[blparent] Update on my daughter Ashlee

Tue Jan 29 16:55:41 UTC 2013

No, we don't. We can discuss it. We can speculate. We can do all this because she chose to post. Nobody made her do that.
How useful is it to other parents or anybody googling this topic to see her post followed by a bunch of "You go girl" responses?
Somebody reading this may not know that they can make a different choice should they be in that situation.
We assume Jessica is ok with her decision, she may not be.
She chose to post, and based on that, we can examine it if we'd like. We don't have to all think "What a good decision" especially knowing that these posts go to the great storage provider in the sky. It serves no purpose for anybody who may find this topic to think that Jessica's situation is right for anybody but her.

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jo Elizabeth Pinto
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 11:42 AM
To: Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] Update on my daughter Ashlee

That I do agree with.  The possibilities of having a baby taken away, and
getting strong-armed by the system, are scary for new parents.  However,
every issue has two sides, and usually the truth is somewhere between the
two.  For whatever reason that's none of our business, Jess has made her
difficult decision.  Whether pressured by the system or not, she has done
what she feels is best, and we have to honor that.  It might not be what we
would do, but we don't know the whole story.

Jo Elizabeth

Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may
kick it about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at
evening.--Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
-----Original Message-----
From: Pickrell, Rebecca M (TASC)
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 6:38 AM
To: 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [blparent] Update on my daughter Ashlee

Here's the thing. Posts like Jessica's scare the hell out of new moms.
They may be isolated incidents, and there may be incomplete information, but
that doesn't matter if it's you.
If I was a new mom, I'd be scared poopless reading Jessica's thread.  She
didn't get to be the mom she wanted to be and everybody on the list is
saying "the baby is better off, she's adjusted to the new family, she's
doing the most unselfish thing ever"
Think about what that says to a new mom. You may be subject to extra
scrutiny, your baby may be taken from you, and if that happens, nobody's got
your back. These incidents are isolated, and the baby is better off. Do the
unselfish thing and let another family raise your baby.  What a way to
disempower parents.

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bernadetta
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2013 9:38 PM
To: blparent at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [blparent] Update on my daughter Ashlee

I agree with Jody. For the new moms and the moms-to-be on here, I've
said it before and I'll reiterate it  more succinctly. People aren't
going to knock down your door and take your babies away because your
blind. There have been a few unfortunate incidents where children have
been taken for unjust reasons where blind parents are concerned, but
those have been isolated incidents and have mostly since been rectified
. CPS takes kids away when they feel the child is  being neglected or
if the parents demonstrate obvious signs of not being able to care for
the child properly. Let's also remember that in the cases of which we
may have heard children were sepearated from their parents, we may not
know the whole story. There are three sides to every  such story: The
parents' side, CPS's side and the truth. If you understand the basics
of childcare and you have a stable environment in which to raise  your
child, you should be perfectly alright.
Understand that though you may have CPS investigations a time or two,
braught on by general ignorance and concern from strangers over your
blindness in combination with parenting, you can prove your case quite
easily by showing the social workers etc. that your child is happy,
healthy and safe.
Relax ladies, and enjoy those baby months. They fly by way too fast, as
Jo Elizabeth said before.

Bernadetta

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CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This message and any attachments or files transmitted with it (collectively, the "Message") are intended only for the addressee and may contain information that is privileged, proprietary and/or prohibited from disclosure by law or contract. If you are not the intended recipient: (a) please do not read, copy or retransmit the Message; (b) permanently delete and/or destroy all electronic and hard copies of the Message; (c) notify us by return email; and (d) you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of the Message is strictly prohibited.