Ok, so I'm gonna vent. And it's a vent about a personal thing, which I don't do alot and never here, but ooohhhhh...it has me burning.
I'll try to explain... *breathe in, breathe out*
Over the course of the previous 3 weeks, my cousin Lisa asked my sister to take on her son CJ, to live with my sister and her husband. We consider CJ our nephew and my sister did not hesitate to refuse as we were very concerned for his well-being. Last Saturday, my cousin dropped off her child to my sister's home to live. We all knew this was a possibility for quite some time now, so it wasn't a shock or anything.
CJ is 13, mentally challenged, bi-polar, physically disabled and pretty much emotionally disabled, but a lovable, polite and sweet kid when he is not emtional. My cousin tries, albeit not very well, to be a mother, but she is emtionally distraught herself and considers life overwhelming and blames everyone else for her issues. CJ has not flourished in her care. My sister is a special education teacher and understands all of CJ's problems.
Anyways, CJ was dropped off and to make things easier for him, my sister had a picnic. CJ arrived with NOTHING; just his fish, a small duffelbag, one single garbage bag of clothes that we later found out were way too small or beyond stained and another garbage bag of stuffed animals. No books (many we have bought him!), no toys, not even his photo album (which Lori bought/made/filled especially with photos or his vitamin medication
Later that day and the next day, my sister and I made shopping trips (as he cannot handle so much in one day) to buy him new clothes. He still needs so much more. He also badly needed a haircut. We ended up with 4 outfits, fish food, belt, underwear, socks, his vitamins and he wanted a radio clock for his room. He was beyond excited.
Now, Lisa receives social security benefits for CJ and my uncle does quite well for himself. Lisa finally also got a job a few months ago (my uncle pays all the household bills). Neither of them, offered my sister any monies to help with CJ, even after they knew we had to go shopping, haircut and get medicine. She says she will forward CJ's check when she gets the next one.
She didn't call him for 2 1/2 days to see how he was doing. She did, thankfully, remember his school authorization, medical insurance card and his prescribed medication. She didn't check in with Lori to see if she can help with any school issues, doctor issues, medicine issues...NOTHING. It is like she is absolving herself of all responsibility.
Am I wrong for being so steamed?
