A birthday party for breakfast

[Cathy in IL]

I guess it is a good think we won't be doing schoolwork today. If I feed these guys cake and ice cream for breakfast, I don't think we will get much done.

I have been caring for two little girls for the past two weeks and today one is having her birthday. I have a cake and all the decorations. Then last night, I get a call saying they will likely go back home to their mother today. :confused: I don't think that will help the truth to come out when they interview the children. They will be too scared to speak now. But my opinion does not count in this situation :glare:. I hope that they are not expecting me to drive to that house and return the children. Seems to me that the caseworker ought to do that.

So, we are celebrating her birthday when she wakes up since she could well be gone by lunch. Hopefully she will at least have fun memories of the day to help her when times get harder again.

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

You rock! I think that's a perfect solution.

And as Bill Cosby said, cake is great for breakfast. You got your eggs, flour, milk -- it's practically a meal!

Hugs to the sweet girls. And to you. I know it's hard to let them go. Thank you again for all you do for the least of these.

[abbeyej]

Well, we're firm believers in birthday cake for breakfast (and, er, after lunch, and again after dinner!) on real birthdays in this house! :) Sounds like fun!!!

And on a more serious note, my heart breaks for these little girls (and for you). I can only imagine the horror of being forced to let them return to a situation like that. I'm so very, deeply sorry. I pray that the love and protection and safety and care you've given them during this brief time will provide them with an inner strength they might not have had otherwise -- and that their mother, without hurting them further, will show herself in some way to be unworthy of them (at least for now) so that the state can see it.

[strider]

My heart breaks when I think of those little girls. I pray that the truth will be known.

And you're darned right the caseworker needs to do the driving!:iagree:

Please let us know if they are returned home. I am so very sorry.

Thank you ever so much, Cathy, for providing a loving, safe place for these children. Thank you for advocating for them in a very hostile system. Thank you for choosing to live with heartbreak.

[Needleroozer]

Enjoy the cake! As always, I am holding you (and your brood) in my thoughts. Lots of hugs coming for you today.
:grouphug::grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:

[Cathy in IL]

DCFS came for the girls today. It was one of the most rotten things I have had to be a part of. The 4 year old started crying and said, "No, please don't make me go back. I don't want to go! I don't want to go!" She said she was scared. The two year old started acting out terribly as soon as I told her she was going back. She even got a butter knife from the kitchen and started cutting her baby doll and calling it a B---. She tried to cut my dd with the butter knife. She was just plain angry and irritable.

Then the CW came for them. The girls were crying and asking him not to take them back. I told him that the oldest was scared. He said, "We are not going to talk about that now." They were sobbing as he drove away, and the oldest was clutching a bag with party balloons, the party hats, and even the Dora tablecloth. What a way to have to celebrate her birthday.

I feel numb and empty and tired. I told the oldest that when she feels afraid and needs to be safe she should tell an adult. she said that the adults just tell her, "I don't care." That's just what I felt DCFS was saying to her today. I just hope they are aggressive enough with their family preservation plan that they keep these girls safe.

[Cathy in IL]

This mother is simply cruel. I just heard from the other woman in the house. Apparently when the kids came home, mom popped all her balloons and told her since she already had her party she didn't need a cake or anything. She threw away her shoes because she said they were ugly. The little girl was so proud of her light up shoes. She took the shirt off the other one and threw it out too. Why, oh why, can't she allow her kids to be happy?

[strider]

I am choked up thinking about those poor dear children.

I will keep praying for them Cathy.

I am praying for you now--you must feel just awful. (((Cathy)))

[melissel]

This mother is simply cruel. I just heard from the other woman in the house. Apparently when the kids came home, mom popped all her balloons and told her since she already had her party she didn't need a cake or anything. She threw away her shoes because she said they were ugly. The little girl was so proud of her light up shoes. She took the shirt off the other one and threw it out too. Why, oh why, can't she allow her kids to be happy?

Oh Cathy, that's one of the most awful things I've ever heard. I'm crying here. I don't know how you can stand it, I really don't. I'm so sorry, but thank you for being there for those little girls, even for a little while.

[abbeyej]

I told him that the oldest was scared. He said, "We are not going to talk about that now."

OMG, Cathy. The whole thing. It just makes me shake. I'm amazed you were able to restrain yourself from doing physical violence to the man in a misguided attempt to protect those two babies. (I mean, I *know* in my head it would be counterproductive in the worst way, but the primal reaction I feel in just *reading* your posts is so strong.)

I'm so, so sorry. You are strong and brave to get through this. And your bravery means that there is *someone* still there to listen to these girls, to advocate for them and others like them. Even if it feels like it tonight, it is not all in vain.

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

There are no words. Oh my.