Can social services take my child for having roaches?
Ok, this is really embarrassing, but I’m really scared… so scared that I don’t want anyone over. First off, I will say that my house is not filthy, but it is messy. I.e, laundry everywhere that I’m trying to sort through and give away, toys on the floor that my daughter plays with. The thing is that it’s a lot of clutter, even the room my mom used to stay in has turned into a messy storage room where most of the clothes I’m sorting through are. I also have a ton of stuff here that is my mother’s because she’s a pack rat. I’ve been trying to make the house look better, and I always keep the kitchen clean as I can, and take out the trash, but it’s so hard with the roaches, we’ve had them for awhile now, but I can’t seem to get rid of them. I don’t keep a lot of dishes in the cabinet, because I take them out and vacuum them up once a week. But it’s so embarrassing, and even though I’m a good mother, I’m so afraid someone might come over and take my child away because I have roaches. I love my child very much, and I would never deprive or neglect her. I just don’t know what to do, we have a pest control that comes and sprays, but it doesn’t seem to be helping. I’m starting to think they love the clutter.
December 10th, 2011 at 6:36 am
If someone deicids it is an unfit living condition for your child then they can take your child away. I would trash all the clutter that is cheap, not special, and not highly valuable. I would sell alot of it the handy down stores or give it to charitys, or rent a storage room for the clutter. It may seem stressful and unpleasent to do this but its worth keeping your child, not risking the people in your homes health, and your house being deemed un liviable if it gets so bad and youd have to move etc. Roaches are dirty insects that easily multiply and can be a health and mental risk.
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December 10th, 2011 at 7:35 am
They love cardboard boxes and paper and I would toss those cloths why would you want other people to get your roaches they breed in cloths especially if there is sweat in them.
you clean your kitchen and that is a good thing,get rid of clutter and your moms things become a minimalist,keep what you need do not be a pack rat,that is a welcome mat for roaches .
What I had to do when I moved I bombed the cloths and my stuff that I was going to keep and then washed everything to get them out of my stuff and there eggs too,its a lot of work but it helped me to sleep at night,this was 30 years ago I cleaned my furniture inside out.
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December 10th, 2011 at 8:36 am
You are right to be worried. I know you are doing the best you can, but you have got to find a way to take some of the clutter out. The simple truth is that there is no way you can properly clean the floors, or anything else when there is so much clutter taking up all the space. Your roach problem will continue to get worse unless you remove some of the stuff. Basically there is too much stuff or clutter or whatever for the amount of living space you have. This is why it is impossible, no matter what you do to keep it clean.
Try to sit down and have a talk with your mom, and try to make a plan together about how to slowly get rid of some of the stuff. I am sorry to say this, but you also need to think about what if your roach problem spreads to your neighbors – this is very possible because of your situation. If they call the health authorities on you, then you have a whole new set of problems. You have to try to make your mother understand that there is simply not enough space for 3 people to live, and for all her pack rat stuff. Explain to her that she is being selfish and is putting all of you in danger to get in trouble with the health department.
Good luck to you.
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