Hi,

Are you in Australia?

My partner and have put in an application for interim custody of my 2 year old grandaughter who lives with us (see the post is my son a narcissist?) Her mother left 5 months ago and we haven't heard from her and my son has a substance problem and has a personlity disorder and the Anglicare Family Services say that he is unfit to be her carer.  They asked us to take her home and care for her. The nightmare continues for us, and we are very nervous of the outcome for this gorgeous little girl. We have also had to borrow A$20,000 in anticipation of legal fees. Our lawyer said it can run to $30,000 or more and we hope it doesn't.

If my son contests our application, then he gets free legal aide while we pay to keep his daughter safe from him! Can you believe that? He was quite happy to just have 2 - 3 weekly visitations until he lost his nearly A$900 a fortnight in parenting payments. The hell started then because he demanded HIS daughter back! Due to his personality problems and his drug abuse, he is unable to remember that he doesn't cope with looking after her.

I don't understand the US foster system, but it's apparently lousy here in Australia and kids can be put into care even when there are caring relatives who are prepared to look after them. That scares us more than anything and you can see why people dissappear with children. I think if my grandaughter was in this situation, I would do anything to protect her from that.. We are relying heavily on our laywer and are trying to take this one da at a time.

 

Goosie