I Should Have Stopped.

Recently one of our students mothers was kicked out of her home, with her son.
She was left homeless, moving around to different friends homes. Until they wouldn't allow her in.
Her son hasn't been to school in 13 days. By Law, we have to drop students from the roll after 10 consecutive absent days. Why hasn't he been to school? The students grandmother convinced the mother that our teacher and the schools were only out to report her to the state and have her son taken away, that we weren't here to help her. Never mind that the school foundation gave her a $1200 adaptive stroller since she doesn't have a car.


Monday, we had to drop him from our rolls. Janice (our special ed teacher) has been doing everything she can to help this mother out, but she's been so brainwashed that she won't let help in. She's doing the best she can, but she's developmentally delayed too, and she needs the help Janice can get her. We have no idea where she is at right now, all we know is that she's in a shelter.

Today, on my way home from the dentist office, I decided I'd go a different route home. It's a longer drive, but I wasn't in any hurry. As I was driving down a hill, I look over, and there is our student, and his Mom. Walking in the pouring rain. With no waterproof clothing on. No Umbrella. Totally Soaked. And no stroller. I nearly hit the car in front of me I was so shocked. This is the part I am kicking myself for. I didn't stop. I forgot that he wasn't our student anymore, that I wouldn't be breaking my contract/dumb laws if I stopped and helped them and even give them a ride. At the next stoplight I hurried and sent a text to Janice telling her I saw them. I told her I was tempted to turn around and at least give her my umbrella. She told me to go for it and to tell them we love them, miss them and want to help them, so I did. And I couldn't find them. I drove that stretch of road 3 times looking. Looking at every bus stop, looking into windows at businesses. But I couldn't find them.

Janice called me as I was pulling into the school parking lot to pick up my Mom, to see if I found them again. She went out looking for them too. She talked to our principal about it, and since he is no longer a student at our school, Janice wouldn't be breaking any laws if she took him and his Mom to live with her.
My Mom and I went driving past shelters to see if we could find her again, with no luck...
Janice didn't have any luck either...


I have never regretted something so bad. I should have stopped right then and there. To let that Mom know, that no matter what, we're here to help her. That we want the best for her and her son. That we'll do everything to make sure she's able to keep custody of her son.

That image, of them walking cold and soaked, in the down pouring rain is going to haunt me until I find them. I have to help them. I have to know her and her son are okay. Please pray we'll be able to find them. If we don't find her soon, we have to report her for a form of educational neglect. Keep an eye out for them, and pray hard. I know I am.