Family Frustration

(Still catching up...)

I just learned that my 71-year old parents have been asked by the state of Texas to care for two little girls, ages 8 years and 18 months old, since their parents, distant cousins, are completely unfit (drugs, alcohol, and suspected neglect) to care for them. I am angry that anyone, even distant kin would be so selfish as to treat these little girls, whom I have not met, like this, and that the only responsible family members are my parents, the girls' great-great uncle and aunt.

The family had agitated to have the eight-year-old diagnosed as ADHD and therefore medicated. They told her that she was "bad" and that the medicine would help her be "good." My parents took her to a doctor for the diagnosis as mandated by the State, and the interviewed her, then asked my father, "why is she here?" "I don't really know," my dad replied. The whole time she has been in my parents' care she has not exhibited any of the signs of ADHD, which has prompted my wife to observe that this little girl doesn't have Attention Deficit Disorder, but a deficit of attention.

It has simply broken my heart to see children suffer because the parents are so irresponsible. I just hope that my parents can make a difference for them.