Where are they now?
by Lee Jones
Steven is 6, his brother Adam is 5. They live with their Mum, older brother, 16, who is in and out of home, sister aged 12, 3 year old brother and 1 year old sister. They have a sister who is 15 and lives with other family. This was her choice.
Steven and Adam are referred to me. They have been expelled from school after many suspensions for violence and death threats to other children. They were discovered plotting to kill another kindergarten boy with knives. Thankfully they were discovered beforehand. Mum would call the Police on the boys Steven/Adam when she had had enough. This was a regular pattern. Police would take them to another family and then return them a few days later. Their lives were chaotic. They had lived no survived countless witnessing of violence by Mum’s numerous boyfriends. Mum’s own violence toward them and their siblings. Home was sparse, no sheets on beds, mattresses on floor, house uncleaned. Food scarce.
One day Steven let loose on me kicking me in the shins. This was because I had asked him to stop kicking the work car I had driven to their house. He fell to the ground weeping after he had finished his kicking spree crying out that he was ‘no good!’ I put my arms around him, held him close whispering to him that he was a beautiful boy over and over again. Mum and siblings were present.
Finally FACS removed the boys and placed them in Foster Care as requested by Mum. Another message to them that they were ‘no good’.
I often wonder what happened to those beautiful abused children. Sometimes I don’t think I want to know.
by Lee Jones
Steven is 6, his brother Adam is 5. They live with their Mum, older brother, 16, who is in and out of home, sister aged 12, 3 year old brother and 1 year old sister. They have a sister who is 15 and lives with other family. This was her choice.
Steven and Adam are referred to me. They have been expelled from school after many suspensions for violence and death threats to other children. They were discovered plotting to kill another kindergarten boy with knives. Thankfully they were discovered beforehand. Mum would call the Police on the boys Steven/Adam when she had had enough. This was a regular pattern. Police would take them to another family and then return them a few days later. Their lives were chaotic. They had lived no survived countless witnessing of violence by Mum’s numerous boyfriends. Mum’s own violence toward them and their siblings. Home was sparse, no sheets on beds, mattresses on floor, house uncleaned. Food scarce.
One day Steven let loose on me kicking me in the shins. This was because I had asked him to stop kicking the work car I had driven to their house. He fell to the ground weeping after he had finished his kicking spree crying out that he was ‘no good!’ I put my arms around him, held him close whispering to him that he was a beautiful boy over and over again. Mum and siblings were present.
Finally FACS removed the boys and placed them in Foster Care as requested by Mum. Another message to them that they were ‘no good’.
I often wonder what happened to those beautiful abused children. Sometimes I don’t think I want to know.
