In all our recent stories about the custody madness surrounding Charlie Sheen’s four year-old twin boys with his ex, Brooke Mueller, we’ve expressed relief that Denise Richards is caring for them. Both Charlie and the boy’s mother, Brooke Mueller, are drug addicted a-holes who are probably incapable of taking care of a pet, not to mention two little boys who need them. So at least Denise Richards, a single mom to three daughters, was willing to take on two more and to welcome them into her family.
In Charlie’s weekened rant against Brooke, and against the California Department of Child and Family Services for granting Brooke unsupervised visits, he mentioned that the twins were having behavioral problems. Charlie said that after spending time with their biological mom, Brooke, the boys have been acting out and may be kicked out of their school. Brooke claims to be sober after her 21st stint in rehab and is trying to gain back custody and take Charlie to court for threatening her. She may have a point, but I really doubt she’s sober and I don’t think she should ever be granted unsupervised visits.
Unfortunately Denise Richards recently filed papers with DCFS stating that she can no longer care for Max and Bob. She details changes in their behavior which are disturbing, abusive, and could seriously harm her daughters and her dogs. These behavioral changes coincide with the boys’ increased visits with their mother. You can read Denise’s letter in its entirety on Radar Online. It really breaks my heart. Here’s a long excerpt with more at the source:
With a heavy heart I must inform you that I can no longer be Bob and Max’s caregiver. This has been an extremely difficult decision because I have so much love for the boys. I have always cared for them as if they were my own children. Unfortunately, I have seen them get worse with increased contact with their mom and I am unable to obtain for them proper assessments and professional help. I have seen the boys’ continuing violence towards animals, their sisters and adults. This recent decision means the girl’s can’t continue their relationship with their dad. I believe I have no choice coming to this difficult decision for the reasons I explain below.
I know these boys to be very kind and loving. Bob loves to draw and play the drums while Max loves sports. They think of my dad as one of their grandfathers and my youngest daughter Eloise as their sister. They look up to their big sisters and really enjoy Eloise looking up to them.
At the time of placement Bob was very anxious, biting his nails. Max was very emotional and aggressive towards his brother. Nighttime was difficult. Prior to placement they didn’t have a bedtime. It was very inconsistent. They were often up until 4am. They had no boundaries, manners, didn’t know how to share, and weren’t respectful of other children. Shortly after placement Bob stopped biting his nails, they learned to play with my daughters and other children, they did very well with a regular bedtime routine. Their school commented on the noticeable positive change. They were very respectful and had good manners. They seemed very calm and content and happy at our home.
About two months into it, their visits with their mom were increased and I saw changes. They displayed a violent anger that was uncontrollable. As you are aware NAME REDACTED, their therapist, started working with the children about a month after placement. I gave her a history of their behavior over the 10 months prior to placement and the first month after. The boys adjusted very well right after placement. I voiced my concerns to their therapist. I reminded her that they transitioned on and off prior to placement between the both of us. What I started to see in the boys was very different and disturbing at times.
The boys started to have extreme violent mood swings, often times out of nowhere. They would be calm, playing and turn on a dime. The boys would grab anything they could get their hands on as quick as possible. Toys, picture frames, any object within arm’s reach, they can pick up they would throw. They violently threw these things at me, my daughters, anyone near them, as well as at the windows and walls. They have broken iPads, cellphones, flipped small furniture and break it, along with many toys. Bob threw a remote at the tv so hard he cracked the screen. I had to take many things out of their room because they would destroy it. I have had to put things up out of their reach. Things that normally would be appropriate for a 4yr old, have to be put away. After they break things many times they say that I broke them or their sister did. Mine and Charlie’s daughters have been strangled, kicked in the head and stomach, scratched, bit, slapped, punched in the face and head, and spit on. Myself and anyone around them have also experienced this. My daughter Sami had to be taken to the doctor after getting hit in the eye with a toy when Bob came home with from a visit with his mom.
The boys have also been waking up with nightmares. Bob wakes up more often than Max, screaming and crying and it’s usually more than once in a night. The nightmares started about two months ago, then went away. Recently they have returned. Bedtime has become incredibly challenging because of the nightmares and Bob especially is very scared to go to sleep.
It goes on, including details of how Charlie has been a helpful, loving father, and how Denise has fought to get assessments for the boys so they can get help. Brooke blocked Denise’s attempt, told her that the boys could no longer go to their pediatrician, and did not provide another pediatrician for them to see.
Even though these poor boys seem to have been severely affected by having to spend time with their mother, it looks like they will soon have no other place to go.
Charlie is ratcheting up the crazy in response, he’s said and tweeted a bunch of hyperbole and is quoting Apocalypse Now (which his dad starred in) to describe how he’s going to go after Brooke and DCFS. In his addled brain, he probably understands that Denise has gone above and beyond for him and how she’s at the end of her rope and has no other option than to give up the boys. Her letter says as much, and she continually says how much she loves them and wants to help them, but doesn’t want her girls to be harmed.
This story is just so sad, it makes my stomach hurt. Who will be there for those little boys? Their mom is harming them somehow, and it’s so bad they’re acting out. They have no other option but to go back to her at this point. I hope that changes, I hope there’s some incredible turnaround for them. I hope DCFS is forced to revoke Brooke’s visitation rights. At least Charlie is making a huge stink about it, as messed up as he is he does love the boys and will fight for them. I just don’t know where they can go now except with Brooke.
Denise Richards is shown with Max and Bob and her daughters in July. Denise Richards and the boys are shown in October, 2011. Credit: FameFlynet and WENN.com
Why does Denise giving up the boys mean that the girls can no longer see Charlie? Am I reading that wrong?
I take it a Charlie threatening to not be involved if she stops caring for the boys
I took it that since DFS prevented Charlie from seeing Bob and Max it was going to impact his involvement with his daughters. Maybe I misunderstood? !
That’s what i thought, too, though it was not clearly stated in the letter. If Charlie sees his kids at Denise’s house but is forbidden from seeing Bob and Max, then he will be unable to see his daughters, either, because thats where they live, too.
You are right, he can’t be in her home while the boys are there, which is pretty much all the time I guess, until now.
Right Eliza, i figure if DCF says he cant be close to them well.. They stay with Denise, he then also wouldn’t be able to see the girls either, no?
Denise NOT giving up the boys would mean the girls would have a hard time seeing their father. Denise was the appointed supervisor when Charlie would see his boys. They took that away from her so pretty much, he would not be allowed in her home unsupervised when the boys were there as he is now daily. So she would have to make sure the boys were not there when Charlie saw his daughters or take the daughters separately to see their father. It’s a whole lotta mess.
This is such a sad story for everyone involved.
I admire Denise for stepping up and taking care of the boys, even though she had no obligation to do so.
Yup. Such a sad situation. The fact that Brooke went to rehab TWICE for crystal meth addiction WHILE PREGNANT should revoke her parental rights for life.
I’m wondering if Denise is making a play for keeping the boys with the proviso that they cease contact with Brooke. She has clearly stated that they were doing well with her until they started having visits with their mother. By stating that she can’t handle them in a situation where they are going back and forth between her and Brooke, DCFS may award Denise primary custody. DCFS would probably rather do that than lose Denise entirely.
This. With full parental rights.
That’s what I was reading between the lines, too.
That’s exactly what I thought – that Denise is protesting the visitation in a much more subtle and effective way. I believe that if DCFS saw this and decided to revoke Brooke’s visitation rights, that Denise would take the boys in again. And of course, it’s a big threat to the DCFS because who else is going to take care of the boys? They won’t let Brooke take care of them full-time and of course, Charlie is out. Placing TWO children that aren’t babies, that also have known behavioral problems in random foster care is almost impossible. This will get action from DCFS, trust.
Here’s hoping that’s the truth. Brooke has no business being a mother and it’s sad that she brought those two boys into a world with a lot of money but a troubled life. The whole letter is so sad and I wish the DCFS would stop her visitation rights. She is an incompetent parent.
Here’s hoping those boys have normal lives.
I wondered the same thing. If the situation is as described, then I truly feel sorry for Denise and all of the kids involved, but something about her making it clear they were doing well until Brooke was back in the picture, it makes me think this is a manipulation to get fully custody and strip Brooke of all rights. Which in this case, the ends would justify the means, if it keeps those kids away from her.
Those poor, poor kids. My heart breaks for them having to be in this situation.
They need a good stable adoptive home with two parents who are dedicated to them – the time for this is now -hope someone in authority will take some leadership to genuinely help them so they have some chance – my heart breaks for them as well.
This is heartbreaking and I’m glad to see that Denise is not getting any blame by most from what I’ve read in other sites. I still pray that she reconsiders and at this point one doesn’t need a PhD in Child Development to see that Brooke is a terrible influence to her kids. The best thing, in my opinion, would be to cut all ties with her and give Denise all the (financial, emotional, psychological) help she needs to raise them. I pray to God they are well and things don’t turn worse for them. These kids have been through enough already.
After reading the entire document on Radar, I have nothing but respect for Denise. She outlines how many times and in how many ways she tried to get the boys the psychiatric care they so badly need and how she was shut down at every turn. It is clear that she deeply loves the boys and wants to continue to care for them but cannot provide for them what they need. It’s heartbreaking. Denise is a hero and I’m sure this whole situation is totally heartbreaking for her.
I agree! Now it makes sense that she had gotten so thin this past year — look at how much stress she has been dealing with! It’s more than enough to deal with having two additional young children in your care – but then add the emotional problems the boys are dealing with and wow – I don’t know how she did it. I know there is extra help involved, but still… And look at how much time and effort she spent with doctors and mental health experts trying to get help for the boys — only to be stopped by Brooke. At first I thought Charlie was just being Charlie in his rants about Brooke but I am totally on his side about her. She is horrible. And I think Brooke’s mom is just as bad. The mom keeps gunning for Brooke to have the boys but I don’t think she’s any better in parenting than Brooke.
This!
Same here. Her letter is just heartbreaking. The love and empathy she has for these boys is exactly what they need and I hope the court sees that. It’s such a shame that individuals with means for all the appropriate resources and this is the current state. I have so much respect for Denise and all she has done. Also, it seems like Charlie is a better parent with her influence.
I think (HOPE) that this is actually a calculated move on Densie’s part, coordinated with Charlie, to force the court to do something about Brooke’s visitation rights. If Denise stops being the backstop, the court now has to deal with Brooke and Charlie and their rights more directly, and potentially ending the limbo and giving Denise more freedom to get the boys the help they need (and keep them away from Brooke). Hope, hope, hope.
TQB I thought the same thing. It disgusts me how dead set child services are on reuniting those boys with Brooke.
You’re right. If Denise says the boys are with her all the time or not at all, then they will have to severely limit Brooke’s access to them.
I agree. Brooke should not be allowed near the boys. Mind boggling that it’s even a possibility. I have even more respect now for Denise Richards.
Good thought, and I hope you are right. It didn’t cross my mind, but when I read it, I thought that it would be a smart move if that’s true.
I have no words for the contempt and absolute disgust I have for Brooke Mueller. In her quest for that hefty child support check to be reinstated and her children back in her addled clutches, she is sacrificing their well being and mental health.
It is sad that Denise is now forced to more or less abandon them in order to preserve the peace in her own home.
Brooke is disgusting. Poor children.
+ 1.. such a sad story
Disgusting indeed. I just don’t get how DCFS allow this hack to block the process of getting the boys help like that. How can a friking lawyer maneuver in this disgusting manner to get this horrible woman what she wants and the state just let them? I’m a lawyer and I feel truly appalled by this behaviour. And what in God’s name is this b*tch doing that is affecting these boys so much to the point of causing disturbing behaviour? where the hell is the best interest of these children in all of this?
DCFS doesn’t generally make those decisions, a judge does. At least in my experience as an actual DCFS employee in WA state. The job of a DCFS social worker is to advocate for what is in the best interests of the child. Everyone loves to blame DCFS, but it’s a messy, complicated system, with judges, lawyers, CASAs, parents, and social workers all at play. Also, if Denise doesn’t keep the boys, they wouldn’t necessarily go back to their parents; they’d go to foster care (which is rarely the hellscape people make it out to be).
This is the worse thing that could happen to these boys. I can’t imagine what shape Denise must be in, it breaks my heart for her. The letter is clearly done out of love and frustration. She has to protect her girls, first and foremost. Can someone explain how Brooke is calling the shots here? How does she have the final say? She is unfit to care for them, how can she be the final authority on anything re: these children? I’m lost?
I want to know, too! No idea how someone who was declared unfit gets to make the decisions preventing the current caregiver of the boys from getting them the help they need!
Well, I wouldn’t blame Brooke – she’s been too far gone for too long, I don’t think she realizes what she is doing. Clearly she cannot take care of herself, she ends up on the streets every time she gets out of rehab despite all the money and family support available to her. She is helpless.
I do blame her lawyer. How can he argue anything in favor of Brooke regarding those boys? As a legal practitioner, don’t they have a moral obligation to the court, and the truth, and the well-being of the children?
If a crackhead with money wants to hire lawyer in child custody case, surely he or she must say no, for it would be unethical to do so otherwise, right?
” As a legal practitioner, don’t they have a moral obligation to the court” that made me sad and smile at the same time 🙁
Eliza — don’t take this as any type of defense of Brooke. Personally I hope they completely TERMINATE her parental rights.
But Brooke is an addict. And she is a true addict in every sense. Nothing else is important except her next fix.
Worst part is that she is an addict with means. Her mother has money. Her ex husband has money. She will do whatever it takes to keep herself in a position where she can keep using.
