Let me just say this right off the bat: I cannot parent your children over the phone.
Whew. Glad that I got that off my chest. Onward.
Last night I spoke with a woman not once but twice in the course of an hour--at length both times. I also spoke with her sister. At length.
Apparently she was having trouble with her teen aged son. When I asked what specifically was going on, she said (and I quote):
When I asked her for more details I got:
Uh-huh. Great. I can totally call my doctor with that and he'll know just what to do.
After talking with her some more, it would appear that this kid was acting out. He threatened to run away and was apparently cursing at his mother. Not that I can hospitalize him for that. She said she had even called the police and according to her, they threatened to put HER in jail if she continued to call them.
(Warning! Digression forthcoming!)
And can I please just say that throwing your kid in the hospital in the middle of the night--which is what this mother wanted--is not going to undo years of parenting decisions you made, either actively or passively, in reaction to whatever circumstances you've had life hand you. That being said, I hate that my own default mode is to blame the parents. Sometimes, people really do just have faulty wiring.
OK, moving on....
After I listened, and gave her lots of numbers she could call in the morning, and then listened again and reiterated the numbers, I began pondering the situation after I got off the phone.
She sounded pretty desperate and I thought perhaps I should get someone to check on her and the kid--who was still awake when all of this was going down.
Enter police. I thought a call coming from me as opposed to irate mother would have more credence.
That's what I get for thinking.
Dispatch: 911, what's your emergency?
I explained the situation and asked for police to go to the home and do a welfare check on the family. (My thinking here is that it would have more
Dispatch: What's the address?
Me: I don't have an address, I just have a phone number. But you can find them based on that right?
Dispatch: Not necessarily.
Seriously? Because I've had the distinct (un)pleasure of sitting in a squad car not that long ago, and I gotta tell ya, that little magic screen at your disposable appears to be the essence of Big Brother.
Five minutes later the phone rings. Again.
Dispatch: Hi, this is Debbie from Yourtown 911. I called that number and it's in Theirtown. There is an address attached to it, but it doesn't match the name you gave me.
Me: Well, that doesn't surprise me. So, what are you saying?
Dispatch: Well, the phone number is in Theirtown. There's nothing I can do.
I'm sorry...nothing you can DO? Can't you, you know, CALL Theirtown dispatch and relay my message? You know....make a referral? Oh, wait! I guess only social workers are capable of doing that. So, I got Theirtown's number and called. Again.
Dispatch: Theirtown dispatch.
Me: (explained the situation. Again.)Dispatch: What's the address?
(Epic sigh)
Me: I don't have an address, but I have a phone number and Yourtown dispatch was able to pull an address...
Dispatch: She'll need to call us directly if she wants a welfare check
OK, missing the point, here. I want the welfare check. Me.
Me: Well, I think she's tried to call and you told her to quit calling...
Dispatch: Without and address, there's nothing I can do. She can call us if she wants a welfare check.... ->
Read the complete post at http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/tXCM/~3/TmbKiscwOBI/round-and-round-we-go.html
Posted
7 May 2009 4:59 PM
by
Trench Warfare
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