Paul and Zabeth were able to visit Josiah post surgery on Friday. He developed a hernia and this was corrected. Foster mom was with the baby before and immediately after the procedure. This protocol was a requirement of the hospital. The Baynes arrived at 12:00 PM and were permitted to remain with their son until 3:15 PM. Then they were informed it was time to leave. 
On Saturday Josiah was released from hospital into the care of the foster family. Although the Baynes want to know how the baby is doing, communication with social working staff over the weekend is difficult because of off hours.
Friday was also Zabeth’s opportunity to attend Baden’s Mother’s Day Tea held at his school. She had never been there before. This was much anticipated. Upon their arrival Baden saw Zabeth and Paul through the classroom window and his face lit up with a large smile and he excitedly waved and pointed his mommy and daddy out to his friends. The parents were able to watch Baden and his classmates do a vocal performance. Each mother was given a ribbon to wear.
Saturday was a great time with her oldest three children and that is a Mother’s Day at any rate – for her any time she is with her children is a Mother’s Day. Well, I can hardly wait for the Mother’s Day of the half-decade when these four children aware awarded back to Zabeth and Paul.
The timing could not be arranged for Zabeth to be with her children on Mother's Day? This is just appalling.
ReplyDeleteIt may seem appalling yet I perceive that the logistics were not workable. Saturday is the regular visitaton day (6 hrs in the Bayne home - supervised). Sunday would have been additional to that, and if it was not but merely an exchange of hours, that was likely a difficulty to arrange with the assigned supervisor/transporter of the children. She is likely a mother herself with family expectations and plans on the Sunday. So I try to understand the situation even while regretting what it does to a mother like Zabeth.
ReplyDeleteOne must imagine the thousands of parents on mother's day in BC not able to connect with their children in the care of MCFD on meaningful days. The other reality is Sunday may be double-time payments.
ReplyDeleteThere are non-parents, male supervisors, iphones that do video conferencing with computer webcams -- there are innumerable means available to facilitate communications. In short, the reason given does not wash.
On a related note, is there communication between the children and parents?
Another way to guage sincerity of MCFD with respect to the objective of a return is the quality (or lack of) communications between the foster parent and the bio parents.
If the current caregivers have been accustomed to viewing the Bayens through the lens of SBS and abuse, I am wondering now if they have corrected any misconceptions and are thinking return and transition.
In the few years that I have known Zabeth and Paul I have always wondered how a system that is suppose to protect children could actually do the exact opposite and destroy YEARS of wonderful family moments. How this case ever got this far I will never know. Zabeth and Paul are two wonderful, loving people who have somehow been caught in this vortex of control by a government agency that should be ashamed of themselves for continually acting inappropriately with regards to this case. It appalls me and breaks my heart.
ReplyDeleteSusan Patterson yours are my sentiments exactly.
ReplyDeleteI am still counting the days until June 2nd (23 to go) when every Birthday,Christmas and MOTHERS DAY will be just as they should be for the Baynes,I am trusting God with all my might,for their strong and blessed future together as a family.