“Does She Want Us?”: A Family Breaks Down
Two young brothers and their mother have a painful phone conversation after she failed to show up for them at family court. How does this moment impact these young men decades later? Learn how traumatic stress in children can impact the rest of their lives in “Broken Places.”
(somber music)
- [Narrator] Ursulina reported to the family court
to proceed with the seemingly inevitable adoption.
(men chattering) (bag thudding)
- We're going to inform the court
that we're going to put in a petition
to terminate the mother's rights today.
- [Ursulina] What happens when you do that?
- Once the package goes in, we come back to court.
And she has a right to come to court and fight
for her rights.
- Okay, the bad news is your mother didn't show up.
That's the bad news.
- [Boy] Does she want us?
- Yeah, well this is the question
you got to ask your mother.
- [Mother] Raymond, I could not face them saying
that they was gonna take y'all from me.
I had my clothes ready and everything.
My friend woke me up this morning,
but I just couldn't deal with it, I couldn't go.
But, you see how I pray God is on my side.
He's giving me another chance, right?
- What do you mean by you couldn't get up and go?
- [Mother] Yeah, I didn't go to court.
- Why?
- [Mother] Because I didn't want to hear them
take y'all from me.
- What are you talking about you was scared?
You were supposed to be there and tell them
you don't want them to take your kids.
Here.
- All right now, this is Sam.
(stammering) This has got us thinking, like do she want us?
The judge is saying, no maybe she doesn't
because she's not here.
You see what I'm saying?
- [Mother] Yeah.
- So, I don't know what else to say.
You say you do but you're not showing us.
- [Mother] I do want you guys.
Don't say that.
- I have to say that, you need to hear that.
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