Ever had extenuating circumstances for the holidays?
For Thanksgiving this year, I have my GKs (6 and 4) living with me in my tiny little RV. My DS (30) will be here as well. DH said he may be off enough days to come down too. I haven't decided whether to cook a nice, but simple meal or go out to eat for Thanksgiving. Has anyone else ever had strange situations that had to making non-traditional plans for the holidays? If so, what were they and how did you celebrate that particular holiday so that you could keep within the spirit of the holiday and be together with the ones you love?
Donna, it turned out well. The parents weren't allowed to come since the children are having behavioral problems from seeing them. DH came down, DS was here and we had chicken and dressing casserole, green bean casserole, tossed salad, yams, cranberry sauce, and rolls. We rented movies and just had a great time.
DGS had previously had a severely chapped face. He was wetting his pants, sucking his fingers, and sucking his shirt. Since I clamped down on everything (only once a week phone calls after school on Fridays and 1 hour weekly supervised visitation on Saturdays and I put phone on speaker and listen to EVERYTHING being said during visitation) the children's behavior is so good. DGD is on the A and B honor roll and DGS is no longer regressing. We just got a new attorney who handles these cases ALL the time. He said that we are slapping the parents with a restraining order, they will have to undergo hair follicle drug testing, undergo parenting classes, and substance abuse counseling BEFORE we even go to the actual trial for custody. Of course, they won't be able to do that since they spend all their money on drugs so we'll automatically get custody. But, DD wanted to go the court route rather than settling just between us. She thought the judge would automatically side with her since she is the mother. I don't think she realizes that the judge will see that she has no place to live of her own, no vehicle, no clothes, no car seats, nothing for the children. Plus, when he sees her he will think she is on meth since her teeth are rotten out and face is broken out. He will realize that she cannot take care of herself much less 2 children. We are hoping we can spend Christmas with no parents too at my FILs house. This is his first Christmas without his wife.
Since I have so many friends on my FB page, I limit what I say there. The other grandma is one of my friends, the father's sister (aunt) is a friend, my family, friends from high school, and so on. I don't really want everyone seeing my business there. I especially do not want my DD knowing what is about to hit her. It is going to be so bad--but that is what she requested--a court trial. She will be placed, along with my SIL, on a restraining order and no phone calls or visitation until the judge seeing us during the preliminary hearing. He might decide on supervised visitation at a clinical setting with a 1 way mirror and baby monitor every 1st, 3rd, and 5th weekend for 1-2 hours. They will probably have to undergo hair follicle testing--at their expense, parenting classes, substance abuse counseling, and so on. They will not be willing to do all that nor can they afford all that. I have tried to find out what the cost is for hair follicle testing, but I cannot find what it would cost. I am sure it will be even more for the parents to do it through the court. I know urine testing is approximately $80 and hair follicle testing is way more expensive. I am betting Mommy and Daddy won't be able to do it. Time will tell. I am praying that we'll be able to have the children for Christmas. We already have a big family Christmas planned with the kids' uncle, great uncle, great aunt, first cousin, once removed, Nana, and Papa. They'll see my friend who kept them when they first came to visit me.
