Being My Daughters' Voice and a Squeaky Wheel
“You know just because the majority thinks something is right, doesn’t make it right. So, that is up to us, the people that see the wrong, that see the injustice, that stay educated, stay informed, stay involved. And there’s an old phrase ‘the squeaky wheel, gets the oil.’ Right now, our wheels aren’t very squeaky; the other side, they’re the ones making all the racket...We just have to get up, stand up, speak out, and don’t be silent.” - Otep ShamayaI needed a good quote about "squeaky wheels" because that is going to be my title this week.I relayed Saturday's pool incident to my daughter's therapist on Saturday night who recommended that I contact Child Welfare Services immediatly. I did as instructed and was told that the couldn't take a report because the situation was over and the children were safe. They said that I could call in on Monday morning to speak to someone and possibly make a report.
This morning (Monday), I called Child Welfare Services at 8am. Do I think that they will be competent and help us: No. I understand the reality- the system is flawed all the way around. I want this issue documented and I will continue to "squeak" until someone helps us.
I emailed the attorney who represents my daughters and I also emailed my X's attorney. I relayed the near drowning incident and this is a snippet of what I wrote, "What will it take for someone to protect my daughters? I would love for one of you to tell me the answer to that because I am so angry with this system that seems to continually put my daughter's lives in jeopardy". I have not received a response as of yet.
I then emailed my X mother-in-law and let her know that if something happens to my daughters, that I will hold her equally responsible since she chooses to live in denial and defend her son rather than choosing to keep her granddaughters safe.
If something isn't done this week, I will probably be turning to my local media sources for assistance. I refuse to sit back and wait for something tragic to happen to my daughters. I feel that a tragedy is the only thing that will cause the courts and Child Welfare Services to finally act in my daughters' best interest.Side note: On Saturday night, my X admitted in a series of text messages that there was a "scare" and that the girls would be in life jackets 100% of the time from now on. The girls stated they didn't want to go in the pool at all on Sunday. He agreed to that. Then, he began sending me text messages of my daughters happily playing in the pool on Sunday WITHOUT life jackets and to let me know that they are "fine" and that I am "over reacting".[wp_ad_camp_1]