Child abuse

Today we were informed that our agency's "clinicians" have decided it's best for the children to not be told of their impending move until it literally happens. They want us to bring the kids to their visit with their mom next Wednesday, and we are "welcome to be present" while someone else tells the kids they are moving to a new home right then.

Until then, we are asked to please not tell them anything.

I cannot, frankly, think of anything more damaging to do to a child -- except, perhaps, permanently physically injuring them.

I am literally shaking with rage.

So, tonight we're telling the kids. I recognize this might lead to the kids getting removed earlier, if our agency or the bio mom find out, and there's not much I can do to keep them from finding out. I figure we'll do the daily mom call early today, and then tell them, and try our best to keep Saturday's call short and focused. Possibly if we call while we're doing something really entertaining...I won't do anything as awful as telling the kids to keep it a secret. Never. But I am not going to let them be blindsided by their horrible mother and the spineless caseworkers who are supposed to protect them.

If it does come out, I might be able to excuse it as the kids figuring it out -- their mom asked incredibly leading questions last night. I thought she was going to give it away right then. Their new mom also gave it away a bit -- told Jacob "this is going to be your room!" when he came over to visit. And then our family specialist called last night while the kids were in the car and tried to schedule a time to tell the kids. We eventually gave up having that veiled conversation, took the kids home, and hid in the bathroom to talk. But they obviously know something is up. Sophia would not leave me today -- took me 30 minutes to get her to go play at preschool. She just wanted to cling to me.

So here I am again, at work, trying to get work done while spending the majority of my time advocating for the kids instead. It's just so frustrating.