In Pinellas Park, Florida, a six year old girl named Kimberly lives with her grandparents, who took her in when she was just six months old after it was found that her mother was a substance abuser. She has lived in their retirement community ever since. However, the estate has a strict rule against children living there, so the Home Owners Association is demanding that she be evicted.
Jimmy and Judie Stottler say that they want to leave the community, but their plans to sell their home were derailed when the housing market crashed. With no place to go, they are now leaving the matter up to the courts to decide. Kimberly could end up in a foster home, but Judie says “They will have to drag me out in handcuffs and tear her from my arms. I’m not putting her out on the streets.”
It seems incredible that this could happen, yet it’s not uncommon to meet people who have an unyielding devotion to the letter of the law, for whatever reason. But in these troubled times, it’s up to all of us to present a united front — not just for our own sake, but as an example to show our children the value of cooperation. No rule is more important than the people it’s meant to protect. Adaptability, flexibility, compassion — these are the important traits to instill in our kids. Let’s hope that this situation is resolved properly, with Kimberly remaining with the people she loves and who love her.
