Yes, I’ve been away for a bit – not really away-away, but silent. Not, however, because I had to be or even wanted to be; it’s just the strain of trying to be normal when our lives are so upside down.

Here are some recent examples of the lack of reality:

The state is concerned about my being supervised during visits with my son, yet unconcerned that he’s been overusing tanning beds. He looks rather orange.

The state believes my son is due for a dental checkup, which he is, but won’t take him to his own dentist because that office doesn’t accept Medicaid – even though we carry dental insurance.

The state is going against the court order, from March 23, for my son to be in therapy – they claim they haven’t found a therapist who accepts Medicaid, even though we carry health insurance which would cover this.

My son was finally taken to register for the GED – but instead of studying or prepping for the test, he spends his time watching TV when he isn’t working. He sleeps as late as he wishes, at last report about 10:30 a.m. or so. He has no chores, no responsibilities.

He was taken to get his driver license; fortunately, he didn’t pass, because the state has no clue how exactly to insure his potential driving. He needs a haircut, desperately, but that appears to be less important than driving.

He hasn’t been to church, or Sunday school, or youth group. The state does not see this as an issue, but I certainly do. If ever a kid needed religious instruction, this is the one.

And he’s missed so many other things:

Dinner out with his family, shopping trips, barbeques, Easter and Mothers’ Day, a visit from his sister, his niece’s birthday party, his stepbrother’s wedding. Not to mention a regular family life, all the day-to-day things.

All this, in exchange for sleeping late, watching TV, and doing whatever he wants.

This afternoon we’re supposed to have a meeting to discuss a “plan” for that old standby, “Family Reunification”. Fun.

Not sure who is going to be there, although I certainly will, and I presume the caseworker, the DJO, and my son. Possibly others. Perhaps I should bring duct tape?

I did speak with my attorney last night. He didn’t exactly suggest the duct tape, but….

In light of that so-called investigation and the report we received, it’s going to be awfully hard to be quiet. Webster’s defines “investigate” as “to observe or study by close examination and systematic inquiry”.

Observation – doesn’t that commonly mean to look at, or see, and to spend time doing so? I suppose the meaning of “time” could be subjective, as to how much time, quality time, and so forth, but really – five minutes or so spent talking with one individual and maybe 20 minutes total in the home? Is that really “observation”? Of course, the investigator – and yes, I use the term loosely -spent more time with my son. She’s on his side, after all.

Yes, folks, it’s true – the state is not concerned with families, only with the children who are allegedly abused. The state is not bothered at all in being fair or even accurate. They obviously wanna bust SOMEone and they don’t really care who it is, as long as it isn’t the kid.

The next part, “systematic inquiry”, was covered in an even more ludicrous fashion. There are things on that report that, gosh, even I didn’t know about, and they have to do with me! Things like I have a “hostile relationship” with my extended family. Funny, I can count upwards of thirty family members with whom I have an excellent relationship – and one with whom there is no relationship whatsoever and one which is rather strained at the moment. But no one asked me.

The report also says that we have no support system from church or school or other organization. I wasn’t asked, but I spend a lot of time with people from those institutions and I do a lot of volunteer work. Maybe that doesn’t count? Oh, wait – I wasn’t asked about this part.

I could go on and on – but shhh, it’s CONFIDENTIAL. In big, red letters, even. Like I give a flip. The state invaded my life, broadcasts its lies and outright fabricates stories to try to make the case. Why?

Ah, that is the question, indeed. I believe I mentioned, not too long ago, that it took a mere six days to reroute the child support I receive – straight into the coffers of a debt-ridden state. Yet it takes some parents months or years to get a court order for support, or a modification, let alone the time it often takes to collect and disburse that support. So, what do YOU think? Money, or “family reunification”?