CPS Definition of "Normal"

[ReiningGrace]

My question involves child abuse or neglect in the State of: Indiana

We have recently been turned in for "emotional abuse" by my ex-wife (estranged from my children for 7 years!). Although all findings come back fine (yeah!), we are still very disturbed by CPS workers statements regarding the fact that our children (recently turned 16 and 17) are "not normal" because they don't have a drivers' license. There are several reasons for this: my daughter has ADD, and statistics strongly show a much higher rate of accidents; 5 of their high school friends have been killed (others injured) in teenage car accidents; plus the rate of insurance and car. Right now, they are strong, independent young women (president of their 4-H clubs, running a horse boarding business, can shop, clean, plan and prepare meals, have worked as a teacher's assistant for summer school for autistic kids, and on and on . . . so how can CPS insist that they do not have "sufficient life-skills"? Oh, and the fact they can't balance a checkbook (our credit union won't give them an account until they are 18!!! and they receive and deposit their own money from artwork and horse boarding into their individual savings account!) What are their measures to determine this? If we wrote a letter, do you think we should wait until the final report is finished? Thanks much -

[CourtClerk]

I was 10 when I learned to balance a check book. It wasn't my checking account, it was my mother's. That's neither here nor there, but there are ways to teach your children how to do those things without them having their own. Get blank balance books from the bank.

Having a driver license doesn't come anywhere NEAR neglect. I wouldn't be handing my teenagers driver licenses and a car either, and that's your right as a parent. If the case is closed, let it be.

[ReiningGrace]

Thanks so much for your answer - it just seemed so odd that a CPS worker would claim to be a "christian" and a professional - and then improse her value system, and not a legally defined yardstick - on our decision not to get the license. They do know HOW to drive, we just haven't registered them to! AND it is hard to teach them respect for the CPS worker, while they are trying to process being told they aren't' normal by her . . . . I think we'll take your advice and let it be - especially since it looks like Indiana will be a state where you have to be 18 to drive . . . . thanks again . . .