when she comes home, because apparently, we are now the TSA.
she unfortunately already has a firm grasp on what's going on and how serious it is.
I'm really not sure about that. I think she's identified that she doesn't like it when her mother drinks or smokes. I don't think she has a lot of awareness about the drugs - but if she opened that case herself she'd have known what it meant for sure because we have already talked to her about needles.
I don't wish that kind of stress and worry on anyone, especially a kid. I don't really have any advice other than to say just keep doing what you're doing by being a consistent and reliable presence in her life.
My big consideration right now is about whether or not she should be told exactly what is going on with her mother. I don't really know what her brothers might have said, but they both want her protected. She has had a totally different childhood than them and they like it that way.
And I do second the counseling/medical professional suggestion. If you all can't get her there, maybe just get some advice from someone, including what do do with and how to handle it (on her end) if anything like the makeup kit happens again.
This is reminding me that I did talk to someone many years ago about supporting her older brothers and I can access that again through my EAP. It's hard to really talk about it when it's never been acknowledged, though. I know at some point she will ask why she doesn't live with her mother. But she isn't and I think it's because she doesn't want to know.
((HUGS))
Thanks!
