A call from Case Worker Matthew Walker
this week informed Zabeth and Paul that not only will the Saturday
six hour visits with the children be in the Bayne home, as ordered by
the court in 2010, but also the Baynes now have been given the option
of having Wednesday three hour visits in their home as well rather
than in the community. Furthermore, yesterday, Mr. Walker told the
Baynes that if and when they opt for their Wednesday visits to be
held in their home, then Josiah may be included rather than having
his access visit at a different time that day as it has been. There is more good news.
Further, do you remember the photo ban?
In 2009 and part of 2010 it was forbidden to the Baynes to take
photos of their children. Suddenly in 2010 the privilege was
restored. Just about the time of Josiah's birth in February 2011,
they were once again prohibited from taking pictures. Matthew Walker
this week told Paul and Zabeth that they should be able to take
pictures of their family and gave them that prerogative and
understandably asked them to use discretion in how the images are
used. (When images of these children are used on this blog it is with
the permission of their parents and for purposes only of celebrating
this family.)
As a Bayne advocate and supporter I am
grateful for the courtesy that Walker is demonstrating as he carves
out a new relationship with the Baynes. I am confident that the
Baynes have not experienced this from a social worker in the past
four years. In fact they find that Matthew Walker responds quickly to
their calls and keeps them updated with all pertinent information
regarding their children. He has been understanding and
compassionate when speaking with them.
Paul and Zabeth have agreed to
participate in Project Parent and this week had their first official
meeting with representatives from this service. It appears that this
will be a weekly commitment and it will require of the Baynes a level
of openneness and vulnerability that might tax the most secure of us.
Josiah is mending from his bout with
respiratory distress, still coughing this week and exhibiting colic.
He has not been needing the ventilator that was available for us with
him. Zabeth's milk is still being used with the baby even though
visits are impossible until Josiah's health has stabilized. That
should be assisting his immune system and he is then supplemented
with night-time lactos-free formula, but there is a possiblity that
Zabeth's milk is responsible for his colic rather than the formula.
Consequently Zabeth is removing dairy from her own diet and also
listing what she eats so the dietician may evaluate that.
And this week Paul and Zabeth met with
Dr. Bowden who will be conducting the extensive Parental Capacity
Assessment.
Thanks to all of you readers for your continued interest in the Bayne family. Have a thoughtful and pleasant Palm Sunday weekend.
Thanks to all of you readers for your continued interest in the Bayne family. Have a thoughtful and pleasant Palm Sunday weekend.
Now that these Children will be coming home they are releasing the ropes slowly one day at a time!
ReplyDeleteThe Heartache and Stress will never be Forgotten but will be soothed with thier return.
DC
I am sure I will just be echoing many others thoughts of joy and thank you Jesus as we read your post today Ron. Realizing this is far from ended, yet seemingly so much closer to restoration than it was not too long ago, I sigh, smile and am so thankful for what has been rightfully given back to Paul and Zabeth. It is small, but it is good. I shall continue to hold them up to our Great big God and give thanks and praise for the amazing role models they have been and continue to be. I shall give thanks for Matthew Walker and ask for continued blessings to be released through his kind and compassionate soul. Thank you once again for sharing "the news", I can only imagine how challenging it has been for you as so much of what you have had to write about has been cruel and withholding. Hallelujah for the small victories that are being realized. Blessings to all , so good to hear.
ReplyDeleteMy baby girl had bad colic when I was nursing her as well. My doctor recommended that I go off all dairy, wheat & eggs for 1 week, then introduce them back, 1 at a time, a week apart ... from that we discovered she was allergic to cow's milk & wheat, the eggs weren't as bad as long as I was careful how many I consumed in a week. Also, the dairy allergy/intolerance was NOT a lactose issue - the culprit turned out to be the casein protein.
ReplyDeleteThat's fantastic. Love celebrating these little victories with them.
ReplyDeleteTo D from A
ReplyDeleteI have forwarded your recent note to the Baynes.
This is wonderful news of small but significant and tangible positive steps.
ReplyDeleteThis is all good news as you describe today, Ron! We will continue to pray for this family and thank God for His constant Presence with them.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I wonder why one set of parents who has been cleared of the charge as laid against them now has to enrol as participants in Project Parent and may need to endure "a level of openness and vulnerability that might tax the most secure of us." Certainly, they are backed into a corner and certainly, they are judged not guilty of crime or been shown to be bad parents. If I understand correctly, one accuser said in court that never had they seen any anger shown by these parents.
Does being accused of wrongful parenting constitute guilt thereafter?
Who writes these parenting courses? Does the world view of the writer, and the administrators and assessors reflect in the final result for the participant?
Is there a certain style of parenting required in BC and if so, what is that exactly? Who decides the right style of parenting? From what we read, the answers are very much dependent on the bias of the Director and his staff.
Will this Project Parenting course become required for all parents in BC or will it be required of all accused but not guilty parents of BC?
What are the limits of the SW and the MCFD in BC? What exactly is a SW?
Are SWs purveyors of truth and morality in BC? Does anyone in gov't have the will to govern their own bureaucracies?
These questions will appear absurd to some but, really, the answers are indicative of the future of another generation.
Personally, we so appreciate Paul and Zabeth as human beings and then, as parents. Their attitudes makes the viciousness of the MCFD of very great contrast.
It appears as if the children are coming home, hopefully soon! Thank you, Ron, Doug Christie, Ray Ferris, and all the wonderful supporters of the Baynes, including those who attended court hearings. It is so good to know that such great injustice can be overcome. I hope that support for other parents can continue, heaven knows they sure need it.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me wonder: is it possible a change in social worker can make such a huge difference? If so, could other parents possibly obtain better results if they were to move to a different area?
ReplyDeleteI think some people forget the same Surrey office the Baynes were first told they would lose their children to a CCO is the same office they are dealing with now.
ReplyDeleteParents who have been through the system will simply recognize the phases of how social workers and lawyers act. At the beginning they are accusatory, rude, unresponsive and contentious. Once a decision has been made to return children, they are polite, accomodating and very responsive.
There are nice foster homes, overcrowded homes, hell holes and group homes. Children that need to be turned against their parents get the nice homes. Children that need to be stressed out before an appointment with a hack psychologist are placed in a bad home for a few months.
Children that are separated in a divide and conquer strategy is to increase their stress level, and are reunited when court dates approach.