I read alot of books about child abuse. It's another of my morbid hobbies. But because I read them, I feel more prepared. Like I know what to look for when dealing with not only the caretakers and parents for my CASA kids, but for people who deal with my kids daily. It reminds me that not everyone is what they appear to be on the surface. Mood changes in children shouldn't automatically be chalked up to moodiness or adolescence or "phases". A solid look at the causes should always be the beginning. Especially with kids vulnerable to falling through the cracks of any system.
The book I am currently reading is all the more heartbreaking because the main character had a wonderful life and family until her mother died of an epileptic seizure when the girl was eleven. She and her brother were awarded to her biological father (who they didn't even know existed) instead of their stepfather. The biological father passed them along to a "foster home" after learning he wouldn't be in charge of the insurance money their mother had left for them. Within 24 hours of being torn from the only family they had ever known, their world was turned upside down and a nightmare began.
While the events in her life occurred in the late 60's or early 70's, it brings home a point. We need to confront our fears of immortality to best care for our children. Prepare for the worst while we enjoy the best. Every night I go to sleep assuming I will see many more years of my children lives. My husband assumes the same thing. And while I don't intend to dwell on the endless possibilities of bad stuff, I do intend to respectfully acknowledge its existence.
"If You Have Minor Children- Having a Will is especially important if you have young children because it gives you the opportunity to designate a “guardian” for them in the event of your death. If you die without a Will, have minor children, and your husband/wife did not survive you, a court will appoint a guardian. A Will allows you to exercise your right to appoint the guardians who will take care of your children upon the deaths of you and your spouse. Therefore, even if your assets are modest, if you have minor children, you should at least execute a Will in order to name guardians for them if they are left as minors with no surviving parent."
