Mom is against any thing I suggest-child is very unhappy-constant verbal/mental abuse-I live 1500 miles away-what legal remedies do I have?
135463
Get a lawyer. I believe a chid can decide which parent he/she wants to live with at the age of 13. Call an attorney and get a free consultation. Don't let this child live in an abusive household.
602933
I can understand what you are going through. The first call I made was the day my granddaughter was born. My daughter was using drugs and leaving the baby with whoever would take her for days at a time. Everytime I called to report her, I was told that they would have to catch her in the act. Even though she had been caught in the act on more than one occasion, the baby was not taken from her until she was ten months old. That was almost six months ago and now I'm fighting the foster care agency and child welfare. There are times that I wished I had never made those calls because now my grand baby is worse off than she was with her mother. She's been moved ten times in five months and has developed a fear of men. \n\nNot being a blood relative, there is little you can do legally but you can be supportive of your boyfriend.  He will need an attorney to get through this tough time. Perhaps you can suggest to the daughter that the two of you would be willing to keep the children until she is in a better position. I found out the hard way that attacking my daughter for her abusive behavior made matters worse. I finally accepted her the way she was and she slowly started to see that what she was doing was harmful. We are now working together to get the baby placed in my home and our relationship has blossomed.\n\nThere are many resources online that may help you. Try a search on kinship care and grandparent's rights in your area. I wish you all the best.
673549
I'll go out on a limb and presume that your son is already medicated.  He needs therapy NOW.  If you have health insurance, contact them to find out who they contract with to  handle mental health needs.  Then contact that organization and get your son scheduled with a child psychologist who specializes in Bi-polar kids and you'll need a psychiatrist as well to prescribe for him.  If he is currently medicated, he may need a change in dosage or even in medication.  In the meantime, if it's at all possible, designate one room in your home as the "safe" room.  Remove all objects that could injure or be picked up and thrown.  Your son obviously cannot have his way all the time.  So when this happens, get him into the "safe" room and use yourself as a human straight jacket -- come from behind him, get him down onto the carpet and grab his wrists and cross his arms with your own.  Use your legs to immobilize his, if you are able.  If there is a father in the house, this will be easier for him to do.  Keep your son immobilized.  He will scream, he will yell, he may even curse.  Ignore all this.  Keep up a steady stream of soothing words in a low voice.  Continue doing this and he will eventually refocus and be able to calm himself.  This is tiring for parents but it works.  Good luck.\n\nOkay, I'm seeing that your 7-yr-old also has a behavior problem, which prompts me to ask has your 11-yr-old actually been screened for and diagnosed with Bi-polar or did you decide this?  And there is no father in the house.  However, your kids, both of them, and you need family therapy ASAP.   I now believe this is a parenting and behavioral problem rather than a psychological/medical one.  It may be a result of the divorce.
241924
Well you need all the help you can get, for the child's sake. Go down to local legal services and ask for help.
597116
First of all you don't mention your age but one must assume that you are over 18 at least. Is this child from him or from another man? Don't bother with a restraining order because they are only as good a the law enforcement in your town. There have been a number of women killed by boyfriends after they have a restraining order placed. Take No. 2's advise. Get the heck out of Dodge or where ever you live and do it quick. Don't let anyone know where you are that can tell HIM! It is for your safty as well as that of your daughter. The man is a psyciopath and you should make a report to the local police before you leave. It is a crime to threaten someone else with bodily injury. Not to mention that he has said that he will will have your daughter KILLED. At least the law enforcement will be on the look out. Once you have moved away use your mothers maiden name because you can do that legaly. Don't list your phone number either. Just initials and no address. If it were me I'd move to a different state. I would put as much distence between him and me as I could. It may be hard at first but you will be alive and well. If you stay it may take him months to do what he says he is going to do but trust me he will eventually do it and then it will be too late. Men that talk that way usually do so to intimidate, but then they need more power over you and they start to do things physicaly to the people they say they will hurt. Talk to the law or the DA in your town and they may be able to give you more advise. No matter weather you take my advise or theirs PLEASE take your own advise and get out of there. Hope this helps and may God watch over you and your daughter. Be Safe If you need to talk to someone email me at Whilemom47@yahoo.com
548963
Get a lawyer - it's your only hope.  And why did you send your child away?  And it's up to his guardians (father and step-mom) to decide who best to be able to contact the child.  Did you do something to upset them this much?  Or to the child?  Seems to me like there's info here that's missing.  If it's due to you not being able to afford to keep him home, you should have tried harder.  I have 2 children, and never would I ever consider sending them away, to their father's or anywhere else in this world.  I have worked 2 jobs for 10 years to make a life for them, and I spend as much time with them as possible.
