I meet with a variety of children and parents in my line of work. I have some parents that will admit all the things they are doing "wrong" and then correct these behaviors. There are others that will hide facts and even others that will claim to be doing things they are not. After working with them for a while, I tend to form an opinion about these families. About 25% of my clients are also involved in the state in regard to children's protective services.
I have one family that protective services has tried to remove the children, but there are arguments for each side. I returned to work about the middle of September. The dad did not keep their appointments and an order was filed. The dad was talking about "adult things" with the children, sending them to school without being clean (hair, clothes, etc.), and not keeping therapy appointments.
Last week I finally got in touch with him and set the appointments. His daughter arrives coughing, obviously with a severe fever, nausea, etc. I'm not thrilled. He had checked her out because she was sick, but didn't have the insight to think to cancel her appointment with me. She leaves and I tell the case manager that she will not be participating in the group activity that day.
I find out this morning that the girl, her brother, and dad all have swine flu. Great.
My main frustration is that this guy seems to be devoid of any common sense or consideration of his daughter feeling sick. She is a trooper and dragged herself out of bed to come to therapy, but really, should he have made her come? This is one of the families I find myself on the fence about. Neither parent is really capable of caring for these kids but they need their parents. I'm just glad it's not my decision.
Sure hope you don't catch the flue or carry it home with you.
Posted by: Trudgin' the Road | 10/26/2009 at 10:43 AM