That is how I feel today. I'm frustrated, confused and just plain grrrrrrr. I don't get the court systems. I've never had to deal with the court system until now and I'm not liking what I'm seeing. The only times I've been in court was when I was hit by a drunk driver many moons ago and just last year to adopt our newest blessing. Now I'm sitting in court sessions with my niece who just doesn't get it. *I* don't get it either!!!
My niece is in trouble. I've now been to 2 of her court sessions and I think I can see why she believes that the court will not take away her children. As far as I'm concerned all they are doing is giving her a slap on the hand until the next court date. Last court I was at the judge said "if you do drugs we are going to take away your children. stay off drugs!". How hard is that to understand?!?! Yesterday we went back to court with her. Well the states attn. served her with an Indirect Criminal Contempt. She then pleaded guilty to the charge and they gave her 180 days in jail. BUT~! Since she is on a waiting list to get into inpatient rehab, she doesn't have to serve this! The judge then says if you fail your drops or don't go into rehab you will go to jail to finish out the rest of your preg. Sigh.......... what happened with the last statement at the last court date? This is why she feels the system won't take her children. *I* now believe they won't take them. Also in court where was the children's GAL??? She wasn't present in court either.
What gets me so mad is if this court is set up to get families back to together then what are they trying to accomplish here? Dad of 2 of the children is sitting in prison for 6yrs for drugs. Now Mom is doing drugs again and where does this leave the children?? With us. The only reason why the system doesn't have her children is due to the fact they are with us. If she had them then they would of been put in foster care. Now if they were in foster care, how many homes would they have been in by now? We've had them since Nov 7th. A foster home doesn't always guarantee they will stay in that home the entire time that Mom/Dad are dealing with issues. I can see why we have so many messed up children and families!!!
I've heard the saying of families first. Let's get families back together. But when does a time come when that is not just going to be an option?? How long do we have to drag this out before we realize this isn't going to work? As in the parents are not changing!! We are dealing with 2 parents who have/had drug habits and at this point I don't see an end in sight. When are the children put first? Why doesn't the court ask about the children and how they are doing??? Children NEED to be with parents who can provide for them in many ways. When will the system finally figure it out that the parents are not going to get there to do that?!?!
Man I feel like a failure at times. I want to foster children but I'm not sure I'm up for this game playing. Where do I play in this game? When am I allowed to voice my opinion?
Sigh................
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