I think that the using will really only stop when she is dead.
Unfortunately she is also a mother to two young boys that are stuck with the consequences of her as their mom. Poor babies.
Oh I certainly didn’t take your post as defending her at all.
This is no way absolves Brooke from making some horrible choices, but an addict will do whatever it takes to keep the flow of drugs coming.
I agree – I just wish Charlie would make Brooke an offer her and her equally low life mother cannot refuse. Pay them off to go away – Brooke would go for it in a hot second, not sure her gold digging mom is that dumb.
I am flummoxed by how people like Brooke even want kids. She clearly has no time for them. Why enter into babyland if you don’t want to raise your kids properly? I will never understand.
If you love partying and can’t stop taking drugs, for God’s sake, DO NOT HAVE KIDS! Not only will it curtail your precious drug-taking, it will create little monsters.
Having the babies = having the $ from child support from celeb father = $ that can go into funding the drugs is what I am thinking. Unfortunately. 🙁 Means to an end.
They also seem to exhibit facial characteristics of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome.
@GG – this is to add to Amy’s response Brooke ran with the same crowd as Lauren Silverman, the golddigger who got pregnant by Simon Cowell. These women were raised from birth on how to get money from a man. Having children is just a necessary burden they have to endure to get that child support.
She would be a good candidate for a court-mandated tubal ligation. Do those things exist? They should.
@Decloo – I didn’t think the court *could* force someone to have such a thing done? (Or there wouldn’t be so many addict ‘repeat offenders’ having & giving up (or having taken away) child after child, to the DCFS…
I’ve heard of it being used as a ‘bargaining chip’ of sorts, during sentence negotiations after a conviction for major drug use (& history of having children & giving them up or having them taken away). But I dont think, no matter what, that the law/court can *force* such a major (& totally elective) procedure. (I don’t *think* they can *force* ANY medical procedure, can they?)
I’m hoping this is a really smart play on Denise’s part to force the custody issue and get Brooke’s rights removed so Denise can help these boys get the care they need.
That’s what I’m hoping too.
Me too. So sad… 🙁
Seriously. Everything she’s saying here in that letter is obviously aimed at the fact that their biological mother is doing SOMETHING to those poor kids. I know the goal of most social workers and family courts is to reunite the family, but some people just shouldn’t have custody of their children if this is the result.
Those poor kids.
Their mother is an addict to start with, I bet she must be seriously angry with Denise because she has (in her crackmind) stolen her children and MOST of all the child support check, so (my theory) she is manipulating the tweens against Denise and the sisters, you know stuff like “it’s because of them we’re not together”.
I think these poor lost souls could still be saved but things would have to change fairly quickly and it’s not looking good. It’s becoming apparent that Brooke may have them full-time which she won’t be that displeased about because she’ll have full child support money coming in to pay for her drug habit.
The clowns working at DCFS are following the old adage of the child is better with the biological parent. Yeah, right.
Eleanor, Charlie offered Denise the child support money when she first started caring for Bob and Max. Denise refused it and, looking at what is happening now, I think it was smart of her. Brooke can’t scream that she’s only in it for the money.
@Eleonor – I was going to mention the “…& stole the child support check” thing, but Bluhare beat me to it. Though you may have meant Brooke would view it as ‘stealing the check’ purely by taking the boys in (bc it means she had no reason to recieve checks as a result).
@Bluehare – I hadn’t even *thought* about the fact that, by turning down the child support money, Denise was protecting herself (& the boys), from Brooke accusing her of only taking them in for he money. VERY smart on her part. I admire her more & more, with evey story about her involvement in this circus.
Me too. I really hope she is employing hyperbole. What could make 4 year olds flip so badly? What is Brook doing to them or infront of them? My brain hurts from trying to figure it out.
KC, FASD…fetal alcohol spectrum disorder from alcohol prenatally. they don’t need to have the facial dysmorphia and can have high IQ’s… but those are the typical explosive meltdowns from stress or sensory overwhelm. foster and adoptive parents are very familiar with this behavior, many end up homeschooling at least by 4th grade or middle-school, if not before.
KC- you don’t want to know. trust me. My Aunt, and I use that term loosely because she is a stupid, weak b!tch who has a special place reserved in h*ll and I do not acknowledge her as being related to me, had a beautiful little girl named Madonna. Madonna was a sweet, loving, well behaved little girl full of light and love. Then her mother started dating a new man. Madonna started to change. She started acting out, she started wetting herself, she would wake up screaming when she stayed over at my grandparents or my parents house and she insisted on sleeping in their bed with them and when she woke up screaming she would reach around to make sure they were still there and clutch at them. she started ripping her own hair out. My parents and grandparents found bruises and burns on her (later confirmed to be cigarette burns) and when confronted Madonna’s mother cut off contact and moved. My parents finally tracked her down, went to her house and told her and the psycho boyfriend they were taking Madonna with them. Madonna stayed at with my parents for a week before they were forced by the police to give Madonna back. The fact that she was covered in bruises from a wooden spoon and cigarette burns meant nothing. My parents and grandparents continued to try and get Madonna back. Child services told them unless my parents or grandparents actually witnessed the abuse they could do nothing. They went to the house one day to check on Madonna and when they found her she was clutching at her clearly broken arm. My parents made that woman, “her mother”, take Madonna to the hospital even though Gary (the stepfather) tried to fight them on it. At the hospital the doctor said Madonna’s arm had been broken for at least 2 days. When Madonna was asked what happened she said “Gary did it”. The doctor was asked by my parents to file a report, he didn’t. My parents were told yet again by child services that there was no proof and that Madonna could be lying. My parents and grandparents tried continually to get help for poor Madonna and to get her out of that situation. At least until the day of my mothers birthday when my Dad read in the paper that a young girl had died that morning on the street Madonna and those evil people lived on. My Dad raced over there where the police confirmed that Madonna had been murdered by her stepfather. Madonna’s mother tried to claim it was an accident, that Madonna fell. The stepfather was sentenced to 10 years and served 5 and that stupid b!tch married him while he was in prison.
This happened in 1983 and my parents have never stopped blaming themselves for Madonnas death. They said they should have just kidnapped her and run away. My Dad has a file with copies of all the police reports, witness statements, autopsy reports, newspaper articles, court documents etc and he tortures himself still to this day by going though it at least once a year. My mother no longer celebrates her birthday because to her, it will always be the day Madonna died.
I hope those boys get help, that their mother is removed from their lives and that they get the happy home life all children deserve
@Shoe_Lover
Thank you for sharing your story, Madonna’s story. I’m so sorry for your and your family’s loss. Bless your family for fighting so hard for that beautiful child. And I truly hope for you all to find the peace you deserve.
@Shoe_Lover – Oh Jesus, I am literally in tears, I know it means nothing, but I can’t express to you how sorry I am for your family (your *true* family). I can’t even begin to imagine what that was like, how incredibly heartbroken you all were, are, & will always be.
As Prayforthewild said, bless your family for fighting so hard. Again, I know it’s little consolation, but at the very least, Madonna knew she was truly loved by you & your parents… Knew from their repeated attempts that she had value, & how she felt not only *mattered*, but meant the *whole world* to your (true) family.
I’m SO sorry… & so sorry for the too many (*1* is ‘too many’) that have been through such things. Bless Madonna, I’m sure she’s somewhere she can finally be at peace, waiting to see you & your parents again.
I hope so too, but I don’t have much faith in CPS to do the right thing. Why have Brooke’s visitations increased despite the worsening behavior of the boys and her blocking help that they need?!? I know every effort is usually made to keep children with their bio parents if possible but really some people do not deserve to be parents especially when there is a better option. Hoping for the best though.
Mrs. B, that’s a great question. Why are her visits increasing whilst the boys’ behaviour is deteriorating?
Agreed. 100%.
Yes, that was my thought as well – that this letter might be an ultimatum to CPS explaining that Denise cannot care for the boys if they continue to be sent on visits to their biological mother.
“The boys had no bedtime.” This breaks my heart.
Here’s hoping. And what kind of crazy is it that someone who has been through rehab 21 times hasn’t had her parental rights terminated? If she were some plain jane who hadn’t married a big name, TPR would be a done deal.
Well she is still getting the $50,000 monthly from Charlie for child support even without having the boys in her care. She has money and lawyers to use Charlies money to make sure she keeps getting it. She obviously spends the money on drugs, lawyers and rehab (although Charlie may have directly paid for that)
I thought that too – Denise is trying to force CPS to reduce or suspend Brooke’s access. And this is something I totally agree with. I don’t think Denise is being manipulative about it – she’s not doing it to hurt Brooke but to protect the twins. Hopefully the CPS will want the twins to stay with Denise badly enough to take action. This is so sad for all the children involved – the twins and the girls.
I don’t know. I’d like to think that, but I just don’t think she’d exaggerate their behavior this way. Plus, I’m sure she is getting backup documentation from the teachers and the school, etc. Brooke is clearly a terrible mother and has a terrible influence on those children.
I just do not understand the American legal system when it comes to families. Courts seem dead set on keeping families together, even when it’s clearly NOT in the childrens’ best interest to do so. My brother and his wife used to be foster parents. They had a family of five children at one point. The parents were serious alcoholics and drug addicts. Neither had jobs. They drifted from place to place. Two of the younger children showed signs of fetal alcohol syndrome. They had behavioral issues galore. After being with my bro and his wife for about three months, they were starting to change; going to school regularly, seeing a therapist, easing off on some of the more problematic behaviors, etc. Then the parents petitioned to get custody back, were successful, and BOOM! Disappeared. Kids taken out of school and everything. My brother and his wife stopped fostering after that, because it was just too heartbreaking.
@gogoGorilla – I have true admiration for anyone who fosters out of the true goodness of their hearts. I do t know how they do it, honestly, living & loving/bonding with children, while knowing the situation is ‘up in the air’, & could lose them so quickly, especially to unfit parents, & likely never see them again.
I know I couldn’t do it. But bless your brother & his wife for having done so, I know it had to make an impact on those children, to know they were loved.
Good lord, how can a system (DCFS) be that broken? It sounds obvious that Denise reached out for help before taking this drastic step, but kept getting blocked. Having all of this turmoil and negative adult influence in these formative years without any stability like Denise will only mean disaster when the boys become teenagers and adults.
Ugh, those poor kids.
Yeah, this stuff is really, really bad. Kids don’t juat act out like that because of upheaval in their lives, this kind of behavior is indicative of some pretty bad stuff – including child abuse. Children their age don’t have the emotional maturity (or most likely even the words) to process the kind of stuff they’re seeing at Brooke’s, and acting out is the only tool they really have to communicate. The fact that CPS isn’t involved speaks VOLUMES about CA dcfs. Now we know why Charlie’s been freaking out so bad.
No 🙁
Wow so disturbing and sad.
Heartbreaking.
UGH these assholes have just damaged these kids…f*king up even the one good thing they had going with Denise…what a mess…
What does she mean by “This recent decision means the girl’s can’t continue their relationship with their dad”??
DCFS told Charlie that Brooke can’t be the monitor when he sees his kids. That was for the boys, and it was thought to be retaliation for Charlie talking smack about DCFS to TMZ. So maybe that also applies to the girls and Charlie can’t see the girls either under these new conditions.
Thanks for the explanation!
Now I wonder how it all went between charlie and her prior to this decision she made..
After Charlie went on the first name calling rant of this most recent tirade, DCFS “punished” him by essentially banning him from seeing his boys, which since they live with Denise, meant he couldn’t see his daughters either. Thus another reason Denise is relinquishing custody, so that her girls aren’t penalized from seeing Charlie when Bob and Max are.
And GO DENISE!!! I truly hope DCFS (or whoever it is) pulls their head out of their ass, stops engaging in this pissing contest between two addicts and starts doing their job by focusing on the CHILDREN rather than the department’s precious reputation (of which will be a completely tragic joke if they let those boys go back to Brooke). *Stepping off soapbox now*
This. I completely agree.
I know Charlie went on a rant but I would’ve too! Did anyone see the picture of the kid after spending the weekend with his mother? WTF? THAT CHILD WAS ABUSED! If the people in DCF are allowing the kids to stay with the mother I’ll be afraid of what the outcome will be.
I wonder if Charlie can sue the DCFS for that little stunt they did. I’m sorry but as a govt entity they are suppose to remain neutral and not do something so petty that it would negatively impact the children.
Saddle up with a good attorney and sue the agency, Charlie.
I hate defending DCFS on this, but Charlie violated a gag order. That’s why the punishment went down although looking at it, it could have been the best thing that he did what he did. It’s bringing attention to the situation whereas nothing was prior to this.
What a mess. Those poor boys. I don’t blame Denise, she did what she could.
+1
I don’t blame her either. Of course, I wish she could have remained a stable, loving presence in their life but how can she if she is not even permitted to seek medical or psychiatric help for them? Is she just supposed to watch them deteriorate mentally and emotionally until they seriously hurt one of her daughters? Those poor children. It seems they really had a chance to be stable and improve but of course it’s sooooo important for crack addict Brooke to have visitations with them.
I am so sorry to hear this.
I hope those boys will get all the professional help they need.
Wow, what a tough situation. The poor boys, especially.
I agree. & I feel especially bad for Denise, too. Can you imagine the agonizing she must’ve done before going this route? I really do believe she loves them like her own, but no one could fault her for this decision, given the many circumstances, making it almost impossible for her to give them the ‘care’ they really need. & hurting her daughter badly enough to need medical attention (which is awful on it’s own, but *God*, in her *eye*, where it could’ve especially easily done permanent damage?) this is just sickening, & shows everything wrong with the system.
