in the valley of the shadow

[threeplusfire]

Well. I just logged out for lunch and there are 65 calls hanging in the queue. There are well over 300 ereports hanging round like invisible birds. To say that we are busy is an understatement at this point. It's more "we are buried under a tidal wave" sort of thing.

My work has been one extreme to the other today, very little middle ground. I have three calls from people who are irate and incensed that we won't investigate mothers who *gasp* take their children to work with them because other childcare arrangements fell through. None of these women work in hazardous environments, and there's nothing to say their bosses forbid this sort of arrangement. No one is even working in food service, where there might be a health code violation. What petty, mean bullshit. Now the situation with the stripper mother who had her toddlers out in the club, that was a different story.

I took an awful sexual abuse call this morning. This poor twelve year old is getting raped by stepdad. When she told mom about it, mom smacked her around and called her a liar. Then stepdad beat her up too. At point the girl tried to stab stepdad and then herself to avoid being raped. When she called her biological father today for help, he threatened to kill her. Bio dad told the girl she was an ungrateful little liar and how dare she make up these stories when stepdad gave her a home. I mean, what the fuck kind of reaction is that? It really shocks me how much of that stigma of sexual assault does still exist.

My other horrifying call involved a two month old baby with severe injuries to his face and belly. We're talking raw, open wounds. They were so bad we didn't know if they were burns or abrasions from the description provided. The father just said the kid's skin came off in the bath and the mother wouldn't say a word. Um, right. Skin just comes off in the bath! Again, what the fuck?

I'm having that day where I just want to drive out to these little towns, grab these kids and take them back to my friends who love babies. (With a small detour to lay the righteous hand of my burning vengence down upon these perpetrators.) Some days these things make me fearsomely angry.

Earlier my call was so bittersweet. The mother called in to report herself, because she knew she was fucking up big time and needed help before something really bad happened. I can't even begin to imagine how hard that must have been to do. In that situation, the only thing I can do is tell them that they were brave, and I'm glad they called. What else can you do?

Comments

[schmidtybooger.livejournal.com]

I am amazed at your strength, your tenacity, and your ginormous heart. I will light a candle for you, for your callers, and for the children tonight.
Take a long bath with some fancy soap and know you are a light in the valley.

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It's all about the bath.