Everything happens for a reason. As many of you know I am a mom of a 26 year old daughter who is over 2 years clean and is flourishing.
My daughter went through drug court, a rigorous outpatient program ordered by the court. She met a guy there with an 11 year old daughter. He graduated before my daughter and was clean for over two years.
He has relapsed. I had met the daughter briefly a couple times. She is a beautiful child and sweet as ever. I decided to buy her presents for Christmas, a warm coat, sweaters, shoes, a blanket, other basics and a robotic dog as a toy. My daughter brought her over the weekend before last, to open presents. When my daughter brought her back home, no dad. He and his latest addict girlfriend were gone. My daughter waited for a while and was in the process of gathering the girls things, to bring her to my home, when he showed up. They were to be kicked out of the apartment in the morning, they were living in illegally. The girl told her dad she wanted to go to my home and has been here ever since. My daughter has spoken with him a couple of times. He wanted to come see her at 11:30 the other night. She was still in school and it was a school night. My daughter told him she is sleeping and is on normal people time now, not tweeker time!
We are working on establishing hygene, sleep and basic routines. I tuck her in every night, give her a kiss and tell her I love her and she gets a big grin on her face. I am taking her to my dentist tomorrow as the decay is visible and I understand she needs root canals and many other proceedures. I am hoping my dentist might do a little pro bono work? Or whatever it's called when medical people do for free, as I would not be able to afford out of pocket expenses for the amount of work she needs. We have decided not to call child protective services, because they will take her and put her in the system. I am going to look into temporary guardianship. If anyone has any info. on what I can do, please let me know.
We all had a wonderful Christmas. I bought her some more presents, from Santa this time, and in the morning everyone came over to open them. I have never seen a child so happy in my life! The dad finally came over on Christmas, as we were just about to sit down for Christmas dinner. He is living in his car with the girlfriend and brought 2 presents, my daughter said he stole. One was a doll and the other a realistic looking rifle bebe gun. Really? For an 11 year old? The box said for 16 years and older. Anyway, I did not welcome him in my home and they stood on the door step until I heard her say, we are eating dinner, I have to go. I have no doubt that he would wait until we left and steal everything he could, if I let him in to case the house. She had set the table and we made the stuffed eggs and name tags together etc. She was so excited. I put the bebe gun in the safe and told her she was to use it only with my husband or I.
The dinner was wonderful and we watched Christmas movies after. As she lay on the couch, bundled up with one of my dogs. She said, I'm having so much fun. Oh man, Breaks my heart. I told her I was having so much fun too, I was happy she was here and she can stay here as long as she wants and she will be safe here.
The dad stopped by randomly yesterday and she came back in with a losing lotto ticket. She said we can try for the second chance online. He said he would be coming back with more presents. He did not. I called my daughter to ask her to call him and tell him he cannot just keep popping in whithout making arrangements. I will not allow it!
So this was my Christmas gift. Everything happens for a reason. She is the sweetest thing ever, and I am blessed to have her for however long she is here.
