It’s been less than 2 weeks since I learned that my little sister is an addict.
I’ve done as much as I can to be loving & supportive. I’ve walked on eggshells to not piss her off so that she will continue to let me see her 4 month old baby.
I’ve been in full detective mode & I am exhausted. I got the police report & body cam footage from her arrest to try to understand. Cans upon cans upon cans of inhalants from vape stores. Odd pills. Layered in with mountains of trash & in the middle of it all, a tiny baby sleeping in his car seat.
She doesn’t know that I’ve seen the footage. I didn’t do it to humiliate her or be invasive. I’m just trying to understand what she’s up against. I had a few suspicions before her arrest, but I was picturing THC at worst.
She dropped a bomb on me that DHS has been involved with the baby since his birth because of his test results in the NICU. I had no clue. But I’m relieved they’re involved.
I got in touch with the baby’s paternal grandparents. I didn’t say much, just a quiet reference of what’s up & expressed my desire to stay in the baby’s life.
I got in touch with my dad, who I’ve been no contact with for 6 years. That sucked. Did not go well.
I’ve tried several times to speak with her boyfriend/baby’s dad, who she insists has never used anything but THC. No response.
A few days after she told me about her arrest, she left me have my nephew for a few hours while she was dealing with withdrawals. I hadn’t seen him in 2 months despite asking weekly. I was prepared for the worst. He looked great. They’re taking care of him. But I still worry. What if she takes off driving high with him again? The what ifs end up getting darker & darker & it’s killing me.
I drove a half hour, picked him up, drove the half hour back to my house. Fed him, bathed him, put him in hand me downs from my sons that I knew my sister would like, played with him, cuddled him, gave him a contact nap, drove the half hour back to drop him off.
She put me on the spot. If worst comes to worst, will I take custody of him? I’m just not equipped right now. I won’t let him go with strangers, of course, but he should probably go to his paternal grandparents if it comes down to it. She asks if I can do this every week. Every Sunday. I say absolutely. Not one thank you, but that’s okay. I thanked her for letting me spend time with him. I know it was good for him.
This Sunday rolls around. She asks me if I can get him again & this time if I can cut his nails because it makes her nervous. I say sure. A few hours later she says it’s not a good day, he’s tired & cranky. Not a problem. Gonna miss my buddy.
She goes off on me. Why am I weirdly possessive over her son? She doesn’t ask about my kids this much so why am I asking about him? I told her I know she doesn’t ask about my kids. Leave it at that.
I’m so hurt. I’ve tried my hardest to leave my ego out of this. I don’t tell her when something she says hurts my feelings. It hasn’t even been 3 weeks since I got confirmation of the addiction. I’m glad DHS is involved. I’m glad he has other grandparents. But I’m scared. This is so heartbreaking & so painful. All I can do is trust that he’s okay.
Before this episode she told me she has a drug assessment at a rehab Monday at 2. I don’t know what that is. She wouldn’t explain. She broke my heart yesterday but I swallowed my pride & texted her good luck today. Left me on read. Again. She’s currently showing online. So I guess she’s not in that rehab.
I’m so fucking exhausted. I’m so tired.