A couple of the kids are teenagers, yes. We’re adopting the older one–or so I hope, since all depends on permission from folks whose decisions are not under my control. The rest of the kids have family situations potentially available, and the system is working toward sending ’em thataway at some point.

I guess the real lesson I should learn is: don’t send email. Fill out required forms, only, on paper that’s picked up or mailed at designated intervals, and then stop talking. Because if people are going to be looking for reasons to feel offended, they can find ’em. I kind of don’t care about that, except that it’s leading to mention of kids being removed, which means…I need to stop communicating more than the bare minimum.

It’s a shame, because the give-and-take has been helpful in the past. But some things are more important than some other things.

If I keep my mouth shut, I won’t offend. This blog post being an example of not keeping my mouth shut, which is my nature, but what the heck. Nothing in it would justify kid-removal, so I don’t care if folks get upset. I’m not happy with them either.

Sounds pretty frustrating for you and the kids, and everyone else is just CYA.

If something happens and you didn’t document it, you’re wrong. If you document something that…

Never mind. I don’t get it. I’m just glad you try – and shudder that you’re trying to do it with kids who are half children/half adults at the best of times. Teens. Highschool kids (do I have that right?). Young people who will be released with practically nothing when they turn 18, never having had anything right. And become citizens. Because until they’re adults, they’re not really even people.

Under the best of circumstances, those years are crucial.

Glad you try, but it sounds as if it tears at you.