WTF is DCFS doing? Allowing someone like Brooke Mueller unsupervised visits? She should have no right AT ALL to see her boys, even better if they forget about her. Those poor boys are so messed up now because of her.. it’s not hard to understand.
I get Denise’s motives.. and she’s right. She has 3 other kids to care about and this situation is just difficult per se, imagine if she also has to fight their (crackhead)birthmom. I feel for them.
Those boys are so messed up because of Brooke AND Charlie. He is just as much of an addict and poor influence as she is. He also knows how to push her buttons (and jeopardize any potential attempt at recovery) by telling her “she’s a chubby loser,” and sending her photos of a birthday cake topped with a grenade telling her to “blow out this candle.” I really see no reason why either of them should have contact with their kids.
I agree but then again, they couldn’t be with Denise since her other two girls can be with their dad. This is sad.
I agree, and the fact that this letter made it out to the public makes me question Denise. If she released it, she is being puppeteered by Charlie and used very poor judgement as to their welfare. Although it is possible that he received a copy and released it himself. There is no reason for these kids to be raked over the coals in such a public fashion. It leads me to believe that Charlie is more concerned about “winning” and less concerned about those kids. He did the same damned thing with the producer of the show. It’s not about the kids, it’s about Charlie chest-beating again and coming out the victor. I wonder about how much control Charlie has over Denise.
Not sure I agree, kiddo. I get your point and there’s no doubt Sheen can be a whack job of the first order. However, I think he does love his kids in that cauliflower floret that functions as his brain and I do think he sees Brooke for what she is (which is basically him). He knows he can’t take care of his children neither can she, which is the one thing I will give him credit for. He has made sure they’re taken care of, and he’s damn lucky he’s got Denise who’s been willing to do it. I wonder if he’s offered to pay Brooke to not have the kids.
As a preschool teacher I know that even a small child can be dangerous when emotionally disturbed. It must be really bad if she fears for the safety of the girls. Those poor little boys, what must Brooke be doing to make them so disturbed? I can’t even imagine. This is just so disturbing and sad. Screw Charlie and Brooke, those to addicted a**holes never should have had children! They should have known better. Those little boys have a long, long painful road in front of them…
I was an elementary school teacher a few years ago and I immediately started thinking of kids I knew who were in situations like this (and worse). This is just one sad example to the damage parents can do to their kids. My heart breaks for all the tiny souls who are tormented by such extreme instability.
The Daily Mail has a photo of one of the boys with, what they claim, is a large burn on the side of his face (after a visit with their mom).
Hey Morts. I saw pictures somewhere this morning of the boy before and after his visit with Brooke because Denise took pictures of them before they were taken to Brooke’s. I thought it was horrific that she felt she had to get picture proof in order to help the boys. As their primary caretaker, DCFS should be listening to everything Denise is saying.
Hey Lady! How have you been?
I wasn’t aware that she had before photos too. That’s very telling! Clearly these injuries are frequent enough to warrant before and afters 😔
I read this last night and cried. Those poor kids, all of them, but especially the boys. There was only one person decent and responsible enough to take care of them and now she can’t. I really think that once Denise was given custody of those boys that Brooke should not have had a say in their care. They clearly had issues and got better under Denise’s care, but as soon, as their mother got her claws in them they have turned back and gotten worse. It really makes you wonder who is watching these boys at her home and what are they being subjected to. Brooke probably doesn’t want them assessed because they good probably tell some stories about what is going on in her home.
I still don’t understand how she lost custody, was deemed unfit and there was a report I believe about her house being absolutely filthy, yet they are allowing unsupervised visits over night. She is an addict, I do not believe for a second that she is sober, the fact that she doesn’t want help for her boys speaks volumes. It’s all about the money for her. Sadly I think something bad is going to happen before anyone steps in and she loses them permanently.
And it also doesn’t make any sense at all that while Denise has been caring for them full time Brooke still gets to call the shots when it comes to their medical care. Maybe not all of the info is accurate.
No kidding – if a person is deemed unfit to make the day to day decisions and care of a child why would they be allowed to make lifetime physical and mental health decisions. The thing that p’s me off the most about this situation is the fact that DCFS has seen fit to tolerate such poor/illegal behavior from both Charlie and Brooke for years now but suddenly puts their foot down because Charlie mouthed off about DCFS/Judge – great priorities – harm kids NO PROBLEM second, third, a million chances – critisize/harm DCFS/Judge we take your kids away from you!!!!
IMO the sad details of the boys’ behavior shouldn’t be so public.
I thought that too but maybe Denise is at her wits end and making this public is a last ditch effort on her part to shame DCFS into doing the right thing. Seems like this has been kept under wraps for a while because its the first I’ve heard that the boys were abusive to people and animals. This is such a heartbreaking situation with no winners. Drugs ruin lives.
Denise hasn’t made anything public. It is my understanding the a tabloid / website received this documentation from someone within DCFS. I think it is telling, not everyone agrees with how this is going down.
We can only hope a whistleblower from the DCFS leaked this documentation in an effort to force their hand. I’m sending a quick vibe/prayer to the Universe for the kind soul who sent Denise’s statement to the tabloid.
This is so painful for those poor little boys. Gawd, I hate a**holes who neglect and harm their babies.
GMAFB that coke head Sheen is no better than Brooke and he also neglected them
They are not living with Sheen. They are with Denise and she is the one in an impossible situation. No one is defending Sheen. Not even Sheen himself.
THANK YOU. If he was that concerned about their wellbeing he would get off of the drugs and take care of them. He is a disgusting, violent, abusive pos himself who should have gotten sterilized a long time ago. He really is in no position to be getting up on his high horse. And I love that his answer to the boys acting violent is to threaten THEIR mother with violence…hmm, I wonder where the boys get their propensity for disruption from??? I mean, their mother isn’t going to win parent of the year by any means but let’s not pretend that their father is some paragon of fatherhood since he is HALF of the reason why they are currently under his ex-wife’s care. As far as I am concerned he, Brooke Mueller and Chris Brown can take a rocket to the sun…
Denise Richard’s has also shown herself to be a responsible parent AGAIN by putting the well-being of the other children first. No shade there.
@Renee, I agree with you about Charlie. I may be acting petty here, but I read Charlie recently threw a cast and crew party for “Anger Management,” full of lighthearted fun. If my child was being abused or neglected in any way, there would not be one centimeter of room in my life for a party.
Do you really think he would be fit to parent if he got sober? It’s Charlie Sheen! Let’s not forget the metal issues. And everything else. Keeping a certain distance from any of his children is rather wise and generous on his part. Probably one of his best qualities.
^^^^FINALLY!!! Why is Brooke the only one getting thrown under the bus here?? There is a reason why Charlie doesn’t have custody either. She didn’t do this to them herself.
Brooke is being thrown under the bus because she is the care taker. She’s the one who wants the boys and the support checks, yet she clearly cannot take care of them. Yes, Charlie is a horrible influence — but even he realizes that which is why he doesn’t have custody. He doesn’t care for the boys on a daily basis, which is a bad thing for the boys because they need a father figure, but also good because his time with them is limited and thus any damage he could do is also limited. Both parents are horrible but I’m giving Charlie credit for at least knowing that he can’t raise the boys (and yes, he shouldn’t have kids if he can’t raise them but that’s after the fact) and not inflicting harm upon them and wanting the best mental and physical care for them.
Brooke has been an addict way before meeting Charlie, and Charlie doesn’t want custody because he knows he can’t provide a home to the kids. Brooke demands custody although she is un unfit mother. She should step aside and stop being so selfish . That is the difference between both, Charlie thinks what is the best interests of his sons regardless of how douche or unfit he is, he steps aside!
Brooke wants the boys for the paycheck!
Charlie is out EARNING that paycheck.
She WANTS IT FOR DRUGS! She has been spending it on DRUGS and not the boys FOR YEARS! She has still been caught at pawn shops video trying to sell things for drugs!
BROOKE is blocking Denise from getting the boys professional help! That’s why we are talking about BROOKE!
my heart hurts for those boys. It’s obvious to me that the reason for there behavior is due to past neglect. It’s common with children who have been abused or neglected. I was so hopeful that with Denise help, that they would be able to have a chance in life. They need therapy, a stable home, good medical care and a supportive school. I don’t blame Denise for walking away. If it’s as serious as she’s claimed, she has to protect her children, and herself. It’s a really sad situation, this is what happens when two people aren’t capable of being parents. It’s like a trickle down affect, it hurts everyone.
I really wish someone can rehabilitate those boys, and help them therapeutically.Another thing to also consider is if Brooke used while pregnant. That will also have lasting effects.
This story is making me sick to my stomach. Heaven help those children.
They will go into foster care.
I think that may be Denise’s angle. If they can get the boys into foster care, then they can later adopt them. It looks like they are now simply setting up the ‘atmosphere’ of the case: why Brooke shouldn’t have custody. If Denise breaks off her ties, and Brooke is legally, and permanently, deemed unfit then Denise has the opportunity to adopt then after.
I mean, that’s what this letter screams to me…
I wonder why no one has mentioned Charlie’s parents. They are at boys’ grandparents. I wonder why there is no talk of them stepping up to help care for these boys and keep them out of foster care.
If you read the full letter she goes into detail about how Brooke has essentially kept them away from their Dad and Grandparents. It has only been since in Denise’s care that they have been able to start fostering a relationship with them. It may be an option but they are also pretty old and may not be in the best state to do so.
I don’t see how it would be different if the grandparents have custody since Brooke would probably still refuse to allow the boys even to go to a pediatrician, let alone a child psychologist. The boys would still go untreated. I think Brooke’s reasoning is that if she allowed the boys to get treated, it might affect her custody & thus ultimately her getting the $55k/mo. child support.
Yeah I’m totally confused. Do the grandparents sheen have nothing at all to do with their grandkids?
If the boys are as disturbed and as violent as described, there may not be any foster home that can manage them. They will be bounced from one home to the next over and over again.
If their mother was doing crystal meth while she was pregnant, there is a fair chance the children may be brain-damaged and may require intensive treatment.
You know the way Charlie handled things was wrong but as someone who had tried to get a child removed from a non caring parent I understand every word he said. It is ridiculously hard even when they prove time and again that they don’t give a care on the world for the kid . It’s a shame when a compatant parent is willing to step up and cps is fighting to keep that kid with a druggie who does whatever they want and laughs about it. I commend Charlie and Denise for trying . The system is broken kids are takin from the wrong houses or not takin from the right one something has to change.
This means Brooke is abusing them. Point blank.
Yep. This is textbook behavior for abused kids. And given Brooke’s drug problems, who knows what kind of people she has around the kids, and what she’s allowing those people to do.
I can’t remember – is there a reason the boys can’t go live with their grandparents? I know y’all have said Brooke’s folks are cray cray, but what about the Sheens? Or Charlie’s siblings?
Hopefully, the state will finally remove their ‘mother’s’ rights and let the boys heal with Denise.
Yes! Why can’t the grandparents have custody?
Not all grandparents want to take on a pair of disturbed 4 year old boys.
Yeah, doesn’t Emilio have kids? Why isn’t that an option? Whatever the answer is, it starts with getting them away from their mother. :/
Charlie’s parents maybe but not Brooke’s parents. Her mom is an enabler and is always claiming Brooke is drug-free and a great mom, which of course she would say because that keeps Brooke’s monthly $55,000 checks arriving (why does she still get all that money if she doesn’t have full custody of the boys????)
These family members are probably options. But these people probably have not come forward looking for kinship custody. It’s a full responsibility to care for the children and it’s a whole other world dealing with this system as well.
Obviously this is a heart wrenching situation, but why is there no privacy for the children involved? Makes my stomach sink thinking about the details being archived online for anyone to see.
While I understand where you’re coming from, my hope is that Denise is doing this so publically to force DCFS’s hand. Perhaps a massive public backlash is what is needed in this case to get those boys the help they need.
I don’t think this is Denise. I think Charlie did it so Denise has deniability.
Court proceedings (unless sealed for a period of time) are public record.
The details of Your neighbor who is having child custody issues is just as available. The only difference is that when this happens to celebrities, there are journalists that actually request copies of the court transcripts and make them public.
I think it is ironic that you think it should be kept under wraps (and please don’t take offense. This is not at all intended to be a dig at you or your comment).
Because I have a feeling that this problem is extremely severe. And probably 90% of the issue HAS been kept under wraps.
I do strongly believe that by keeping quiet about abusive behavior it simply allows the behavior to continue.
I really hope that this is actually a legal tactic that will work to have the courts to revoke custody permanently from Brooke. She is so deep into her addictions that drugs are what matters in her life.
Where do you live that this information is public? I’m a lawyer, and in my state, the record for any court proceeding involving a minor is sealed. After the case is closed, even the attorney on the case has to have a court order to be allowed access to the file.
Although in LA, site likes Radar have insiders who are more than willing to leak some confidential legal documents if the money is right.
Can’t a judge rule that the boys have to see a therapist if Brooke wants to see them. I just don’t understand why that wouldn’t even be a requirement, after all the boys have been through and because of the behavior they are displaying. My heart breaks for the boys, their sisters and Denise…
There is no point in them seeing a therapist if Brooke undermines any and all progress the children make, which she obviously has.
But wouldn’t any decent therapist advise the court that these visits with Brooke are harmful…
Hence why Brooke is refusing treatment for them, MrsBPitt!
