The De-evolution of a family Part I

For my own peace of mind I have figured out the whole lack of birth certificate fiasco that my sisters are dealing with now.
I am my mother’s first child. She happened to be in the home of her cousin, Harold Blackmore, when her labor began. She was shy and afraid and didn’t want my dad and his first wife to know that she was in labor so they went home or ? I haven’t figured that part out. Harold had been an FLDS member although not at the time I was born in 69.? He took my mom to the clinic in Hildale, Ut (Shortcreek). The midwife, Lydia Jessop, of course had all the necessary papers to send for my birth certificate and that is what my mom wanted even though my dad had wanted us NOT to be in the system.
Her 2nd baby, Joy, born 18 months later was an unassisted birth on a sidewalk or driveway or something in front of someone’s house in Mexico.! Of course they brought the good old table out to assist in delivery. What’s up with the table deliveries?
Rachel was born in Deming just 16 months or so after Joy, at home, unassisted. Becca came 2 years after Rachel in the same manner.
I have had several of my babies unassisted out of choice, not necessity. It is always a nerve wracking thing to get a birth certificate. It’s been different every time I have done it. I had the back-up of my husband as well as a small community of unassisted birthers on the internet and a good friend midwife, all there to ease my mind and give me advice etc. My mom had none of those. She felt alone and afraid. She was a Canadian, citizen which complicated everything in her mind. My sisters had almost no identity. My mother had basically given up her own identity. She had a husband she could not claim.
My sisters have gotten by with written statements from several people. It allowed them to get a drivers license or ID. This year they can no longer get away with it and have been forced to figure out how to get a US BC without jeopardizing moms status.
As far as I can see the worst that could happen is that mom is deported to Canada which wouldn’t be too much of a problem except that she is essential in Rachels life. I think we can pull up the slack if that happened but I can understand moms worry.
I’m ashamed of myself for not understanding WHY my sisters have gone without a birth certificate. To complicate it even more is that we all have Mexican BC’s but because they have claimed to have been born in the US they are afraid to try and use those BC’s to get “Born Abroad” certificates.

When do you do or say something?

When it concerns children? I came right out, finally, and told my youngest full sister that she leaves her children too much. Our mom has them every weekend so my sister can travel to different places to either visit a boyfriend, or do some modeling job that she never gets paid for, or to just get away. She texted me that if she wanted my opinion she would have asked for it. It makes me wonder if someone like me has any responsibility to try and set things straight. If I believe her children are suffering, or that our mother is being worn out, or that she is being irresponsible by spending what little money she has on car gas instead of living expenses like phone, car loan, rent. And it's not like I woke up this morning and decided today was the day to add more stress to my sisters life. She complained about our mother a little and I felt I had to say something. It's more complicated than that, her children's father is in prison and our mother isn't able to allow my sister to move on.
Another, worse situation; My niece who's mother drinks called me a couple weeks ago to please come get her. It was late and I drove right over. When I got there the 5 month old was screaming and my niece said "please come talk to my mom, she dropped the baby". I went upstairs to my sister and the baby. They were both hysterical. I spoke very softly to them both, gently took the baby and walked him around the house whispering to him until he calmed down. Sister could not calm down. She had fought with my niece, her teenage daughter, and in the process dropped the baby on the tile bathroom floor face first according to my 5 year old niece. My sister cried hysterically over and over that "she pulled my HAIR!" I took the baby upstairs to the teenagers room and quietly asked if her mother had been drinking. My niece believed she had. My sister came into the room and with an ugly snarl asked what we were talking about. I boldly told her, "Your drinking". She snarled at me to give her the baby. Some awful, protective instinct made me say, "If you take this baby I will call Child Protective Services" I'm embarrassed. I let her take her baby and I dialed the CPS # that I already had saved in my contacts. He and the police came right over. They talked with her for a long time and again (I had called them once before but she didn't know it) didn't think there was too much out of place. I made my niece come down and talk with them and show them her bloody hand. They finally gave my sister a breathalizer test and she was very intoxicated. Much more than the "one" drink she said she had. She now has a file on her. The CPS agent wants to help her. She does have a problem and she refuses to believe it. When she is not drinking she is a very good mother. These 2 sisters drive me insane. I blame it on the impoverished childhood and their extreme lack of education. When is it my business? Am I out of line?

Quit taking the Bible out of context.

Some hero's

Sarah Pratt, first wife of Orson Pratt. William Law, once second councilor to Joseph Smith and owner of the Expositor. Mark Twain!

Teenagers #1 and #2

Teenagers

Whew! I think the worst might be over. Last year was a tough one for us with our teenagers. After 6 weeks in New Mexico with their Aunt the 2 oldest came back ready to be somebody! Ready to care about education. Malachi's whole wardrobe has changed. He asked me to buzz his hair before he left. He now leaves it natural. He has really beautiful, wavy hair. He used to wear it somewhat long and then he'd spend a bunch of time straightening it. He wanted to get into the tight and but dragging pants style. Now he wears nice fitting 501's. The best part of all this change is that he is, so far, an A student! He cares! Plus I told him he'll have to pay for any classes he fails.
Aurora is happy to be in college, where before, she acted like I was forcing her to go. She loves being there. They are still lazy about looking for jobs but at this point I just want to see good grades and I hate them to compromise with work. Even though I know other kids do and it's good for them. We'll see. Zach is just 14 and we haven't had any teenage issues with him. I don't think we will. This year I love teenagers!

Another pot bust

Why are we wasting our time and money with this? Alcohol kills people. Does marijuana? I don't think so. How about we make SMOKING ANYTHING a thing of the past, it's not healthy. But tea..would probably be very healthy. I don't know.