has disturbed me for quite some time. I noticed more since I haven't been working.

We told him about the yelling, her cussing directly at her children and neighbors, her middle son always jumping out of the car at the stop sign and running home or her leaving her middle son forcing him to chase her car down the road, her erratic behavior, the bus driver being forced to wait in the afternoons for her to get home to let the smaller children off the bus and so on. I also told him that I am actually somewhat afraid of her especially since he was getting a statement from us.

Within our conversation with the case manager he told us of the living conditions within the home and it was heartbreaking to hear. We knew she was erratic and mean but honestly we had no idea what the conditions were in her house. The ONLY furniture in the house was a couch and a table....no chairs at all. NO BEDS for anyone!!!!!! There was NO FOOD in the house!!!!! Most of the interior doors and all the flooring had been removed leaving only plywood through the whole house.

He said he was totally shocked. So were we!!!! The house is a very big, very nice house on the outside. It was listed for about 20,000 more than what we paid for ours. You NEVER know what is going on next door!!!!

I am so heartbroken for those kids!!!! I am not sorry they were removed from such terrible/unimaginable conditions but I am sorry for the fear, hurt and confusion they must be feeling. We saw them get taken away. I am hoping it was by a foster family and they were fed and tucked into an actual bed last night.

I feel that I could have done something! I should have known! I should have taken food over there or talked to the oldest child and asked questions, SOMETHING!!!! Several of the neighbors got together last week and all agreed that DFCS should be called. But honestly, I thought the most that would be discovered would be that she needed anger management counseling and/or physiological help...maybe medication to calm her erratic behavior. I had no idea what was really going on just across the street.

According to the case manager she was told that he was going to speak to several neighbors.
When speaking with us he did assure us that our statements would be kept confidential. He had already made the decision to take the children prior to speaking with us but she may not know that and I am very afraid she may want revenge.

I am more than a little frightened that she may try to do something to us or our home. I am picturing anything from cussing me out every chance she gets in the yard with my kids within earshot to torching our house. If she really is mentally ill she may twist things around in her mind to blame us for her losing her children and I don't know what she may do. If her behavior up to this point is any indication we have cause to be worried. I told Jamey that next week I am going to load the kids and my dog up and stay at my mom's during the day to avoid her while he isn't here.

I did mention to the case manager that I am afraid of her and he told us that if she harasses us at all to call the police and to call him day or night....immediately!!!!!

I would like to ask everyone who reads this to pray for the kids involved. Pray that they adjust to their new living conditions and that they feel safe, welcome and loved. Also pray that the mother gets the help that she needs and that she realizes that none of this is anyone else's fault. (If you have time in your prayer please pray that she doesn't seek revenge on any of the neighbors.)

Have a great Saturday everyone. Hug your kids tight and continue to keep them safe, fed, protected and adored...not all kids are as lucky as ours today!