After I said no, my entitled brother sent his kids in a taxi to my former address, not realizing I had already moved. The new tenant made a quick phone call that set off consequences my brother never saw coming and I watched everything unravel.

CPS explained the situation. I could take them home temporarily under kinship placement, but it would be documented. There would be a safety plan.

“I’ll take them tonight,” I said. “But I need it clearly stated that I am not default childcare.”

They documented it.

When Jason stormed into the station, he didn’t rush to his children. He came straight at me.

“What did you do?” he demanded.

An officer stepped between us.
Watching Maddie flinch at her father’s voice told me everything. Jason wasn’t afraid for his kids. He was angry his control failed.

The next morning CPS confirmed: a safety plan would be implemented. Jason would complete parenting classes. Any future childcare arrangements must be confirmed in writing.

When he called later, he tried reframing it.

“You made this look like abandonment.”

“You left them at an address without confirming anyone was there,” I said. “That’s not optics. That’s reality.”

He had no response.