My Blog

Sunday 31st July 

I started this blog to help me get my thoughts together regarding my sister’s hoarding, impact on her children, the impact on me and whether the child protection system (in the UK) was appropriate to help deal with the situation.

When the girls first moved in I thought they would be here a few months as I could never see my sister getting her act together and sorting things out. The truth is she didn’t and the only reason her children were returned to her was because of all the work and effort G, his Mum and I put into clearing the house. My sister in fact did very little. My nieces returned home after just a few weeks and I’ve never been there since. She has not asked for my help to finish clearing the lounge, she obviously thinks it is OK now.

More importantly I have not heard from the Social Worker. She said she would continue paying fortnightly visits and that she would let me know the outcome of her investigation. This was due several weeks ago, so I can only assume they don’t intend to take any further action.

I’ve never been convinced the Child Protection process is the right way of dealing with hoarders, but maybe legal action is the only way to get people to face up to the situation they are in. My sister didn’t seem too bothered by the ‘interference’ of Social Workers or that the girls were living with me. It didn’t motivate her to do much at all. Perhaps if G and I hadn’t done what we did then the girls might still be here now.

My blog hasn’t helped me understand why she is a hoarder or how the child protection process might be a way of dealing with it. I feel angry and have overwhelming thoughts that she is just plain lazy. I know this doesn’t fit with the idea of hoarding being a mental health illness and deep down I know this is the case, but when someone doesn’t want to take responsibility for their actions, it’s so difficult.