112200
You really NEED to call DCFS.  You both are hurting her by allowing this to continue. Call as soon as possible. The mother deserves to be arrested.
565631
I know exactly what you're talking about.  My mother and I got custody of my nephew after my sister screwed up.  He was taken from her, we had a choice: foster home or with us.  I think its completely ridiculous to not put your child with family, that's her support system.  You can talk with the social worker.  Most social service departments (Department of Children and Families, Child Protective Services, Department of Children Society, etc.)  their goal is reunification with the natural birth mother.  We wanted to help my sister get him back until she started abusing drugs and alcohol again and married an abusive and violent piece of crap.  Now we are struggling to keep him far from that, and they are pushing for him to go back, even after her 3 DUI's and domestic violence charges in the last 3 years.  Every state is different, but hopefully someone at CPS can help you and you can start on the road to recovery and 'prove' yourself and follow the case plan.  Unless they terminate your parental rights, you always have the right to petition the court for replacement.  I wish you the best of luck!!!
51648
call the child services and report kiddnapp. grandma do have rights, but the child has no voice or choice. You must report this before he leves country. In Calfornia there is lots of help, especialy, free-legal aide. But if YOU DO NOT WANT TO CAUSE PROBLEMS, then you really do not want this child back. Their always help for children, step up and take action.
232048
film it!!!!! and call the cops.  if they won't/can't do anything, then take the film to court and get a restraining order.  then next time she does it you can call the cops and they will HAVE to do something about it.  she's apparently unbalanced so document everything!  if you can't film it, you could just tape her using a tape recorder as well, in some states it's actually still illegal to swear in front of children (they are old laws but some states never took them off the books).  and you can get a restraining order without taping anything if you want to, but film will make everyone stand up and take notice.  good luck with the psycho.
199332
Call CPS and ask for custody... the only way to help them is remove them from the household.
512949
document everything. if the kids come to your house with bruises. take them to the hospital, and take pictures. get your county's children services involved. They have a lot of power and can remove the child immediatly. get an attorney.\n my wife and i are going throght the same thing with our grandchildren, my wife's 24 year old daughter is borderline retarded, and diagnosed shizophrenic and bipolar. the four year old grandaughter was taken from her right after she was born, it was easier since there was no father involved. now there us a 9 month old boy we are battling in the courts over now.\n good luck
495683
Oh Kirk - you need to get out of there as soon as you can.  You deserve better.  There is help and support out there. No one has the right to treat you like that.  Are there any agencies you could contact ? And please contact your mom or another close relative or someone you feel you can trust.  I guess you much feel totally alone and scared and adults have not exactly been a source of trust for you.  Believe me you need to get out.  I wish I could help  I truly do.  I am in Scotland.  I am not surprised that you feel so bad about your life.  IT IS NOT your fault please believe that.  Contact someone and get yourself to safety.
569491
File a police report and get a lawyer.  Take your butt down to the police station, they probably take a statement and then send you to social services.  Social services should be able to advise you further on that situation.  If the health and well-being of your kids is at stake, then go take care of things.  If you let this scare you and don't take steps to solve this now, the State can step in later down the road and just take the kids.
215879
Please contact your local women's shelter. They usually have toll free hot lines as well. You need to get out now for you self and especially for your daughter. I was once trapped or so I thought. I have survived on my own and I am better for it, and so are my sons.
568805
You need an attorney. You need someone who will look out for the needs of this child on a legal level. Ask for a legal child advocate, or what ever they call it where you are. There should be no way that an abusive parent, especially with no legal channels pursued for the crime, to force the child back with the abuser. Make phone calls, good luck to you. If you want to discuss the full details, contact me.
611587
Seems like you need to get away from your mother and boyfriend.\nI also think you should tell them that they are at the point of driving you insane.  If need be, get a boyfriend that will cause you less stress. Since you can't get a new mother, just limit your contact with her.