If your children were removed from your home by CPS, and placed into foster care, you’re probably wondering how you can spend Christmas with them this year. It must be a terribly stressful time for you, and the prospect of being alone on Christmas can be very disheartening. But while this holiday season may not be the one you’d hoped and dreamed of, there are options available to you during this difficult time.
If your kids are with relatives for Christmas:
When CPS workers take kids away from their parents, they usually try to find other family members to place them with first, before putting them into a stranger’s home. So if your kids are staying with relatives over the holiday season, reach out and ask if you can visit with them on Christmas eve or Christmas day. Being with relatives might make it easier to spend the day with your kids, even if you’re spending it at your relative’s house and not your own home.
There may be restrictions put in place by CPS regarding how and when you can see your children (and we don’t recommend you violate those orders as it could make it even harder in the long run when trying to get your kids back!) But there’s no harm in finding out what your options are. If you aren’t able to see them in person, at least ask if you can drop off their gifts, so they don’t sit unopened under the tree, and your children have a little something from you to brighten their Christmas day.
If your kids are staying in a foster home for Christmas:
If your children have been placed with strangers, reach out to CPS and ask your caseworker about what your options are for seeing them over the holidays. It’s not likely to be the option you want most (having them come home for the holidays) but you never know what’s available until you ask. You may be able to meet at a local restaurant for a bit to share a cup of hot chocolate and give them their gifts.
However, please remember that there is no guarantee that your CPS caseworker will agree to let you see your kids on Christmas. Especially if your visits with your kids are supervised, there may not be an authorised person available to supervise a Christmas day visit. However, if you want to give your kids their gifts, you can always ask if it’s okay to pass them along to your caseworker to be given to your kids in time for the holidays. Or keep them and give them to your kids in person the next time you’re together.
We understand that this is not an ideal situation…
Being without your kids at any time is awful. Having them in another home over the holidays when you should be celebrating together is devastating. So we understand how hard this must be for you right now. But awful as it is, know that you don’t have to do this alone. The skilled and experienced CPS defense attorneys at The Kronzek Firm are available to help you fight for your parent rights, and work to reunite your family as soon as legally possible. Call 866 766 5245 today to ensure that you have the best of the best working alongside you during this difficult time. Your family is important, and we can help defend you against CPS overreach.