What do you do when your 10-year-old son screams, "I have a horrible, horrible, horrible father. I wish I had a better father" because his dad once again has broken another promise? What do you do when your daughter's father drops her off smelling of alcohol and obviously intoxicated? Call the police, right? But the police say, "We have to catch him in the act before we can do anything."
What do you do when your children tell you Daddy is doing cocaine again? Call Child Protective Services? They say, "You shouldn't send them over there anymore because if something happens to the children you could be held responsible. But if you don't send them, you could go to jail since it is court-ordered visitation." Rock and a hard place doesn't begin to cover it.
What do you do when you have not seen your children in years and the police won't help? You find a lawyer and the first time you see your children they say, "Mommy told us you were dead." Now what?
What do you do when your child tells you he found Daddy passed out in the car this morning because he was too drunk to make it in the house?
What do you do when your ex-wife tells your son, "Don't call me mom anymore?"
What do you do when your 8-year-old is waiting by the door again for the parent who never shows up?
What do you do when your child's father claims he doesn't have the gas to go to a ball game but he can support his drinking habit, remodel his house, and pay a lawyer by the hour?
We can't make these people good parents. But we can hold them accountable for the laws they are breaking. We can make the laws work for the children. We can stop protecting these deadbeats. How many of you are tired of seeing criminals walk free because of a small technicality? How many of you are tired of seeing children hurt by the parents they look up to? I know I am. That's why I am doing this child support and visitation petition. I want to show these children they come first to us. It might work. It might not. But as my son's coach told him, "You'll never hit the ball if you don't swing."
Thank you to those who are already supporters. But we still need more people to stand up for what's right. If you have any questions, if you have a story, or if you just want to show your support, please write to me by email 79trm@comcast.net or by mail 4818 S. Scott Road, Claypool, IN 46510. You can also join the Facebook group Fix the system: Child Support/Visitation Petition. Would the people who signed their letters "Sick of Deadbeats" and "Fed up in Pierceton" please send me your names? I appreciate your support but I need real names. Thank you.
