We stood together as a unit

 

My Mikey, I love you

∞ • π³ + 1

 

For the first time, we stood together as a unit, made a decision for the benefit of our ENTIRE family, presented that decision, and WILL stick by it.

Yesterday, we went to Corsicana, for a birthday party for Alex and Juli.  Afterwards, we visited Memaw (to let her and Elisabeth meet, and because I miss My Memaw so badly).  After that, we went to a pre-arranged visit with my mother, my sister, and my brother in a park in Corsicana.

We sat on bleachers in the soccer field, and we talked about things.  Then, we informed Elisabeth, as an entire family, that she is staying with us in Waco.  We are not and will not send her back to California.

She knew it was coming.  Piers made a comment to her the night before last : "Hey woman, give me a hug, because you probably won’t love me for much longer."  So she knew, whether she knew it consciously or not.

I don’t think we made the right decision.  I don’t believe we made the right decision.  I don’t hope we made the right decision.  I KNOW we made the right decision.  Our child belongs with us.  I refuse to abandon her, which is what would be happening if we sent her back to live in the hands of anyone else, except maybe her sister.

But Tiffany can’t handle Elisabeth right now, and I know that, so she’s with us, and she’ll STAY with us.  It has to be that way.

I feel like we handled it in a semi-cowardly fashion, because we didn’t tell her until my family was there to back us up.  There were several reasons for that.  We did that so that WE, Mikey (Hank) and I, would have backup from those we know, love, and trust.  We also did it because we have not shown dedication and courage when we desperately needed to show them.

We did it intervention style.

She knows now.  She is very unhappy, and it’s hell to know that I’ve made my daughter miserable, and that I’ve pretty much FORCED her mother into Elisabeth’s perception of the role of "bad guy".  We’re not bad guys.  We’re the ones who love her enough to keep her where she belongs, even though it hurts so badly to hurt her.  We love her enough to make damned sure our baby is safe.  We’re not placing her, yet again, into hands that we’re unfamiliar with.  We’re keeping her where we know for a fact that she’ll be taken care of, no matter the personal cost to us.  She’ll be with two of the three people who love her most.  She’s with her parents, and NOBODY can love her like we do.

So we’ve done the right thing, even as we’ve reduced her to a quiet, crying, non-eating shell, for now.  She will cry her tears out.  She will talk when she is ready.  She will eat when she has to.  I know this, and I am not going to harrass her about it.

For the first time in our marriage, we’ve done something entirely as a unit, and it was unboutedly the right thing to do.  I know this.  I just wanted to explain it, in case it could help others (or even us, in moments of doubt) realize the exact things I’ve stated.

This is the first time I could face life again, because I am not losing my child.  I am not exactly happy, but I AM contented in the knowledge that our baby is not going to be unsafe at the hands of people that we truly do not know.

<span style="color

: rgb(51, 102, 255);”>Much love, and extreme gratitude (plus monstrously big hugs) to those who stood by us on here and supported us through this.

It is appreciated more than I can say.

Love,

Betty Louise