A Cry For Help....Can You Help This Family?

An Indiana mother needs help in how to protect her children's emotional and mental well being, from their own grandmother whom is currently living in their home. There has been a long family history of abandonment (when the mother was 10 years old), previous alcoholism, and a belief of current prescription drug addiction. There have been reconciliations during the better times, and an attempt at forming relationships that were previously shattered, which is what lead to the grandmother residing in the home after years of dysfunction. Her daughter believed that her mother had changed and for the sake of her children, allowed her back into her life and tried to help her out. She realizes now that it was a mistake and for the sake of her children, her mother needs to find somewhere else to live. But her mother refuses to leave, makes threats to call Adult Protective Services on her daughter for such things as not driving 0.2 miles to get a soda pop, and snubs the older children for not "being on her side".

This is adversely affecting all four of the children in the home. But even worse, there is a teenage son in the home, who has suffered for years from emotional and mental issues. His therapist agrees that the grandmother is causing him setbacks in all of his progress and hindering future progress. This child has fought a long road of residential care and intensive therapy to reach the progress he has made, and it is threatening to become undone because of the toxic environment his grandmother is creating.

This mother doesn't know where to turn and needs our help. Current laws in many states would involve removing the children (if they are at risk) until the offending adult is removed. But how is a mother able to have an emotionally harmful person removed for her children's sake? The grandmother is 56 years old, able to care for herself, and do everything but drive (due to her previous DUI convictions). The children's mother is doing everything she can to keep the emotional environment stable for her children. But this family is being held emotionally hostage in their own home but the selfish behavior of one person who refuses to leave.

Please, if you know of any agencies the mother can turn to for help, have any advice on how to proceed in the best way for her children, or have ever faced or know someone who has faced a similar situation - please, contact me. While I am omitting this family's names and information for privacy reasons, the children's mother is more than willing to talk to anyone directly, who might be able to help her help her children.