An article on Radar yesterday commented in passing about something happening after one of the twins visits to the child therapist. At least one if the twins ( if not both) have at least seen a child therapist.
Or what about a live-in sober coach/child behaviorist/nanny?
I feel so bad for Denise (and the boys, of course, though that goes without saying). All she seems to want is to be able to care for those kids the best way possible–while keeping her own children safe from harm. Brooke has blocked her from doing that, and it has to be heartbreaking for Denise to have no other options. Perhaps she hopes that her custody arrangement will be altered to include the ability to make full medical decisions for the boys, which could allow her to keep them? Wouldn’t that make more sense than uprooting them yet again or sending them back to the woman who gave birth to them (won’t use the term “mother” for that witch).
This is very disturbing. I think Charlie & Denise are working in tandem on this. They are doing this to take Brooke out of the picture, which at this point, sounds like a very good idea.
Im also relieved that Denise is not getting any blowback from commenters. I used to work in a facility for troubled children and how people not privy to the details tried to shame foster parents for returning or refusing to care for a child in their care. Worst case scenario was when the state talked a family into keeping the foster child who eventually attacked the couple’s toddler, kicking him in the head multiple times and throwing him down the stairs. The toddler ended up with brain damage. Some children can be flat out dangerous and any foster parent or guardian has to keep themselves and their families safe first. I just hope Brooke is put in jail where she belongs before those boys are limited to a lifetime of institutionalized care of their own.
That is awful! I struggle with infertility, but was lucky enough to have two little boys. This past year, I was struggling to conceive a third and very seriously considered giving up and fostering a child. My husband was adamantly against it though. His older sister was temporarily placed in foster care and some of the other foster kids lashed out at her. In one home, she was raped by another foster child. As much as I’d love to help a child in need, I also worry about the safety of my children (who I have worked very hard to shield from the awful things other children have seen).
i feel guilty over it
Stupid tablet posted my comment on its own… anyway, I feel guilty about it, but I have chosen not to foster now for the same reason. I would love to some day. But I just don’t want my family to be exposed to the possible risks right now. They’re way too little to defend themselves against an aggressive child. I also have a dog who was physically abused and he would go nuts around a rowdy or aggressive kid. I know there are many, many foster kids who don’t have aggression issues, but that chance of that (coupled with the numerous rules from the state I don’t agree with, at least for my family) I don’t want to do it right now. I would love to after I’m done raising my “first family”, though.
So sad. What I don’t understand is why the court/family services doesn’t force some sort of behavioral assessment at this point? Are they content that therapy is or has happened and that’s it? And why would Brooke block getting more help for her kids – although I’m thinking the answer is that she knows she is the cause of their problems and doesn’t want anyone else to find that out. Just so very sad. Can’t blame Denise at all, either.
Let’s see, father shoots/stabs/beats up women, sends threatening hand grenade tweet to ex. Is there a surprise that the kids are exhibiting aggressive and threatening postures? No doubt their biological mother bears a very heavy burden for the acting out, but this kind of behavior was long in the making and not an overnight development. Both parents contributed through neglect, toxic environments and personalities.
It’s probably better for these kids to be placed away from Denise, too, since she seems to be the access line for Charlie. It’s incredibly sad. If they aren’t given help now, with some urgency, they will be a menace to society and themselves later.
At least Charlie seems to have enough self awareness to recognize that he is in no way the proper parent to have custody of his children and isn’t seeking custody of them. Brooke is.
Given that his girls with Denise seem to be well adjusted little girls, I’m guessing that either Denise is really good at shielding the girls from Charlie’s influence, or that Charlie is able to reign in his crazy when he’s around his girls. There’s no question that he has access to his girls through Denise and they seem to be turning out fine. The boys are the problem. The boys are the only ones who see Brooke. Charlie has serious issues, but I think its clear that the current issue is Brooke, not Charlie (as much as I hate to stick up for him in any way!!)
I am so sad for those poor little boys, they are obviously being harmed by their “mother” and I just don’t understand how she can still be allowed to see them unsupervised. By all accounts it sounds like they are being abused.. Children that young dont act out like that unless something is seriously wrong. 🙁
I have nothing to say other than I think it’s reprehensible that this letter, detailing the behaviour problems of two MINOR children was released/obtained to the media and is being circulated. What right do any of us have to knowing the details of any of this. I’m disgusted with myself for even reading it and will certainly be avoiding any such headlines in the future.
I would guess it’s a tactic from their “caring” father.
Regardless of who released it if something is done to have someone step in and save these poor boys then the ends justifies the means. Don’t care about anything other than that.
My niece is a cop and sees this kind of thing all the time. Children being given back to an abusive or non-caring parent because that parent wants only what’s in their best interest and NOT the children. I think the agency is wrong to have given these children any time with Brooke let alone unsupervised time until she had been sober for at least a year. These poor kids are the losers here and I am sure Denise will have guilty feelings but if Brooke has blocked her from doing what the children need her hands are tied. This is a very sad story.
Exactly. How the F did DCFS agree to unsupervised overnight visits? Are they F crazy?
How awful for those kids. And for Denise and her kids. She provided so much normalcy for them that they’ll probably never have again.
Both Charlie and Brooke are batshit crazy and drug addled. Brooke has giant lizards crawling around her house. Charlie has a merry-go-round of porn stars living with him with no child-care skills whatsoever. Between the drugs, boozing, lizards, multitudinous sexual partners and all-night partying, can you imagine the hell these poor little guys are going through? Get them away from Charlie and Brooke permanently. How dare they even have contemplated having children with the disgusting, self-destructive lifestyles they both live. My heart aches for those kids.
How did I miss this lizard story? How strange!
Denise is truly amazing. She has done all she can for Bob and Max. She shouldn’t have had to be a parental figure to kids that aren’t legally hers however she did it out of the goodness if her heart. I know it must be tough for Denise to have to step away from caring for the boys but there’s nothing more she can do. The letter made me tear up. It’s heartbreaking. I am so angry with Brooke and Charlie for basically ruining their sons lives. They’re both narcissistic drug addicts who aren’t capable of being good parents. I fear for what now lies ahead for the twins now that Denise can’t be there for them. I feel that the boys are doomed now more than ever. 🙁
Man…this is really sad. Those poor kids.
Those poor kids. The effects of all of this is going to reverberate throughout the rest of their lives, sadly. Sad that once again an agency that is supposed to be looking out for children is failing them again.
Are the grandparents on either side unable to step in? Someone has got to be better than the loose cannons that are Brooke and Charlie.
This is very sad. I commend Denise for trying to bring normalcy to the boys’ lives.
Okay, the more I am thinking about this, the more I don’t understand how Brooke has any say in whether or not the boys can have therapy or see a certain pediatrician. She does not have custody of the boys. Denise has custody…doesnt’ that mean that those kind of decisions would be left up to Denise and the courts? I am honestly baffled! Does anyone here know anything about how this works?
Yes. We’re getting ready to adopt through the foster system and it is a freaking mess.
The goal of the system is reunification. So that means that bio parents are given chance after chance after chance. We know a woman who has fostered for 40 years and the things we’ve seen have been staggering. A woman who had 6 kids, each one removed from her at birth and then being restored parental rights only to have them lost again due to drugs and abuse.
Brooke has a say because her parental rights have not been severed. As the legal parent of those children (even though she’s non custodial) she dictates every aspect of their lives. Foster children whose parents still retain parental rights dictate everything from Dr. visits to hair cuts to meals – if they want. Foster parents or custodial guardians are completely at their mercy until parental rights are severed by the courts.
That is SO stupid! if they are taking custody from a bad parent they should do it properly and cut off the parental rights, otherwise what good does it make to remove the children from a house if the neglecting parent can still have power in the distance?
Has Charlie given up his parental rights? Doesn’t he have a say on whether the boys’ see psychiatrists?
Yes, this is true, and it is heartbreaking. I hope to be a foster parent in the future.
I worked for over 30 years in the foster care system (I’m recently retired) and I can corroborate every word you posted.
The goal of foster care is reunification with the birth parents. If this is not feasible, then the agency can petition the court to terminate the parents’ rights and free the children for adoption. But it takes a lot, and I mean a LOT, to convince the judge that the parents are unfit, and the agency has to show that it did everything possible to help the parents become fit parents (referral to drug rehab, etc.). The birth parents have the right to contest the termination proceedings and it’s up to the judge to make the final decision.
Diana – because the goal is ALWAYS reunification. It is very rare for a parent to rights terminated quickly or at birth. There is a lot of trauma even in the best adoption/foster circumstances, so the thinking is that family of origin placement is always preferred, to avoid that loss, but it often results in kids in limbo – just like these poor boys!
Bluhare – I’m not sure how Charlie fits in here. It may be a situation where if one parent doesn’t want it, that’s the way it goes… or he may have terminated rights for some reason or another… I have no idea and in this case the answer is probably stranger than my imaginings.
Nicegirl – adoption is amazing. It absolutely has changed my family for the better. Not always easy, but always worth it!
I have to say… I’m a social worker (medical, though, and I don’t work with kids except for volunteer work), I believe people can change when they want to. BUT, I also believe in consequences for bad choices, especially when kids are involved. I don’t think it’s fair to the children to keep going back to abusive or neglectful parents. And I actually don’t know any social workers who do, either. I have a lot of friends who work in CPS or foster care and they hate the constant yoyoing these poor kids go through. They are bound by state regulations to follow through, though, regardless of their personal opinions.
Oh, msw, I feel that most caseworkers/social workers/CASA agents are absolutely FOR the children. In my opinion it’s that the entire system is geared toward reunification above all (many times ridiculously so) that makes it such a difficult thing. I know many social workers who struggle daily with the burden of their cases under the current legal system.
As much as anyone’s interest and opinion in this situation would be totally sympathetic, and the interest level is very high with this family, I do not know that the letter should have been published. I am rather shocked, but not at all surprised, at the level of dysfunction those boys are exhibiting. That Denise took that on, did her best to help those boys, only to have all her hard work undone by a broken family welfare system, is heartbreaking. I believe we all know someone, some family, some children that have gone through brutal situations involving dysfunctional parents, broken marriages, even addiction and neglect, it does no one any good to air severe issues in public.
Of course we are talking celebrities, “famous” people who scrutinize public opinion, worry about how they are perceived and talked about in the media. Perhaps Denise felt that because everyone is pulling for her, championing her for taking the boys, that if she gave them back, without any public explanation, she would have been skewered. I feel so much sympathy for her, for her family, for those boys, but I do not think it does any of them any good now for everything to be out there for public consumption. Perhaps less detail would have been more prudent, yet still offering insight into the difficulties Richards has experienced.
This is very different than us gossip-hounds having a laugh at someone like LeAnn or the Kardashians, who put their lives out there for all to see and point at. These boys, their lives, are in turmoil, need professional help, need the system to be at its best in truly assessing their situation, then providing a comprehensive plan on how to deal with it long term. They do not need this splashed across every magazine, online gossip blog, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, Huffpost, every tom, dick and harry rag spouting off uninformed opinion about how to fix this.
Because YOU KNOW the media are going to have a field day with this.
But not that it is out, that I have commented on it even, it will take on a life of its own and what will happen will happen.
I will say that it is wrenching, their story, with so much money, privilege and resources at their fingertips, these boys are spinning out of control with no landing in sight. I can only hope that the courts will take this information and reevaluate their biological mother’s rights, ignore the rantings of their father, and do what needs to be done to keep these boys safe and on the path to recovery.
I see what your saying here, but I disagree with you. This letter should have been published. We heard very little (at least from what I remember) about the boy’s situation, but as it now becomes known, there have been major issues going on about the care of the boys. Sometimes, the system is so broken that you cannot achieve anything legally and you have to make things public in order to put pressure on the right people. It’s not ideal, but sometimes it’s the only option you feel you have.
I don’t believe this has been leaked as a justification by Richards as to why she is no longer caring for the boys, she has said very little in public and has handled everything thrown at her very gracefully
Point taken, in fact I would like to agree that Richards probably did not publish (or allow the letter to be published) for her own reputation or gains. I don’t think it will make any difference to administrative officials, or government agency staff involved in the boys’ case that the details are public. Behind closed doors they probably have seen or heard Richards’ experience, and either don’t agree or can’t do anything to combat Mueller’s actions. Until she is stripped of her custodial rights she has the power over those boys. I am sure that is a whole other ball game of actions that need to be taken, and Richards probably cannot keep those boys in her care, for fear of her family’s safety, until this is hashed out in court.
I agree with the letter going public if it’s going to save those boys. If I were fighting for the wellbeing, and possibly the lives of these boys, I would try to do it the right way, but if that failed, I would use whatever means I could to help them. Sounds like DCFS are already a bit suspect if they are drawn into a pissing match with Charlie, so a bit of public support wouldn’t go astray. They should be above that and be all about the children. Poor kids. These young years are when their future behaviour is formed, and they need a stable, loving home life. It needs to be sorted now.
This is unbelievably depressing & unfortunately not that surprising. Brooke is very seriously unstable. I am horrified that anyone would approve unsupervised overnights with her. Even IF she is sober & working on getting her shit together, her boys, young as they are, remember what it was like before & are reverting. EVERYONE involved in this needs therapy & the boys need to be very slowly reintroduced to their bio mom
This is a terrible situation for Denise and her family. I really hope the boys get the care they need, and someone finally does their job and declares their mother unfit – again. She is going out of her way to ruin their lives so she can get some money, meanwhile, Denise is doing everything in her power to help them and each time she keeps hitting road blocks put up by Brooke. Ugh. My heart hurts for Denise and I hope this situation ends on a positive note.
