Relief!

I have a list of things that I want to do before the kids go on this trip, because I am really worried about the flight risk with X. I’m not sure he could — or would — try it, but I’d like to avoid it if I can. I also worry that he will get distracted and they will get lost or be abducted. Paranoid? Maybe, but these days, with kids getting snatched out of their own yards and homes, I don’t think you can be too careful.

I’m going to get them ID tags, like military dog tags, for them to wear in case they get lost. And we’re going to get pictures taken this weekend so that I have a really current set for them. We had them fingerprinted a few years back, and if I cannot find those records, I’m going to go down to the local police precinct and have it done again. I might go to the DMV next week and get state ID cards made for them. Not sure if it’s worth the half-day it would take to get them.

I was going to get them passports, so that X couldn’t do that while they are away, but I got to reading on the passport information site, and it seems that there is a law now that a child under 14 has to have both parents sign off on any passport application. So I won’t be bothering with the passport thing. I can’t get it without his okay, and he can’t apply for one without my signature, so I am pretty certain that he cannot get them out of the country. That’s a big relief.

It’s also a big relief to know that he hasn’t already gotten them passports, since I haven’t signed anything like that over the past five years. And since I have all of their vital records (like birth certificate and social security card) locked in my safe, I don’t think he can get the ID needed to get them passports anyway. Sigh. That’s a load off of my mind.

Tags: children, divorce, fears, single parenting