Protection

I just don't get it. They are talking about a law in Australia that will protect the rights of the unborn child, basically protecting them against child abuse. If a parent is a known addict and gets pregnant they will be forced to sign a parental contract that will allow their baby to be taken at birth if it's broken. The way to break the contract is to have a positive drug test, or to stay in an abusive relationship. 

With the abusive relationship this doesn't mean staying with the man you love who has suddenly changed and has actually started to act like a man and stop beating you. He would of course have to undergo counselling and the couple would have to prove there was no more abuse. I'm in 2 minds over this one. The fact that some women are so traumatised by years of abuse and conditioned to do what their man says and to take what he dishes out, does not to me mean that she feels she has any options. Now we all know there are options but unless we walk a day in their shoes we really don't know. I stayed for years of psychological abuse, only leaving when it did get violent. If it hadn't, who knows maybe I'd still be there and my girls would have had to live with the same abuse I did, and grown up to be completely different people. 

With a positive drug test on the other hand, I feel completely differently. To me one single positive test for marijuana is child abuse. It makes no difference if it is one or 100, one single test is enough for me to say, strip that woman of all rights. Now I read a letter to the editor in the paper this morning, decrying the idea, calling it the same as the stolen generation. Ummm, no it's not. I in no way advocate what happened to the stolen generation, these children were taken from parents who's only crime (and I say that tongue in cheek as it is not a crime), was to have different coloured skin. They would of loved their children and raised them as well as they could, just like any other parent of the times. There were in fact many white parents who didn't deserve to have their children, but the fact they were white meant they couldn't possibly be abusing their children. Sorry going off on a different tangent now, but the fact is that removing a child who has been abused while still in the womb is not the same. We know that what happened with the stolen generation was wrong, we understand that it should never of happened. So if these poor babies born to drug addicted parents and who suffer greatly with withdrawal from birth, are not removed we all know it will also be wrong. Sure the parents should have a chance to prove they can change, it is every ones right to show that while they may of been wrong in the past they have changed, but is it not the babys right to be given a safe and loving environment to grow up in? Does that baby not have the same right as it's parent to make choices and not have them made for them. 

The baby born to a drug addicted mother suffers from birth with withdrawal, they can have birth defects and be mentally handicapped in some way. They are also at high risk of developing a drug addiction themselves later in life. And what of the parent, their baby gets taken away, they get stoned and forget about it. They may protest and claim to fight everyday and decry their rights being taken away. But I can't see how they can possibly say that they love their child and that anyone can believe it. In this day and age, I cannot believe there is a single person who does not know the dangers of abusing drugs while pregnant. There is too much information out there and it's not hidden away or only available to those with money. If you attend a medical centre while pregnant they will tell you it isn't safe to do drugs, your friends will tell you the same, your family knows all about it. So don't claim ignorance. It's even something taught in schools when they talk about the danger of drugs. 

I have personally heard someone say that smoking a little pot won't hurt their baby. This person is not a doctor they are not a scientist, in fact they haven't even finished school, so how would they know. Seriously that is just a lie they tell themselves to feel good about the fact they know they are fucking with their babies lives. So, your a mother who has had a history of drugs and drink, you have no children living with you, and you get pregnant again. Does your life change? If the answer is no, your going to keep doing whatever you want cause its your right as an adult, then you are nothing but a child abuser. Don't scream about 'The Man' taking away your precious baby, while making no changes to your life. If you want to have a healthy happy baby living with you as part of your family, then make the changes. Do not do drugs, listen to the experts, dump all those so called friends of yours who you know are losers and going nowhere but down. And just maybe you will win the right to be a parent. 

If you refuse to change your lifestyle, I say again, you are nothing more than a child abuser and you don't deserve anything. 

Catch yas
Cathy

So this is .....

54. Yep 54, it's my birthday and I'm 54. Sorry for repeating it but I can't believe it LOL. I don't feel 54, or maybe I do, but never having been 54 before I just don't know it. I still feel ............................................................................ 38, you all thought I was going to say 21, well no that's not possible to feel that young again, not when I have 3 kids and 8 grand kids, and to be honest I don't want to be 21 again anyway. Nothing special with being 21 these days, and while it was fun, that's all it was, fun. 

So I've had another year of marvelling at the stupidity of people who believe that if they vote for someone new then things will change. Another year of dealing with arseholes who believe they are in the right and it doesn't matter what I say I'm wrong. That includes me saying the sky is blue, apparently it isn't LOL. Another year of working to retirement and sleeping in. Another year of being stuck in the same place I've been for years. Another year of laughing at people who post all their drama on face book and are then shocked when others post that they are idiots. Another year of reading American politics posts and all the bitching that goes along with it. Got to admit that is fun, some people get so emotional LOL. Another year of new aches and pains, new hair growths and yet more grey hair. 

But it's also been another year of fun, another year of adding another grandchild to the family. Another year of laughing at my kids as they complain about getting older. Another year of teasing my parents about how old they are. And believe me they are olddddddddddddddd. Another year of having a baby brother and feeling stupid when referring to him as that. Another year of having an older brother, and not feeling at all stupid when referring to him as that LOL. Another year of meeting new people and sharing grandchildren with them. Another year of all the family drama that my middle child must endure, but enjoying the laughing over the whole ridiculous thing. 

All in all, despite the many lows that I have survived through my 54 years, the highs far out weigh them. I've watched my first marriage deteriorate., my second fall after my husband died, I've lived through my children's pain as they have gone through emotional roller coasters and I've had to deal with a mother who is not what she used to be. But I've watched my children grow into wonderful people, and each of them are so different and yet the same. I've watched them get married (well 2 of them), have children (not necessarily in that order), and move forward in their lives. I've laughed with them, I've cried with them, I've lived their lives with them. It has been up and down, and round and round, but oh so much fun. 

We don't live in each others pockets, but we are there for each other and never forget the road that has led us to where we are today. I reckon I can live with 54, it's not a bad number I guess. Not sure how I'll feel at 55, but lets deal with one birthday at a time. 


Catch yas
Cathy