I think it’s good that this is being shared publicly. It’s tragic that Bob and Max are having their information out there but I think most people don’t realize just how broken the system is.
In almost all ways, the system is designed to maintain the rights of the first parents under the guise of being what is best for the children. Although in most situations it is quite obvious that the first parents are not what is best, it can be nearly impossible to have rights revoked or visitations taken away.
I’m giving Denise the benefit of the doubt. I think she’s doing this and making it public to force DFS to really evaluate what’s going on here. With so much public documentation of the drug issues and abuse of those boys, one would hope that this would be enough for DFS to revoke Brook’s visitation and allow Denise to keep them permanently. It sounds like the visits with Brooke are causing serious emotional distress to the boys and they won’t be able to get better until that trigger is removed.
The best solution would be the most drastic. Max and Bob need to be removed from the family situation entirely. They would be best served if both parents had their parental rights terminated. Then, they could be placed in foster to adoption with a family that can handle children who have experienced trauma. And that is what these poor kids are – trauma victims. God knows what they have seen or experienced.
+1
Exactly what is needed. If done soon, these boys have a great chance at normal lives. It was neither fair nor wise for Denise Richards to be put in the middle of this battle between two demons. Terminate their rights – their horrific behaviors should have led to this decision long ago. If either cares a tiny bit about these boys, they won’t fight it. And I think – sadly – we all know how much this pair cares about these boys.
How sad. Those boys, Denise and her daughters have my sympathy.
I can’t read any more about this shitshow. It makes me nauseous. I really, really hope that this is a concerted effort on the part of Denise and Charlie to get Brooke’s rights taken away, and have the boys placed with Denise exclusively.
Where the hell are the grandparents in this scenario? Aunts or uncles? Does next of kin mean nothing?? Of course Brooke is a nasty piece of work, but unlike a lot of others here I’m hard pressed to give Charlie Sheen a whole lot of credit. If he cared so much for his children he’d put up AND shut up, clean up his OWN life, and parent! Practice what you preach you self-indulgent, spoiled child. Stop playing the blame game and take accountability. This is all disgusting. Absolutely despicable.
Part of the letter states that Charlie’s parents have been involved too
Why is Charlie Sheen getting a pass here? He needs to man up, get treatment for his myriad addictions, counseling and get his boys back. Just because he pays the bills doesn’t make him a father. Brook is a train wreck. We all acknowledge that. These boys and whoever they live with are in serious danger. Denise has to take care of herself, her children and her pets. She has done a monumental job, but enough is enough.
Those children may be so seriously disturbed, assaultive and destructive that the extended family members can’t handle them either. I look at that bottom photo and I see two extremely angry little boys. It is possible they need intensive therapy, including hospitalization.
Charlie isn’t getting any passes here as far as I can see. Charlie has issues that go beyond substance abuse and into his sober mental state. He realizes that he is not the best parent; indeed as much is obvious to anyone. But I for one do think he cares about his children, and in his own way is trying to do what is best for them. As for Brooke, my next statement does not apply to her. I believe that as a society we need to stop judging women who have children and then realize that they are not able to parent, and so subsequently give their children up for adoption or have a family member take over custody of them. This is not meant to give a pass to people who try to hang onto their children for money or with addiction issues. I’m talking about women who got pregnant, maybe on purpose, maybe not, but had the self-awareness to realize that someone else would be better suited to parent than they themselves.
This is why I will not judge Sheen on this issue- he is well aware that he is not a good candidate for parent, and yet is trying to protect them and be the best for them that he is able to.
So no passes for Sheen, but perhaps a lack of judgement because on this issue he is simply doing the best he can.
I agree that Charlie is crazy & would never be a good parent to his kids but I’m glad he knows that too & is willing to place them with someone who can take care of them properly, Brooke on the other hand is the mother from hell & I have no words to describe the disgust I feel for her.. I wish it didnt have to come to this but I dont blame Denise at all because even though she loves the boys & want to care for them, she has to consider her safety & that of her kids.
holy crap, this is heartbreaking. Denise has put up with this for a long time and realized that she cant keep on like that. its the best choice for the boys and for her girls.
i dont think Charlie and Brook should ever be around their children, this isnt some nasty divorce where the parents hate each other, they are dangerous on their own to the children.
denying the biological parents a right to see the children sounds harsh but we all know Charlie Sheen and his behaviour and Brooke doesnt seem to be much different.
I was hoping that they could put Brooke somewhere to NEVER return, she is detrimental to any and everyone.
They could thrive if they took away her rights, she is a addict and how selfish she is to want them for the monthly child support. She is a horrible drug addled monster.
unfortunately, their father is a drug addict too but thank god he KNOWS he cannot take care of them but he can provide financially at this point.
sad story
Genetics or not, some people should not be called mothers or fathers. Genetics or not, I believe some people should not be parents, and the children should be taken away from them. Period. Just because you fathered a child or have given birth, you are not automatically a parent. You are just a person who shares genes with your offspring. The children should be with someone who can actually act and behave like a parent, related or not. Love, caring, understanding, rules, comfort, consequences, encouragement and all that. That’s what makes a parent, not genes.
Four year olds cannot be “abusive”. They may be very difficult to care for, though, and they need to get professional help ASAP.
I have a real problem with adults who blame a child that young.
It’s not blaming the children but Brooke’s negative influence on them!
Four year olds are quite capable of injuring and killing other children and animals. The boys in their present condition are very definitely dangerous. They are very angry and are taking out their anger on anyone and anything they can get their hands on. That is rightly called abusive although they do not have the same moral responsibility as an adult or older child engaging in the same behavior.
It’s also possible that the boys team up together which makes them even more dangerous to the girls and pets, if these accusations are true.
You’ve never met a child with an FASD or Reactive Attachment Disorder, have you? I’ve seen the sweetest little things absolutely destroy furniture, toys, household goods, and people. It’s not blaming them. These poor boys had things done TO them (prenatal exposure, lack of nurturing and attachment) and they are responding in the only way they know how at this time. They absolutely need professional help – I believe that’s the main reason why Denise wrote this letter because Brooke refused to allow her to get that help for them.
I absolutely agree with you! Thank you! This is completely normal for a 4 year old child in the foster care system. The behavior screams RAD to me and there are ways to get through this but it has to happen with a strict routine and it seems clear that the visits with Brooke are straying from their routine and giving them uncertainty of what is happening in their own lives. I am sure Denise doesn’t discuss things in front of the children but children feed off of high stress level.
It sounds like you read the headline and nothing else. And any person is capable of being abusive. Abusive is defined as ‘treating badly or injuriously; mistreating, especially physically’ which is exactly what is happening when someone kicks, punches, bites or spits on another person.
No one is saying the children are responsible for their mental state and no one is blaming them. The letter is a cry for help detailing Denise Richards attempts at caring for two boys who are obviously being severely mistreated by their birth mother.
I will speak as someone personally close to this situation who happens to be reading this website:
Four year olds can absolutely be abusive and there is nothing wrong with saying that. No one is blaming the children- they are blaming the cause, which can’t be fixed without acknowledging the children’s problems…I’m not sure, exactly, you hope to accomplish by criticizing the wording of Denise? Do you feel nicer, stronger? I don’t see you swooping in there to adopt those children. It’s people like you that would rather remain delusional instead of acknowledging a problem (boys will be boys, instead one of them almost pokes her daughter’s eye out, potentially blinding her?) and by acknowledging fixing the problem that led to a situation like this in the first place.
I am glad that Denise has the emotional support of friends close to the situation and not just of strangers on the Internet– although she does have the support, admiration and empathy of strangers on the Internet too! Thank you for being part of her real-life support group– I know she needs you through all this.
Denise is not blaming the children. The boys have become violent and dangerous when their mothers’ presence is increasing, and she is trying to protect everyone as best she can. And children of 4 yrs old can be extremely dangerous and abusive towards animals and other people if they have been put through enough physical and emotional trauma. I have no trouble believing her letter in the slightest. I’ve witnessed such myself.
Here’s an idea Charlie! Get f..ing sober so YOU can take care of your own boys!!!
Seriously. Time to stop acting like a spoiled, cranky teenager and step up for your boys, Charlie. You don’t have a stable, nurturing ex-wife in Brooke, so you can no longer afford to dump your parental responsibilities on your exes.
This breaks my heart! Denise seems to be one of the most generous, mature people in the world. Her ex is an unstable drug addict, his ex is an unstable drug addict- but she will take care of their children, love them like her own AND facilitate Charlies involvement- monitor and guide him to be present in all of his children’s lives. I believe she would even include Brooke in some capacity if Denise were able to get these poor boys the psychological and even just basic medical care these boys so obviously need. I truly believe she has no agenda- she loves children- she wants her daughters brothers to be part of their lives to the extent that she will care for them full time- that she will expose herself to media scrutiny-just really seems like a generous soul who has the best interest of all of these kids foremost in her mind. I admire her, I hope somehow DCFS severs Brooke’s parental rights and gives Denise sole legal custody. They are nothing to Brooke but the geese laying golden eggs. While I was disturbed to see the pics of that boys face, I hope the publicity causes a public outcry to force DCFS into fixing this.
TMZ had even more disturbing information from the letter. Supposedly the boys are abusing, even torturing, Denise’s dogs. Picking them up by the necks while they whimper and squeezing their heads as they help in pain. It was just heartbreaking to read. Brooke Mueller–I have NO words for my contempt for this woman basically destroying the last chance her boys had. They will be too old pretty soon for most of this trauma to be put behind them without serious therapy. She needs her parental rights revoked ASAP.
You don’t think they might have learned abusive behavior from their father, as well? And what kind of father allows such damaging info about such young children to be released to the public? This letter will follow them their entire lives.
These boys have an FASD and attachment disorder. This letter may actually SAVE their lives by making it known exactly what their struggles and difficulties are. Animal cruelty is not something to act like it’s a developmental phase; it’s indicative of severe emotional issues. I’m less concerned about what may possibly hurt their feelings 20 years from now and more concerned with how to help them NOW.
The public doesn’t decide, a judge does, and the judge put a gag order on the proceedings for a reason. That might have been done to protect the children. I don’t believe for one minute that Charlie Sheen has the best interests of his kids at heart. Sorry, but this was a course of bullying. If he cared about his kids, he wouldn’t have had porn stars babysitting while he was on a crank binge. I can’t believe people don’t see through all of his fckery by now. He made it crystal clear he wanted to destroy Brook. That’s his goal and he is succeeding, apparently. I’m not saying she should have those kids at all. But I don’t think Denise or Charlie should either.
I don’t know if this is erroneous but NY Post reported:
“Sheen also made it very clear he is on the quest to gain full custody of the boys.”
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/brooke-mueller-restraining-order-request-charlie-sheen-denied-article-1.1507059
I agree with you, Kiddo.
I’m pretty shocked at those who are saying that Charlie really loves and cares about these children and has their best interests in mind.
He should have never procreated with a woman who is incapable of taking care of herself, much less two young boys and he is JUST as responsible as Brooke Mueller for this mess.
If Sheen is out for full custody (which is a serious pipe dream; pun intended), he’s doing it so he can have Denise care for them without interference from Brooke. That’s my take on it.
Ummm, I dont exempt Charlie at all. At least he gave up trying to have regular custody of them and was glad to farm them off to somewhat who isn’t a crackhead. He has the littlest, tiniest bit of self-awareness of the fact that he sucks as a father. But the letter specifically states that the damage is exacerbated when they visit Brooke and that she is BLOCKING them from receiving therapy. WTF? THAT’S why I mentioned her specifically. And that she is trying to get more time with them–I believe for the money. And CS may be an asshole but I don’t doubt he’s right in worrying that they may have some developmental/emotional problems if their mother drank and drugged her way through their pregnancy. If CS were pulling the stunt she is of trying to get them back, I would say revoke HIS parental rights as well. Maybe they should just do it for both of them anyway and give these kids a fresh start away from the craziness. The whole thing is tremendously sad–I think Denise really cares for those boys and wanted them to be around their sisters. However, she does have to think primarily of the safety and well-being of her own children.
I have NEVER understood the philosophy that a biological parent is better and thus supercedes others acting as parents. This situation is a perfect example of why that idea is wrong.
Denise is a saint.
I found myself crying for these two boys! God bless Denise *& her girls.
What bothers me even more is the mother had her 21st rehab stint (allegedly left). Granted supervised visits which is understandable, but in NO way, shape, or form should the mother have such access to the twins like this as a result of frequent relapses. IMO the court should permit limited supervised visits and make Brooke earn back trust for one year by remaining sober & off drugs with random weekly testing as proof of her condition. (I read she only gets tested twice a month- scheduled testing. So wring when children are involved!) She should have to taking parenting lessons during the year, too.
If the state truly had the children in mind & their welfare they should have supported Denise in her efforts to help the boys. They are only 4 years old & have spent half their life w Denise & her girls whenever Brooke was unable to care for them. Heaven help those boys!
The Milwaukee Sentinel has an excellent story “When the Family Fails” that addresses the rights of the birth parents. It’s a sad system. I am assuming that the boys future plan is Reunification followed by a backup plan of Termination of Parental Rights. As long as this continues Brooke will have chance and chance again to try to reunite with her children and make decisions for them.
