So, my daughter and I had our first official "Supervized visit" with Das SS (Buncombe County, North Carolina). As Usual, her mother brought her in 10 minutes late and only let her bring her blanket and 2 stuffed toys... no juice, no snack, nada. Almost immediately my daughter asked me for some juice but Das SS would only let her have water (heck, if she was hungry and wanted a snack, I would have been suprised if they only allowed her water).
In attendence was Das SS case worker (lets call her SS... really, those are her initials!!) and the Carolina Outreach "therapist" (break it down... The-rape-ist), NA (really, her initials also... Non-Applicable, lol). Anyway, from 2:55 (this was supposed to begin at 2:45) until 3:30 my daughter and I sat on a couch in a very sterile room where we read books which I considered VERY inappropriate for a 6yr old. One was about a girl who wasn't allowed to dress like herself and another telling children not to whine, and not in a polite manner either!. During this time, SS and NA just sat in the room with us and took notes quietly, all dour looking and such.
At 3:30 we were informed that we'd have to go outside and play as the room was booked for another parent/child visit. Um... I have this room until 3:45. What if it was raining or snowing? Was there a real playground? Nope, just a public green downtown.
Fine, we'll go outside, thankfully it's nice out and we got to play a bit though it was uncomfortable as we both knew we were being observed and critiqued. About 10 minutes into our time, a couple VERY close friends were walking by and came up to say hi... keep in mind we're on a public, city green. It was great to see our friends (one a prominent EMT, the other a very well-known nanny/caregiver) but I had to let them know that my daughter and I were on a "schedule" and I nodded toward our guards. They understood and moved on (I'll see them tonight at a birthday party). Well, you can imagine what Das SS had to say about THAT... "No visitors for the prisoner! Swinehund!".
At 3:45 I was told to say good-bye to my daughter. When I informed SS that I was entitled to a full hour with my daughter it was very apparent that I was cutting into someones personal bon-bon eating time but she had to concede as the visitation trully didn't begin until 2:55 (I'm a stickler for detail with these Nazi's).
At 3:55 we were reminded that it was time to go. Obviously, my daughter wasn't happy about this and I was trying to tell her that it was okay, that she'd see me next week and to be good for her mother (not what I wanted to say but I'm not the one trying to corrupt my daughter). The good-bye obviously wasn't easy for my daughter and when SS tried to RUSH things along I politely and quietly told her that I would handle this (not easy for me to do, mind you). It was at this point that this "woman" began raising her voice and making demands... in front of my daughter... on a public green... in front of her office.
I won't pretend it was easy for me to control my temper but I did (through the grace of God himself otherwise it would've been a very different end to my day). I said good-bye to my daughter (and of course she cried a little) and was preparing to vacate the premisis when this woman had the audacity to grab my arm to inform me that we would be having a meeting next week where I was not to bring any toys, books, drinks, snacks, etc. We'd be in a confrence room devoid of anything which would entertain a child.
Hell-Fire! Why don't we just get on with it and go into a concrete room with one light and a few metal chairs!
This is how Buncombe County, North Carolina Department of Social Services / Child Protective Services conducts business with a straight, white, Christian, single, drug-free father who's been continually victimized by his ex-wife. Who, by the way has a (not-so hidden) adgenda to take my daughter to Canada with her Canadian National "husband" to live because of their anti-American views.
Stay tuned... it'll get better as we go along I'm sure.
