Erin kindly asked how I am feeling, and the answer is a little confused. I feel relieved, yes, and vindicated, but I also feel sad and vulnerable and intermittently angry. And loved -- I have been a little overwhelmed, in a good way, by friends saying they've got my back. People have said so many generous things about me as a mother since this started that it almost (not quite, but almost) takes away the sting of being investigated for negligence. One in particular, from a good friend's mother, makes me laugh with tears in my eyes: she said to my friend (paraphrasing here), "If they're investigating CJ, you guys [meaning our little circle of mom friends here in town] are all in trouble. You'd better just go down to the CPS office and turn yourself in."
I have one more post in me about the whole thing, and then we never have to talk about it again. Thanks so much, everyone, for your encouragement.
It probably took so long because of Alex's question about Nietzsche. Only a broken home could ever make anyone curious about existentialism.
Posted by: Stephen | August 23, 2008 at 03:23 PM
It probably took so long because of Alex's question about Nietzsche. Only a broken home could ever make anyone curious about existentialism.
Posted by: Stephen | August 23, 2008 at 03:25 PM
Hmmm. If your dissertation doesn't pan out, maybe look at internet stuttering.
Posted by: Stephen | August 23, 2008 at 03:26 PM
1) I <3 Stephen.
2) I've been thinking about this all day, and I really think it's important to the world that you tell the neighbor exactly how her actions impacted your family. How scared Alex was when she prevented him from going home, how you had premature contractions that threated your health and the baby's health, and how scared and scarred your kids are by this whole experience.
People have been musing about how to act in this situation as Jesus would. From the Biblical accounts we have, Jesus was kind and gentle, but he did not let people do foolish and hurtful things without calling them to account. To live in the fullness God intends for us, we need to be accountable for our own actions and to know when we've hurt His creation, including other people, so we can begin to atone and make things right. She needs to know so that she can begin her own reconciliation for her part in this blessed debacle.
You can be kind about it, but she really does need to know how her actions have harmed you, your kids, the neighborhood, the taxpayers (how many $$ from the police and CPS budgets), the internets, and Nietzsche fans everywhere.
Posted by: Moxie | August 23, 2008 at 06:01 PM
{{CJ}}
thanks for sharing. I will keep praying.
Posted by: Tracy | August 23, 2008 at 07:50 PM
I'm just glad you can move beyond this now to the thousand other more important things going on in your life!
Posted by: Erin | August 24, 2008 at 03:12 PM