I have a friend who is bi-polar and has
tried to commit suicide 4 times now. She
has a five year old daughter who I believe
is in danger. Her mother is always out of
money and making rash decisions leaving
her daughter with no food and no one to
watch her. Her father is trying to get
custody but it seems like all the courts
care about is whether or not the mother is
beating the child. I know for a fact that
this child is neglected. For instance,
she has cut her hair four times, while at
her mother's house, while her mom was
sleeping or out of it or not paying
attention. Now the child is acting out by
choking kids and disobeying.
Also, this mother has a learning
disability and the father suspects that
the child too has a learning disability
and wants to get her help...But her mother
is incredibly paranoid, does not believe
in doctors, and doesn't think her daugther
needs any help. This child has had
illnesses go unnoticed or untreated
because of the mother's disregaard for her
child's well-being.
This child has also been overdosed on
medications several times then not given
any medication on other occasions.
Her personality and behavior changes so
much that this child is confused but feels
she is responsible for taking care of her
mother and making her feel happy.
Do you feel this is fair to a young child
to have to deal with?
Her father only wants custody because he
is very worried about her safety and has
the means to take care of her where the
mother does not. He does not want the
mother to be removed from the child's life
but wants to have his daughter so he can
take care of her properly and make sure
she get's the help she needs.
Do you think it is safe for a five year
old to live in these conditions?
Does anyone have any advice for getting
custody of this child?
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Tracy Green
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 1 Location: Sauk Centre
Celadon = Custody Battle Posted: 04-24-04 21:51pm
The best thing to do is to make a call to
the social service when the child is being
neglected and when the social service
agency finds the child is neglected by the
mother, I am sure the father will then get
immediate custody.
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purple333
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 1420 Location: Sydney
Posted: 04-25-04 14:19pm
Aside from calling social services/child
welfare, the reality is that if a person
who is not directly involved (or is a
member of the mother's family!!) can give
evidence (perhaps photographic as well as
verbally stating what they have seen etc)
the authorities are more likely to act.
