T
TeDo
Guest
I've mentioned briefly before about difficult child 1 being friends with kids in the neighborhood, specifically this one family with 6 kids and lots of mental health diagnosis's (ADHD, Bipolar, Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)). Well, the kids have been gone for a couple weeks now because their parents have been brought up on charges (not sure what they are) for too many medical appointments for the kids. I knew they had pulled 4 of the 6 kids out of school (they've each tried 3 or 4 different ones) and were being homeschooled since April. One of the boys broke his leg and then rebroke it shortly after the cast came off (was on the trampoline with other kids and difficult child 1 landed on it when another kid pushed him). Looks like he might need surgery, according to mom who has taken him to many specialists. 4 of the kids have ADHD, one of which is also bipolar, and a different one has Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). I knew mom was gone a lot with various kids for doctor appts but never thought much of it...I mean 6 kids with issues. She is also the mom that got me questioning if difficult child 1 could be bipolar (her "observation") and recommended a psychiatrist 2.5 hours away who is "terrific".
Anyway, I got an update from a mutual friend. Seems the mom is suspected of Munchausen by Proxy and the kids have been sent to stay with their Grandma 2.5 hours away. Mom is to have no contact with the kids for 2 weeks to 6 months (details are fuzzy). difficult child 1 is hearing the kids' side which is that their mom only takes them to the doctor when she has a good reason. Personally, I have thought for awhile that something was "off" about this woman and the dad goes along with whatever she says. I would never have thought of Munchausen but she is definitely somewhat grandiose.
Add to this whole saga, those parents are "foster parenting" a kid difficult child 1's age (another friend of difficult child 1's). It is a private arrangement between them and the boy's mom. J's mom moved her family (J, his 2 sisters and 1 brother) here from California to marry a man she met online. Their father accidentally shot himself not too long ago while cleaning his gun when drunk (according to J). Brother now has his own apartment, girls live with mom and husband, and J is living with this couple that have just temporarily lost custody of their own children. Now, J's mom is planning on taking the girls to Colorado because husband's medications are causing him to abuse her and she's afraid of what he'll do to the girls. She wants them somewhere safe when she tells him she wants a divorce. No clue what her plans (of there are any) are for J.
How's that for small town drama (nothing this exciting has happened in a loooooong time). I do wonder how to explain things to difficult child 1 when he gets "on his soapbox" about what's "happening TO" his friends. He really doesn't understand the reality of what is going on and what the repercussions might me. I have no idea what to tell him, when to tell him anything, and how to explain it. He really is gullible to what they all tell him and I don't know that he would believe me anyway.
Anyway, I got an update from a mutual friend. Seems the mom is suspected of Munchausen by Proxy and the kids have been sent to stay with their Grandma 2.5 hours away. Mom is to have no contact with the kids for 2 weeks to 6 months (details are fuzzy). difficult child 1 is hearing the kids' side which is that their mom only takes them to the doctor when she has a good reason. Personally, I have thought for awhile that something was "off" about this woman and the dad goes along with whatever she says. I would never have thought of Munchausen but she is definitely somewhat grandiose.
Add to this whole saga, those parents are "foster parenting" a kid difficult child 1's age (another friend of difficult child 1's). It is a private arrangement between them and the boy's mom. J's mom moved her family (J, his 2 sisters and 1 brother) here from California to marry a man she met online. Their father accidentally shot himself not too long ago while cleaning his gun when drunk (according to J). Brother now has his own apartment, girls live with mom and husband, and J is living with this couple that have just temporarily lost custody of their own children. Now, J's mom is planning on taking the girls to Colorado because husband's medications are causing him to abuse her and she's afraid of what he'll do to the girls. She wants them somewhere safe when she tells him she wants a divorce. No clue what her plans (of there are any) are for J.
How's that for small town drama (nothing this exciting has happened in a loooooong time). I do wonder how to explain things to difficult child 1 when he gets "on his soapbox" about what's "happening TO" his friends. He really doesn't understand the reality of what is going on and what the repercussions might me. I have no idea what to tell him, when to tell him anything, and how to explain it. He really is gullible to what they all tell him and I don't know that he would believe me anyway.