Child abandonment

[Sasse]

My 5 year old grandson has been abandoned by his mother.  It's been about 3 weeks.  She is in a city about 30 miles away.  She has called once and visited once.  She has a drug problem and lives a party lifestyle.  He cries all the time, is angry, won't play with his toys, is clingy and obsessed with her leaving.  I told her she can't have him back until she finds a place to live and quits drugs (like that's going to happen soon, ha.)

Do you think I should take him to visit her once in a while?  Or have her call him every couple of nights.  My husband thinks it will be bad for him, but my heart hurts for him for all the pain he is suffering.

[KLHappytime]

I just want to tell you that it is people like you who need to be praised and acknowledged! I am the grown daughter of a drug addict and I too was abandoned by my mom. If it were not for my grandmother having the courage to get involved I would be a different person. Never give up on your grandson! Always trust you first instincts when it comes to your daughter's ability to be a mother. A drug house is no life for a child...I know.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Yes, he should see her, but only in a supervised arrangement. It will be very difficult for him to understand what has happened. Do what you need to do to obtain legal guardianship of him so that you are in a position to make whatever decisions are necessary.