Pre-trial for baby

Jay’s family has pre-trial tomorrow.  It has been a crazy and complicated case and the system is not making it any easier.  The criminal case on the mom and the no contact order between the parents have both been dropped.  Everyone (except the state’s attorney) is in favor of his dad getting custody of him… yesterday.  He was in no way an offender (if anything a victim) and there has been no assignments given for him to complete in order to get his son back.  Me, the case worker, the GAL, and his assessment are all in favor of his father getting custody.  Here is where it gets complicated no one (except maybe me) is in favor of mom getting him back until she completes some anger management classes and a few other evaluations to make sure she will not put him in danger again.  They have ordered marital counseling and the parents are “dating” again, yet the mom will likely not be able to have contact with the baby.   They have just moved here and don’t have a family support system. The worker has been very clear with Jay’s dad (if he gets him back) if the mother is caught in the home he will be taken away again and it will be much harder for him to get him back next time…. like it has been easy this time.

I personally wish the mom would have acted a little more humble and not minimized her actions that caused him to be hurt BUT she is a good mom and loves her son and it was an accident.  My hope is that him being taken away was enough of a wake up call and with counseling maybe they can be a family again. I don’t have the answers all I know is that I want this sweet baby to have love, safety and permanency.  My heart is telling me that his parents can give him that.

He has grandparents in Chicago that could likely get custody (if the parents don’t) but it would be another move with essentially strangers, and would end the visits with his parents.  Not a great option for Jay and could cause long term attachment issues for him to make another move.  No one other than the parents would really be in favor of this move, but because they are relatives it could likely still happen.

Court is at 9 am but there are 15 cases on the docket in this time slot.  Lexy, Jayden and I will attend.  I hope to be a support to this family and a voice for all of our baby.