My mom called CPS on me. Toddler is sick and I dont have insurance
Wondering if someone can explain what might happen here. I'm already having a hard time, so if people could refrain from being mean, that would be appreciated.
So my toddler and I both had insurance until Monday; I was on medical leave from a surgery, but am returning to work May 1st. Im doing great now. Since it was not FMLA (havent been there a full year), but an ADA leave, they took my daughter off of my work insurance without telling me. I found out when I went to go find her digital insurance card in the app.
I did ask them about it, because I had been paying for both of our benefits to stay, but they said they stopped charging me for hers April 1. They didnt give an option to pay to keep her on for now, but said she will be eligible again 30 days from May 1st. Theres not much I can do there for fear of being fired; they're not required to save my job due to not being there a full year. So I just kind of accepted it.
Of course, my toddler got sick and started showing symptoms on Tuesday. Not surprised, my 11 year old sister (my dad's daughter and step moms) had the flu & strep, and she lives in the same house as me. We did keep them separated and sanitized, still my kid got sick.
I took her to her pediatrician Thursday (she let me without insurance and I will be paying it later cash pay). My toddler does not have strep (the quick test was negative, 80% accurate, however we are still waiting for the culture (100% accurate), might not be back until next week). She seemed fine, just had congestion and a small cough. I took her because I read if its strep she needs antibiotics, but luckily no strep.
I have been doing pedialyte, warm baths, and also today I started giving her Tylenol & motrin alternated. For ear pain. She did not have an ear infection yesterday (doctor checked), but she definitely has one today. Light fever, alll day ear pulling, and discharge. She has ear tubes, but she got one anyways (which also happened in November when she had hand, foot, & mouth disease; the ear looks the same as then, lots of discharge and ear pulling).
Of course her doctor doesnt work Fridays, so I cant have her send a prescription. This is where I was messaging my mom and I was venting about how stressful this was (my daughter not having insurance & being sick). She starts accusing me of being a bad mom and neglecting my daughter. She tells me she called CPS and said shes going to fight to take my daughter from me.
Unfortunately, this behavior is not a surprise. We actually have been very close the last year, without issues, but this was my last attempt to fix a relationship with her. This nut lost all custody of us to my dad, when we were kids (the kids he had with her). She has BPD and paranoid schizophrenia. I try to have a distant, "public places only" relationship with her as of 2 years ago (didnt talk to her for 9 years before that). I only see her to eat at restaurants. She behaves in public and hasn't been an issue, we also message often. She kept telling me about her meds and how she hates the side effects (which I signaled to me she was taking them this whole time, but possibly not). This is why I never moved to see her in private places. I just had a feeling this wouldn't work, but I missed her during hard moments & wanted to try once as an adult. Lesson learned. Never talking to her again. But now im in trouble because of my choices.
The issue is for the ear infection, I made a video appointment for ear infection pain (through a company my insurance has for video visits), and i lied to get a prescription. I said i had an ear infection and needed drops. Its the same dose she previously had for ear infections in November, because I told the doctor thats the med & dosage that worked "last time" (he sent it without a problem). Yes, I know thats a crime. But it's the only solution I came up with since my kid doesnt have insurance rn and I do.
So if CPS comes, and I cant tell them I got the ear drop prescription, what is going to happen? Are they going to think im medically neglecting her? She isn't very sick, is even playing happily, indoors only while she gets better (and im trying to get her to rest, but other than her regular nap earlier, she wants to run around at full speed 😭), but she does clearly have an ear infection.
I plan to call her pediatrician Monday, but she just doesnt work until then. Also, im hoping it goes the positive way and my kid is improving by then, but if not I will just take her again to her pediatrician. If it gets a lot worse this weekend, I will go to the ER of course. I'm just worried about how it looks rn, due to her not having insurance and it looking like she has an ear infection i "didnt" get medicine for.
Posted Apr 24, 2026, 8:25 PM UTC