Happy ending, but illustrates problems facing Dads

Submitted by el cid on Fri, 2011-01-28 19:37

This column tells a story with a happy ending, but it also illustrates the problems dads go through.

The child (Nina Marie) was placed in foster care but the father was not notified after mom lied and said he was out of the country. He found out where his daughter was and contacted Social Services. He was told to attend a hearing, where the judge told him he could be considered for custody under certain conditions. Basically, he spent a year attending parenting classes and visiting his daughter--proving himself worthy--before the judge awarded him custody.

The good news is he finally received custody. The bad news is all the time he lost with his daughter while she was in foster care.

Like0 Dislike0

Comments

Just how many women have had to prove themselves worthy of raising their own children? The state is the defacto parent and simply allows a biological parent to attend to the state's child. Of course custody could change anytime the biological mother says she got her life together and is ready to raise her kids.

Like0 Dislike0
Submitted by Luek on Sat, 2011-01-29 16:26

Women don't have to prove themselves worthy of being good parents. The state assumes they are--even though mom turned out to be unfit. The state's first choice after mom was foster care. Dad was considered after he proved himself, but only had a chance because mom proved unfit.

And the state made no effort to contact the dad when it placed the child in foster care. But I would bet everything I own that if Dad had missed a support payment, the state would have moved heaven and hell to find him.

And, as you say, if mom gets her act together, there's a good chance she'll get the child back.

Why is the county and the legal system the enemy of the father? It takes his child and makes him prove he's a good father before it gives the child back. Shouldn't things be the other way around--the state should have to justify why it took the child and placed it in foster care instead of the father's care?

Like0 Dislike0
Submitted by el cid on Sat, 2011-01-29 16:46