I am the grandmother of 3 children belonging to my daughter. She is in an abusive relationship in which the father of the 1 year old baby (but not the other two children who are 10 and 8 years old) is regularly and frequently strangling, punching, hitting and bashing up against a wall (in the words of her 10 year old son), my daughter.
I visit as often as I can from overseas and on this visit my grandson an granddaughter have confided that they are afraid for themselves and for their mothers life. They are scared he will kill their mom. Also they have heard him threaten their lives to her...saying 'she could find them with their heads blown off' (again the words of the children).
My grandson said my daughter's partner hits him in the chest, in front of his mother and she does nothing...and he says this man threatens to 'hit him hard' regularly. My grandson has seen this man 'cutting white powder on the table, with a sharp knife'.
My grandson says that their mom has told them not to tell anyone that she gets hit and of things that go on in the home because they will be taken away and have to go into a foster home. The children told me that they dont know what to do, cos they know she doesnt want them to talk about it, but they are afraid for her life.
Both children have reported seeing a gun on the floor in the home...and in the drawer in the kitchen (assuming it is the same gun)...then my daughter was arrested for possession of a loaded weapon and concealment of the weapon and also for a warrent for a DUI. She was later let off on the charges relating to the weapon but while she was in jail, her children were in my care and when they confided in me, and knowing that I do not have residency in this country and cannot be here to advocate for these children on an ongoing basis, I made the difficult decision to take them to Children's Protective Services.
They are in a receiving home now....and I can only see them for an hour a day. Their mom is in court next week and although she has just spent 4 days in jail, as far as I know she has not had a change of thinking and is of course not getting out of this relationship and is wanting her children back.
The family of the man who abuses my daughter and is the father of the baby, is outraged that the 10 year old has made these 'false accusations'.
CPS has a long and complicated process and I keep getting told how it is going to work and then it does not work like that and someone else in CPS says that the other person has told me the wrong thing.
I feel that when the children were interviewed and the social worker wrote down what she perceived the children to be saying...I believe that if that is now a legal document that I should have been allowed to read what she wrote and verify that what she wrote is indeed what the children said.
It is difficult to get children to speak of these things anyway... and now they are in a position of being interviewed at any time by complete strangers in CPS without me even being notified or a responsible adult present to witness and be there for the children.
I feel that the children are now more vulnerable and that if they are handed back to their mother next week that they are in more danger than ever.
For one thing, everyone is upset with the 10 year old for talking.
I am almost certain my access to the chidren will be denied after this as I was the one who took them to CPS.
I want proper legal advice today (Friday) and cant find an attorney who will see me today and it needs to be today because the court hearing is Monday...this hearing will decide if the county believes the children or the mother.
Can anyone help me. I feel my grandchildren have been through enough and that even though what is happening is not ideal (and my lack of residency here may prevent me from being awarded any kind of custody)...I feel it is safer and better than the if the children live in fear and danger in their own home. I am so sad for my daughter, but she is choosing this man over the safety of the kids, not to mention their peace of mind and self-esteem.