These two little boys were prenatally exposed to alcohol and a host of other drugs. Those chemicals go right to the brain of a developing child and cause irreparable damage, and I am positive they have an FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder). Couple that with an addict mother who is more interested in finding her next high than caring for her boys, and you have reactive attachment disorder. Denise’s letter signifies what so many foster parents go through trying to get services and supports for the kids in their care – often being denied or ignored to the detriment of all involved. I feel for everyone involved. It’s not an easy decision to say you can’t do this any longer. I have nothing but respect for Denise in how she has handled the situation and searched for supports for the boys. She’s truly been in hell with the turmoil and is still trying to do what’s in the boys’ best interests.
That was EXACTLY my first thought when I read about this – I feel bad for the boys and I do believe they were born poisoned (as you described) – they are going to have an extremely difficult life and will need much therapy (and perhaps meds – will meds counteract this poison?).
I feel even more sad for everyone else that comes in contact with them (except that disgusting mother and father!) – these two children are dangerous to everyone.
I could not believe how upset I was yesterday reading about this. These are 4 YEAR OLD BOYS. They are torturing pets, other children, adults, getting kicked out of school and they are blocked from getting help? They should have 24hr supervision by experts with these kinds of children. They may already be too old for it to help, but something should be done NOW. Maybe a public outcry is the only thing that will get something done, but Charlie Sheen needs to STFU and let Denise be the voice of reason for these boys. Also, I agree with many other posters, where are the other family members in all of this? Do the boys not see any of the other sheen family members? If my grandchildren were this messed up, damn straight I would be doing SOMETHING TO HELP THEM!!!
My heart goes out to Denise. This letter does appear to be an act of desperation in response to a broken system in this country. I want to scream to her out here in the Midwest “I UNDERSTAND YOU!!” This system is founded around the rights of the birth parents leaving the foster parents with almost absolutely zero rights and forgetting the children along the way. In foster classes a foster parent is advised to that they are not allowed to cut the children’s hair in case the parent’s do not approve of the child’s appearance. I can understand that Denise cannot provide properly for these boys because of Brooke’s rights to deny proper medical care. Foster care is a sick, sad world. My boyfriend is a single foster parent to two boys (2 & 5) and it’s not the terrible two’s that are breaking his back but the consistent loop holes that the parent’s put him through as well as social services. Not a lot of information on “the future plan” is released to the foster parent. They do not have much involvement in the termination of rights. It has become one of the most frustrating times I have ever dealt with because it does feel like constant desperation in the dark with not a lot of rights. I feel the heavy heart because of every decision impacts two children greatly. FYI, if the children couldn’t be with Brooke while they were with Denise then they will not immediately go back to their mother now.
Maybe instead of giving up guardianship of the boys, she should just get permanent custody of the boys. No visitation from Brooke. Its obvious they were doing well with Denise.
Poor Denise. I couldn’t raise Ted Bundy and Ed Gein Jr. If I caught that happening I’d throw them over the balcony when it comes to anyone harming my daughter.
I feel for Denise I really do and I didn’t even like the woman until Brooke and Carlos started their whirlwind tour of how fantastic they are and what horrid troll she was. Through it all she handled herself with grace and dignity, promising that the truth would eventually come to light.
I read the whole letter last night as I was making my own 4 year old dinner and it made me think about the struggles in my own family. Particularly after one of you wrote a really heartfelt comment ( I am sorry I cant remember who it was) on their struggles within the DCFS and protecting your foster children from their mother.
My mom’s youngest sister was like Brooke always worried about how hot she was and where her next fix was goign to from. Early on when she was a teen mom, my mom did everything to help her get on her feet to a point where she did too much for her and IMO enabled her as did the rest of the family. When her first baby had tummy problems because she didn’t want to spend her foodstamps on formula and only bought cows milk for the infant, it was my mom who stayed with the baby in the hospital overnight no her, she had plans to go out. My mom would take her kids in on the weekend so she could enjoy herself but always returned them on Sunday even though they never wanted to go back home. Everyone told her that she should just take the kids because the back and forth wasn’t good for them. But OH NO she wasn’t goign to do that to her sister because what if she woke up someday and really wanted to be a good parent (spoiler she NEVER DID) and my mom was the one who took that away from her. Because of this those kids suffered unimaginable terrors and as they grew into adolescents their behavior and choices started to reflect this. My female cousin was pregnant and married by 14 and her brother was in and out of juvenile facilities and our home until he 15. Eventually my mom had to give up on him though because he was becoming disruptive to our family and was doing things to intentionally hurt us and she had to make choice. It was us or him because no matter what she said to him about they way he was acting he wouldn’t change.
My point is just because there are other Sheen’s who could easily step in I don’t think they have been very active in the twins’ life AND asking them to take this into their home would be asking A LOT because I somehow doubt Carlos is the favorite brother. In my experience there are a lot of parents who make decisions based on what they want not what is best for their child, they are not the same thing and too often it ends badly. I don’t necessarily agree with publication of the letter but I trust Denise’s instincts because I truly feel that she has their best interest at heart.
One more thing that is going to be a very unpopular opinion here. I don’t buy that Brooke stymied therapy for the children. You know what? If you are that concerned about the children’s behavior, then take them to a therapist or doctor, just like you would if they had a broken leg. And then you make the court *stop you* from providing them necessary care. Let the court tell you they didn’t need it. Brook did not have primary custody, she had visitation rights. This is starting to stink to high heaven for me.
She may have done it anyway and isn’t saying, but she wanted to point out Brooke’s obstruction?
Maybe, but she spared no details, so I doubt it. I suspect Charlie wasn’t so keen on the therapy element either.
True, but she says she wants to give up guardianship anyway. So why not defy the court? Something is not right.
Meant for @ Cazzee and Samtha, this ended up in the wrong place.
Would she feel the need to give up custody if Brooke was only allowed supervised visitation? I don’t know. I see this letter as a last ditch attempt to get the kids out of an abusive situation once and for all. I think the focus of the letter is Brooke’s behaviour and the impact it’s had on the children for a reason. Any professional help she has submitted them to without permission would probably not be admissable as evidence in a court of law, and might even be used against her (like she was trying to “poison” the kids against their mother with her own, unauthorised, therapists.)
Now if Charlie tries to get custody and Denise supports his bid, or this turns out to be some kind of end run to leave him as the only parent, that will change my opinion completely. I don’t think he should ever be given another chance. He’s had too many. The only shred of respect I have left for him is he seems to know the kids are better off with Denise than him.
You have to remember that a government official, if informed that the children had been taken to therapy anyways because they needed it, would view such action as ‘disobedience’ and would immediately have the boys removed from Denise Richards’ home.
(Not all people working for the government are like this, btw. But some are.)
The problem with that is Brooke could use those actions to get the boys removed from Denise’s care. It’s a messed-up system, but legally Brooke has the right to make those decisions for her boys.
Most doctors require evidence that the person seeking treatment has the legal right to do so – ask any step parent who has had to rush a step child to the hospital.
Denise’s legal situation is well known. She’d not only have to disobey the law to get the boys therapy, she’d also have to find a competent, qualified doctor who was willing to be barred from practicing and pay multi-million dollars in compensation to Brooke when Brooke sued. There may be some hack out there who’d take the risk, but I can’t see that helping the boys either.
I don’t know California child protection or guardianship laws, but here in Minnesota, I could absolutely NOT just take my foster kids anywhere I wanted, particularly if the parent forbade it. Haircuts, doctors visits, etc., all had to be approved through, at minimum, the kids’ social workers. It’s not like you simply have them in your home and do what you’d naturally do with your own children in that regard. It can be really hard when you see a need and have to jump through a million people and a million questions to simply get an appointment. Couple that with the lack of resources for children’s mental health (which usually mean a six-month wait time for an appointment) and by the time things are in place, a lot of unnecessary trauma and damage has occurred. Granted, Denise/Charlie/Brooke have the financial means to get the best in the quickest time, but any time wasted when working with traumatized children in precious.
That said, DCFS is truly dropping the ball by allowing Brooke to stymie Denise’s efforts to get the boys help when she didn’t provide a substitute doctor as requested. This one is all on Brooke and DCFS for not requiring her to provide an alternative.
I really think Denise wrote this letter to get DCFS to truly act on behalf of the boys’ best interests. Whether in her home or not, these boys need help and need it NOW.
TMZ said their source for the letter was someone in the children’s services department. Maybe someone in DFCS is trying to get past corruption or incompetence this way. Denise makes it clear that the boys were improving until increased contact with Brooke. They are so young that they may feel abandoned every time they are left with her, and all the bad memories come back, so she doesn’t even need to be actively abusing them at this time to have such a horrible effect on their behavior. Her blocking needed medical attention, both physical and psychiatric, is also a serious problem and does suggest she doesn’t want the now verbal boys talking about what has gone on in her home.
Apparently it takes consent of both parents for therapy- I remember when two of the younger Gosselin kids were expelled from kindergarten because they were physically and verbally abusive to staff and other children, their father Jon wanted therapy for them but their mother Kate didn’t think it was necessary. She just “home schooled” them and got someone to observe them a little at most, nothing like the real professional help their father wanted for them. Apparently he couldn’t just sneak them into therapy during his time with them, their mom had to agree.
I don’t see how the grandparents or aunts/uncles would be an improvement even if they thought they could handle these two damaged children. Obviously it is a really bad idea to have them leave Denise’s home for visits with their mom in particular. If she must see them, hopefully the judge will rule she has to come see them at Denise’s house with Denise right there in the room with them. They are obviously regressing and angry about being sent away from Denise, in addition to other untreated problems.
I see what you are saying. Not sure if I buy the source from TMZ, but maybe. TMZ also offers cash for dirt so it may or may not have been an altruistic venture to share the note with TMZ, if that was indeed the source. Both Jon and Kate had shared custody (or one was a custodial parent) neither were under limited visitation rights, as far as I know. Denise could have put them in therapy as an emergency response and handed findings to the court. They could have disallowed it, and taken custody from Denise, but then the kids would be no worse off than they are now. And where is Charlie’s request to the court for therapy?
Just a hunch, but I think Denise is probably still scared of Charlie too.
But if she defies the court, or parental rights, she could be taken completely out of the picture for future guardianship. I believe that she wants the best for the boys, but simply cannot continue with their behaviour the way it is. So she is attempting to comply with DCFS and Brooke’s legal rights so she will not be eliminated from their lives in the future.
There is nothing more disgusting in this world than a bad mother.
What about bad fathers?
Indeed. Don’t understand the mother-shaming but letting the father off scot-free. Those two shouldn’t have had kids period and neither is an option for custody.
Wow, her writing is horrible, I hope the boys can get away from their mother and settle into a stable environment.
Well, she’s not a Mensa candidate, but the letter wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Not too many grammatical errors.
Last I heard, being a grammarian is not a requirement to be a good caregiver.
If you just mean the situation she’s describing is horrible, 100% agree. But since others have assumed you’re referring to the writing style/errors – I should point out that this could be just based on a transcription of an image (photo shot by a phone, copy machine, fax). Both OCR of an image and a human proofreader of OCR output or a human retyping from scratch commonly introduce such errors. (I work a lot with ocr/transcribed materials in my job as a scientific translator and always have to proofread such output carefully before translating it.) In any case- even if that’s how she wrote it, the content is far more important than writing errors. She writes intelligently and describes things well.
Well now we know why Charlie went on his rant. He’s mad because Denise can no longer take care of the boys. Yes, he is every bit as much of an addict and as responsible for the kids predicament as Brooke is, but unlike her he seems to know he is not capable of raising the boys himself. I’m sure there are a lot of other issues going on as well, but at least he is not as delusional as Brooke in that respect and appreciated Denise’s help.
I’m tired of DCFS trying to have kids maintain relationships with their abusive, addict parents at all costs. Sometimes it’s just not worth it. And in this case the kids had a much better option and were doing better. I just don’t understand why they would choose to let the crazy re-enter the kids lives.
The letter being made public was probably Denise’s last, desperate attemlt to get them the help they need. Charlie has no cred. It’s easy to write him off as a crazy, abusive addict who hates the kids mother. There’s a much better chance Denise will be taken seriously. I hope DCFS is forced to explain themselves and take a closer look at Brooke, and most importantly get those kids the help they desperately need.
Yes. Charlie needs to shut the f*ck up. His rants are not helping anyone. If anything, he’s going to get HIMSELF barred from seeing those kids what with his violent threats.
I read this letter a couple of times & it’s pretty clear Brooke denies Charlie’s family any interaction or visits what so ever. Denise made a point that Martin & his wife have seen a lot of them with Denise. I think the surface of how this kids are living, has only been scratched? I shudder to think what they’ve seen or how they have been treated. I pray they don’t end up statistics. They are nothing more to Brooke than a cash cow, and she will never give that up!
And I’m sure Charlie doesn’t want to give Brooke that money. He is an abusive addict himself and I have no doubt his motives here aren’t only what is best for the kids. He’s shown himself to be a selfish, vengeful person many times over. But he seems to know he’s not fit to raise the kids by himself. I get the impression that Brooke thinks she is capable, or just doesn’t care as long as she gets her crack support checks.
I admire Denise and feel for her as well. I had a similar situation with my sister’s children wherein the 4-year-old had stabilized a bit but then regressed when visitation with his parents started. He became violent against the dogs, his sister, my children, my husband and me, and finally the daycare staff along with his peers. We had no choice but to cease caring for him, at which time NC’s funding for the case ended and the children were returned home.
At this point, they would be better off in foster care. If Denise can’t take care of them anymore (and from her letter it sounds like she really can’t), they need to be in a safe environment. Those poor little kids. For all of the money that they have, they’re poor in the ways that really matter.
