With a couple dozen children in and out of my house, grandchildren coming over, and all my large gardens demanding my attention, my computer time is sometimes very limited. I awake early, drink coffee and often pound out my frustrations, blog style, before I go about my business for the day. I’d come back to see several comments about RTCs and the frustrations involved, I’d sort of answered in advance my perceived ignorance of many of the steps involved as each state, each institution, and often different individuals in charge seem to have countless methods for getting a child accepted.

One reader described it best. John says,

“Yes I do remember feeling run over at team meetings. As I was at it longer, I became more adept and assertive. My son went to the RTC by way of special ed; he was classified as severely disturbed, and met the criteria for RTC placement. It takes forever to go that route, about one year for a quick placement.”

I felt run over as well, blamed for my child’s inability to function in society and I was treated disdainfully as I’d point out she wasn’t necessarily doing so well in a psychiatric facility either with all sorts of professional help available.

At times I felt as if the professionals were also taking their frustration out on me when in reality, there are sometimes no answers and no “cures.” These are problems and issues that people such as our grown children have to live with their entire lives.

I’d spoken with another adoptive parent on the phone; she needs to inform authorities about a crime that occurred in her home knowing that the fallout is going to negatively affect her entire family. I’ve had to do the same as well. Sometimes I am so hurt and disturbed by what is happening, or is going to happen here, that I can’t call what I do as gardening anymore, sometimes I am so wiped out that I’m just running a stick through the dirt as I pray and think and ponder, “what do I do now?” while all eyes are looking at me expectantly, hoping against hope that I can fix this, keep their world right for them.

I’m just a mom but that’s all they wanted so that should be enough but, in reality, we need a professional therapist full-time, a strategy planner and a miracle worker.