Something about this doesn’t sound right. I can see from the responses that everyone believes Denise, but I just don’t know that this is the whole story. I don’t have a lot of faith in our judicial system, but I don’t think that they would allow visitation if Brooke were abusive. Let’s be honest, all we have is the letter from Denise. She is obviously petitioning the court to take some action, and I think her letter should be viewed in that light. And I have been involved in child custody/visitation actions in family court and it has been my experience that judges and guardian ad litems require psychological evaluations and/or treatment if there are any indications of psychological problems. The letter makes it seem like they aren’t getting any care, or that Brooke has somehow been able to interfere with their care, which I find hard to believe.
I don’t want to sound insensitive, and if everything is as it appears, I hope for the best outcome for the sake of these two innocent little boys. But something about this just doesn’t sound right.
I agree. It feels like calculation. Something is off.
Sure it’s calculation. This all started late last week and there’s no doubt in my mind it’s designed to bring attention to what’s been going on. As to who leaked the info, I don’t know.
Did you read the whole letter? This is from the section about her attempts to get the boys’ help:
As things started to escalate with their tumultuous mood swings and volatile behavior, I went to their pediatrician for help. In August their pediatrician wrote me a letter which is attached to this letter. He expressed his concerns over their behavior and urged me to have them go to a doctor he recommended, NAME REDACTED for a complete development and behavioral assessment. Their dad agreed also. I sent their pediatrician’s letter to the boys attorney and the department. I was given permission to move forward with the assessment. I had a two hour appointment with NAME REDACTED without the boys. During the course of the appointment she explained an assessment was important because she questioned whether the boys’ behaviors were attributable to the transitions. The appointment with the boys was two days later. The day before their appointment with the boys, NAME REDACTED from the department called and informed me the boys’ mother did not want them assessed and I could not take the boys to their appointment. After speaking with the boys’ attorney a week or so later it was explained that their mother would consider moving forward with an assessment, but wanted a doctor that I did not suggest. I reminded him the recommendation came from their pediatrician not myself. NAME REDACTED said someone else mentioned to him that I possibly wanted to take them to a doctor to get them medicated. Medication was never mentioned in any conversation that I had in discussing an assessment or anything else. It was also conveyed to me that their mother and her attorney felt that I was trying to find something wrong with the boys so that she can’t get them back. I have had to defend my position in regards to caring for the boys many times.
Everything she mentioned can be documented, from the recommendation from the pediatrician to Brooke and her lawyers putting the stop to things. If Denise made up any of it, the court would fine out very fast.
Yes. I read the whole letter. And I think that your excerpt proves my point. She doesn’t allege that she was stopped from taking them to see any psychiatrist, only that Brooke objected to the one that she was taking them to. A casual reading implies that Brooke is blocking them from going to the doctor, but it is carefully worded to state that she is being a pain in the a$$, but she hasn’t actually broken any rules yet. That makes a difference in a court.
Look, I feel really uncomfortable in the position of defending a racist crackhead like Brooke, and at the end of the day I think the kids are better off with Denise, but this reeks of media manipulation to me.
@wtf, I don’t see how it proves your point at all. It’s not a question of Brooke breaking any rules–the letter acknowledges that Brooke is acting within her legal rights, and that is part of the problem.
The letter also says this:
It’s been about two months that I was informed I am not to take them to their pediatrician, and since then I have not received the name of one that I’m allowed to take them to should need be.
You honestly think DCFS wouldn’t return a child to an abusive parent? What planet do you live on? Good heavens.
CPS places children back into abusive homes/situations every day. I would think though since CS is such a high profile celeb they would keep them away from BM for quite awhile, particularly with accusations (and pics) of possible abuse. Something happens to one or both of them while with her, Charlie would tear the city of LA apart!
it’s a shame DR is having to go through all of this because the boys “mother” can’t get her shit together. And after 21 trips to rehab, the chances of her ever getting or staying sober decreases with every failed attempt.
Brooke and Charlie both need to be sterilized. And remind me again why I’m supposed to be so impressed that Charlie has kids he knows he “can’t” (or won’t, more likely) care for, so his ex-wife has to step in? Brooke is disgusting, but Charlie is no better. Anything bad that happens to or because of these poor boys is on both of them.
This. Certain people should not be allowed to procreate.
“violence towards animals”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
😯
omg. that’s the sign of future psychopaths! no wonder Denise had gotten so drawn…she’s been going through hell in trying to be these boys’ savior. poor thing. a lose / lose situation all around.
🙁
Yes. That’s one of the first signs that your child is a future psychopath & possibly worse. This is tragic. If these little boys are this screwed up at only four years old, I wonder if they can be helped very much.
It’s a sign of trauma. The boys are only four and are acting out in ways typical of abused children. It’s really sad, to me, that people are so quick to label them, when none of this is their fault. With help, they can recover from this. But only if they’re removed from the abusive situation. As long as they’re sent back into the situation…
WHERE’S FUKIN’ GRANDPAPPY SHEEN IN ALL OF THIS?!
i’d hope the grands or some sane relatives would step in. *jeez* smh 😡
Although I believe that some children are overly diagnosed with disorders like pedatric bipolar and ADHD (Not that I don’t believe they don’t exist I’ve personally suffered with mental health conditions from very early adolesence). Its glaringly obvious that there is something wrong with these boys I’d assume due to neglect and maybe phyiscal or emotional abuse. How can a mother inflict that on their children how can anyone inflict that on a child. I feel deeply for those who suffer addiction and dependence issues personally as well as through friends however if you have children your life is no longer just your own how can anyone be that selfish. The kids should not be allowed to see her!
The only way Brooke would give up the kids and leave them with Denise would be if Charlie were to keep paying her child support. That’s all she cares about. Charlie is rich and can do it, at least until the kids are old enough to decide for themselves with whom they want to stay with. I totally agree that Charlie should STFU and let Denise be the voice of reason.
Yup, I agree although now with her name being dragged through the mud I suspect saving face will be a huge motivator as well.
This is a composite response to all of your above comments, and I always appreciate your opinions, (I need to get work done and CB is surely sick of me hogging the thread), but I hope you are right about motives. I believe Denise’s heart is in the right place, I don’t have same confidence in Charlie’s, though. He is vindictive and vengeful, and remember, if the end game is for him to get custody, that’s more than half a million dollars, per year, back in his pocket.
I hope I’m right too, kiddo. I guess I believe Charlie as he’s never done anything to disrupt his daughters’ lives. If rumour is correct, he even gave Denise his other daughter (by one of the goddesses) to adopt so at least he’s cognizant enough to recognize neither he nor the child’s mother could do it. Assuming that’s true and it certainly makes sense to me.
Brooke Mueller should give up those children permanently. This is what happens when people equate children with their livelihood and it’s ugly.
Absolutely tragic all the way around.
This is so sickening to me. These two boys were safe with Denise and now even she can’t harbor them anymore. DCFS needs to step in and put these kids with a foster parent – NOW. Either that or why can’t Martin Sheen step up and help? What about Brooke’s parents who are wealthy and live in Palm Beach? I know it isn’t the grandparents’ responsibility but for God’s sake, SOMEONE has to do SOMETHING before these two boys actually kill an animal or a person, which will happen if they don’t get help. Charlie needs to stop slamming DCFS and start worrying about the children he clearly doesn’t care about beyond helping someone else financially care for them. I am so mad at these people.
Those poor little boys. So young, and they’re already emotionally damaged and physically abused. They need to be in a safe environment away from Charlie and Brooke.
In answer to everyone who says ‘why doesn’t Denise just get the boys therapy anyway’, the problem there is that no reputable doctor will treat a minor patient without the permission of the person with legal authority over that child.
According to what other people have said (since I don’t know California law), this remains Brooke. Therefore, Denise could take the boys to a therapist’s office and beg for help and that doctor would have to turn her away or be the subject of a multi-million dollar law suit by Brooke (that she would probably win).
Therapy isn’t like putting a cast on a leg (for example) where the doctor could claim ‘I was lied to, I had no idea the woman with these children wasn’t their mother!’ It is an ongoing process where if Denise didn’t tell the truth about the boys situation, the therapy wouldn’t work anyway since the boys’ mother is a big part of their problem. That’s even without the fact that Denise and Charlie and their family situation are well known so it wouldn’t be credible for a doctor to claim he/she thought Denise was their mother and could authorise treatment.
She might be able to find some random hack (of the type that prescribes the pills for Hollywood starlets) but for intensive therapy, I can’t see someone like that helping much even for the short time before Brooke found out from the kids what was going on (and you can’t tell me she doesn’t interrogate them about what they do with Denise).
also, denise’s girls do not need to live with abusive, bullying people, even if they are brothers….not just their physical safety, but their entire lives are upheaved by having the boys there-i mean, the acting out, breaking things, flipping out in an instant, unpredictable-that is unfair to the family as a whole. Those girls deserve a healthy and happy environment, physical safety is only a part of that.
Obviously, i feel for those boys-but i’ve seen too many cases where one child or family member basically acted like mafia, running the whole show, even from a young age. they need help but the girls deserve their functional, stable lives, too, so that they can soar and fulfill their potential, as well.
Exactly. Those boys would not have lasted this long with me. And I wouldn’t take them back. She has her daughters to think about.
It is my understanding that the other option, if not placed with Denise Richards, or sent back “home” to live with their mother, Brooke, is that the children become wards of the court and go into foster care. Seriously, I pray for the children in CA. It is a sad, sorry state of affairs.
This is so heart-wrenching it’s painful to read. I don’t see how these boys can have any kind of normal life if they stay with either one of their biological parents. Probably better that they be with Charlie than with Brooke, but that’s not to say he could handle being a full-time father, because at least IMO, he cannot.
Denise’s home seemed to be the boys’ only hope for a decent life, & every day they spend out of that family is another psychological dent for them. I pray that someone in the Child Welfare system takes aggressive measures in this case & removes them from Brooke Mueller’s presence permanently. It says everything about their progress that they were doing well in Denise’s home & have gone off the rails since being with their mother.
Also, WHAT dumbass recommended unsupervised visits for Brooke? Perhaps they work down the hall from whomever lets Lindsay Lohan keep a driver’s license.
I don’t see Charlie Sheen as nobly stepping back from caring for his own kids. That that would mean he WANTED those kids to begin with, (he doesn’t) but knew he could only be a harmful influence on them, thus gave them up. It would mean that he put his own wishes–to have sole custody of his kids–first, and Charlie puts no one’s wishes before his OWN. He doesn’t WANT custody of his own kids, he wants as little to do with them as possible . So his not fighting to get them from Brooke has NOTHING to do with what he feels would be best for his boys, and EVERYTHING to do with what is best for Charlie: the fact that he simply doesn’t want to take care of them himself. No virtuous behavior from Charlie here (or anywhere) is to be found.
But if he is a terrible father, as is universally agreed upon, then IMO you cannot then pass judgement on him for having the self-awareness to realize that he is an unfit parent and stepping aside. There are many things to be judgemental towards Charlie for, but this is not one of them. As I said further up thread, the judgement that society has towards parents who relinquish custody when they know that they are not capable (for whatever reason- financial, addiction, mental health, etc…) to parent has got to stop. Part of the reason that parents struggle so hard to keep children they shouldn’t is fear of being labelled horrible people. If someone is unable to parent, and steps aside, at that point the judgement should cease, IMO.
Brooke doesn’t have to be a monster in order to be a major problem for the boys. They may just be badly affected by the transition, memory triggers, and feelings of abandonment (thinking they have to stay with Brooke). The red area shown in the photos before and after an overnight with Brooke might not be a burn – there was a little pinkish area in the same place in the before pic. But it could be a rash that gets worse with stress, even if the kid just nervously rubs it. in any case, they were shuttled around way too much between parents and Denise and nannies for children who may very well have been born fragile due to their mother’s drug and alcohol use during pregnancy. A healthy child can handle such changes, but these boys need a very routine and settled life. Even healthy children with good parents often find the transitions between houses very stressful. These boys are not healthy and their parents should come to visit them, not the other way around.
I’m so glad you brought this up. I’m sure nobody was beating these children. Charlie stated that the one kid had a RASH on his face that “LOOKED LIKE A BURN.” There’s been a lot of jumping to conclusions on this thread about “abuse.” What is almost as damaging as physical abuse is the neglect and disorientation these kids must feel. We all know kids this age need routines and consistent discipline. Going to bed in different houses and at different hours and with different people is very troubling for kids. If one caregiver sticks to a stringent set of rules and the other give them no boundaries, this is going to be very troubling. Let’s not label Brooke an “abuser.” Let’s call her a neglectful and incompetent parent.
Those kids are displaying antisocial behaviors (enough to get a diagnosis of a conduct disorder). They need to get help now and have every go into therapy to figure out everyone’s role in treatment. If the kids don’t get help immediately then I don’t see any hope. There is a point when you can’t help when it comes to conduct disorders (in my opinion and some psychologist opinions).
This is soooooo terrible.
It’s this kind of anger as little helpless children (at the abusive/neglectful adults in their lives who should be loving/caring but instead are more concerned with themselves) that end up resulting in horrible events later on in life. That anger either gets turned inward where they hurt themselves or outward where they hurt others. The anger doesn’t go away unless they received professional and knowledgeable help and are removed from what is causing the anger and pain. Anger is just hurt, deep hurt.
These two little boys have clearly not received the loving, responsible parents they both deserve, at least not until they were placed with Denise. I don’t know if they were born addicted to drugs, but I do know that Brooke was apparently using crack while pregnant and had to go to rehab during the pregnancy. So it wouldn’t surprise me if they have some developmental issues resulting from that.
With all their money it’s sad that these parents at very least they couldn’t have found some stellar nannies to raise the kids if they wanted to go and do their own thing, but no…they like to use the kids for photo opts and who knows what else. Clearly these boys have been traumatized and abused. The acting out is pretty severe. The abuse towards the animals, the breaking of things, violent mood swings and lashing out. Who knows what these little boys have been through. How could they not be confused.
I wish child services would realize that bio parents are not always the best or right answer. They are supposed to be about what is in the best interests of the child, but their actions don’t support that and their track record is cr*p. Someone needs to terminate Brooke’s rights so she can take control (if she still wants it) and get these little boys the help they need. The more damage is done, the lower the chances that they will be okay. Why does it seem like child services always has to wait for something horrible to happen when everyone with any common sense can see what needs to be done?
Brooke is a piece of shit! At this point the boys should go live with an aunt or uncle. Denise clearly cares for them but cannot have her own children in harms way for her ex husbands bio kids with a crackhead. If Brooke can’t be a mom then Charlie needs to step up and be a dad. Hire a live-in nanny or two… They are swimming in money and can get freaking round the clock care for these kids when they aren’t in school. I know every kid needs a loving parent or two but it’s not like the kids are going to end up in foster care.
Where’s friggin’ Mary Poppins when you need her?
This is a very sad situation indeed. I do think though that this letter may help the situation a lot. My mother had a very similar experience when we began to foster my cousin. At one point she had to write this kind of letter “look i’ve tried, but you keep increasing contact with her mum and sadly i have to protect my daughter too” etc and they listened. They acted in the best interests of my cousin. The mother on seeing this and realizing that she couldn’t have her cake and eat it too was finally motivated to get better (although it took years) and all worked out.
Where are the grandparents? Charlie’s mother and father, why won’t they step in. Also I think they allow Brooke to see the boys to soon after she got our of rehab. They should of given her supervised visits for a year and once she proved herself capable of keeping them, then allow her visits on her own. Those poor boys, they are really going to be screwed up if they stay w/ their mom at this time. Brooke has been in rehab 20 times; and she’s only 30-32? I don’t understand why the court doesn’t give Denise full custody.
Brooke Mueller should have been sterilized. Because of her irresponsibility, hedonism and selfishness, the world has two little budding sociopaths on its hands. No telling who they will harm over the course of their lifetime.
This is the saddest story. And honestly what the hell is wrong with DCFS? Why aren’t the children the first priority? How come it is always about giving these loser drug addict parents a second, third, 22nd chance?
This woman is 33 and been in rehab 21 times, I understand and respect it is a disease. I feel for her and her family but those boys shouldn’t have to pay the price for it. Those boys deserve a better life. Those boys, and all children of addicts, deserve a loving save home that is drug and abuse free. I don’t care about parental rights, I care about these kids having a chance at life, having a good childhood and a safe environment. God only knows what she is willing to let happen to them for a fix.
And honestly I give no pass to Charlie Sheen! He is just a giant loser who is making this harder and worse. He has how much freaking money? Hire the best lawyer IN THE WORLD, sue everyone he needs to sue. Take the entire state to court, he has more money that California. But for the love of God fight for those kids don’t sit on a lounge chair drinking your life away bitching about your drug addict baby mama to TMZ. Do it the right way so those kids are taken care of!
Denise Richards, deserves nothing but respect, what she has done for those kids is nothing but admirable. I feel for her and her daughters having to deal with all this.
This story just breaks my heart.
It seems those poor little boys were doomed from the moment of their conception.
I’ve read all the comments and feel the need to chime in and share. Six years ago I adopted a baby girl who has turned out to have ADHD, a mood disorder and oppositional defiant disorder. She can be a sweet little thing until the paper towel is torn from the roll the wrong way, or you try to caress her cheek to be met with shrieks of “DONT TOUCH ME” and a litany of abuse you wouldn’t believe. As soon as she could walk she was destroying everything in her path, from clothes to toys to slicing the ottoman with sissors and managing to drown a few puppies from a new litter. I am the seasoned mother of a fantastic 21 year old son and provide stability, routines, safety and tons of love….it only goes so far. The specialists tell me that 95% of this is due to the “maternal injury” of her birth mother using drugs while pregnant and bad genes. “Mothers” like Brooke have no business with any rights to these poor babies at all! It’s heartbreaking to deal with and I have every sympathy for Denise. Charlie is no parent of the year but at least he recognizes that he can’t take care of the boys. Denise essentially IS family and trust me, Charlie’s aging parents are in no shape to handle children with these major issues. It’s all so very sad…
There’s a place in heaven for people like you, Scarlettmoon.
Thanks Bluhare….:)
With you all in your assessments – it’s either a ploy to get the boys away from their mother or Denise has been through enough. I respect her either way. 21 stints in rehab? This person won’t be rehabilitated.
I pray these boys get the help they deserve either via Denise or with decent foster parents. Brooke & Charlie should be ashamed of themselves. Those poor children. They need the intervention now before they grow up to be problem teenagers and adults.
I don’t know what to say. Actually I have so much to say but so frustrated that I don’t want to say anything anymore. Actually the solution is simple. I feel sorry for the twins, they are already showing the signs of being damaged.
So, so sad. Those poor boys :(.
Charlie doesn’t want custody of his own kids, neither the girls nor the boys. Denise is a caring mother and Charlie uses this. He rants and rants about all his women. He once said the worst things about Denise when they were divorcing. She would never say that Charlie is a bad dad because her children come first and Charlie would go crazy and start ranting about Denise again. All he does his talking s-t. Why isn´t he fighting for his boys? Why isn´t he helping Brooke like a grown-up man and not like the idiot he is? Brooke needs help, she is a druggy. She doesn´t live in reality. Time family/friends/someone pushes her the way she understands. It´s time someone does something. But what is Charlie doing? He just rants in public and goes on with drugs/alcohol/girls. He remembers having kids only when he has to pay custody. Then he plays daddy for one day. The best for the boys is definitely less Brooke and Charlie.
So. F’ing. Sad. Those poor little boys. Makes me want to squeeze my kids extra tight.
Time to hire a hit man and make very sure s/he cannot be traced back to you.
Doctor here. As mentioned before, the boys’ symptoms are pretty consistent with an abuse/neglect-type picture with resultant elements of RAD. More alarming, from a mental health perspective, are the other incidents Denise is describing: emotional detachment, violence, behavioral problems (at school and at home), fecal-play, and animal harming. All of these are consistent with characteristics that adult sociopaths often exhibited as children. Scientifically, sociopathy (or APD, however you want to call it) has been associated to both environmental circumstance (poor/unstable household; in-utero drug exposure) and genetics (mental illness in the family).
The boys definitely need therapeutic intervention, but in the event that it IS APD — which can’t be officially diagnosed until age 18 — which seems very likely, there’s not much that can be done to reverse what has already manifested.
Let’s just hope it’s not sociopathic personality disturbance, because if it is, therapeutic intervention will have limited effect. If a child hasn’t grown a conscience by the age of seven, it’s pretty much a lost cause. These kids are still preschool age but if they are already hurting animals for fun, the outlook isn’t good.
A lot of those same characteristics are also associated with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (not a doctor, but a mom of three with FASD and work in the FASD field). The organic brain damage often can manifest itself and present as other disorders. And that is often why it is misdiagnosed based on the behaviors (ADHD, ODD, RAD, etc.). While I am alarmed and frightened by what Denise described, it doesn’t necessarily mean that all is lost for these boys. No matter what type of help they finally get (or when they finally get it), they’re in for a long therapeutic journey.
I didn’t see any mention of fecal-play…?
For everyone who says where are the grandparents/aunts/uncles… I am not sure what the laws are in California, but grandparents have limited rights in many states, and I have no idea about more distant relatives. I have heard of grandparents suing for visitation, but that’s it. Family members can want to get involved, but they don’t necessarily have the legal rights to step in. Can anyone enlighten me?
At his age (73) Martin may not WANT to take on the responsibility of two emotionally disturbed four-year-olds. That is a lot to ask of a grandparent, even if they wanted to they may not be able to deal with all the emotional, physical and mental work. Then what, those boys have to be moved AGAIN to another home? That would be even worse. Their best chance for a good outcome is to remain in Denise’s care, get all the help they need, and have no contact with Brooke (at least not until they are older and have been in a healthy place for a long time). They can continue to develop relationships with their dad and his side of their family which their “mother” tried to eliminate, and hopefully will thrive in a stable, loving, nurturing environment surrounded by people working in their best interests.
They could have autism, too.
Not only is this a tragedy, for these kids to be born into a circus like this with a birth mother and father who are so obviously emotionally and physically challenged, but it’s also possible that some of this behavior could stem from their mother using while she was pregnant with them. I don’t know that, have never heard that, and wouldn’t claim it in court, but it makes my heart bleed for them–just the possibility.
The photos of Bob are from July. Does anybody know when Denise wrote this letter?
The timeline would be interesting because it seems this is really her last attempt to fight for these kids., which would also explain the “leaking”.
I would not be surprised that she is smoking crack or meth in front of the boys. It’s known that the smoke in the air gets in kids’ lungs. Therefore giving them exposure to drugs.
As a teacher in an inner city area, I often see children like this. They are unable to survive in regular circumstances because their lives have been and are so chaotic that all they know and understand is violence and chaotic behavior. In school, they cannot sit still, focus, or learn and they spend time disrupting the class and other children. Bob and Max act like the children of poverty stricken addicts that I’ve known and just because their egg and sperm donors are rich doesn’t make their situation any different. Those kids need psychiatric intervention NOW and to be separated from their biological mother immediately and permanently. Of course, one must ask why Brooke is insistent on removing the care that Denise is attempting to provide and the answer (in part) is that she can control and manipulate that situation and does. What does it matter if her sons are miserable and exhibiting terrible emotional problems- BROOKE’S needs and feelings come first. WHAT a miserable, evil witch.
That is a seriously alarming, frightening, and heartbreaking letter. I cannot imagine how SOME kind of decision of AT LEAST providing a stable, calm, and normal environment would not be made as a kind of instant reaction as to those children’s fate, if only temporarily while the rest of this mess is sorted out. It should be about the CHILD’s safety — physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, and ONLY that. I kind of think that above all else, that organization has a moral obligation to providing for their safety, instead of making some bureaucratic decision because they’re ticking off a check box that says biological mother knows best. I mean, clearly not in this case.
Charlie needs to STFU. It’s all very well to be self-aware, but admitting you have a problem is only the first step. Committing to living a healthy step is the key (but much harder) action. Although, as I get older, I’m starting to think that a return to public shaming (in ye olde days of being locked in the stocks in the public square) is not a bad thing.
It’s sad to think how this scenario is played out on multiple cases throughout the country. I just can’t imagine how good parents and kids like this must be suffering. I just don’t know…
I don’t know that Denise is making a play for those boys now though (e.g., eventual adoption), just because I can’t see her wanting to continue exposing her own children to the potential danger…those boys clearly, CLEARLY need a lot of help and it’s not like adopting them in the near future will magically solve all their problems. It’s going to take a long time and serious committment to years and years of therapy. I mean, hard to say, but if it were my own children, their well-being comes first. What a horrible position she has been put in, including by people who should have supported her.
Denise seems like a loving person. I remember when she left Charlie when she was pregnant. That was telling. Yet she was attacked because people “loved Charlie”.. yeah
I have had some experience with children like this. And let me say it is not pretty. They are only 4 years old and are exhibiting such violent behavior. Denise can love and support these children but she has to think about her girls. It is obvious that these boys need serious help. They are children and don’t fully understand that what they do can really hurt someone.
The reality is they could kill her or one of those girls. I am not being overly dramatic. They have deep issues. Issues that could be from their home situation but also a result of some Drugs their mother was taking when she was pregnant.
Where is the extended family. These are not people without means. I see families with far less that step in and help. Where are the family members.
I would be afraid to have the boys in my home.
I know this is a gossip site and all, but does anyone else feel a little icked out by the fact that all this information about these kids has been made public?
This makes me physically sick. Two more boys added to the thousands of children who will grow up troubled because of parental neglect and abuse. They were lucky to have her, as many are who live in foster care around the country (not all good). When will this end? At what point do we say its better to live without a parent? This is when!
It’s pretty sickening that Brooke brought those two boys into her messed up world. They will probably have lots of issues growing up, being tossed about and having no security. It’s a bad situation. I just blame Brook for her addiction issues. Once you have children, that should be a good enough reason to clean up your act. Very selfish person.
I think what stands out the most for me in this story is the pictures. In every photo with Denise they look like normal, happy little boys. They literally cling to her. In marked contrast, the boys look positively MISERABLE in the photos with Brooke, their actual mom. That’s crazy to me and the way they look with each of these women in the photos is VERY telling. Their supposed “mom” is an irresponsible, drug-addled, ungrateful piece of garbage, who cares only about when her next support check is coming and where she can get her next fix. All Denise does is try to care for two little boys who aren’t even her responsibility, and all Brooke can think to do is try to block all attempts at getting the boys help. Who the hell does that? What kind of “mother” actively prevents her children from receiving care and medical treatment? Here I am, someone who adores children and would be a great mom, but I have a fertility disease that will prevent me from ever having my own kids, which absolutely breaks my heart. And then here is this human waste of space who not only got knocked up very easily, but cared so little for the babies growing inside her that she continued to use drugs during her freaking pregnancy! Ugh.