How Much Is A Kid Worth

This is an interesting question. Apparently, in Georgia they are worth $1,700. Let me explain. I have a good friend Shannon that lives in Georgia with her husband Tim. Except Tim is now in Iraq. They have one child together (Danny-2) and three others by other people. Shannon has Emory (15) and Tim has Justin (17) and a little girl (about 4) that I can't remember her name. Last year Justin came to live with them because his mother is a BI*CH. I met this woman once and decided that she was in line for the worst parent award or hall of fame. She's a high school drop out, very selfish, does nothing for Justin's self esteem and constantly berates him. Things were going OK, but with Tim going to Iraq, Justin's Mom decided that Justin needed to come back and live with them. You see, Shannon is only a step parent and they did not file for legal custody and child support. Shannon and Tim were trying to work it out without going to court and things getting ugly. After Justin went back he started calling Shannon and asking if he could come back. Shannon has no problem with this, but his Mother won't allow it. Last week Justin called very upset and begged Shannon to come get him. In the background Shannon could hear his Mother, cusing and screaming at him. She was also calling Shannon every name in the book and saying that Shannon couldn't help him. At the end of the phone call, Shannon called the police and asked if there was anything she could do. The officer told her that at 17 he could leave and she could pick him up. Trusting this man, Shannon made plans to pick up Justin, when the crazies weren't there, and off they went. Pickup went fine. Shannon told Justin to call his Mom and let her know he was OK. He didn't. Next thing Shannon knows there is a cop on the phone telling her she was miss informed and could be arrested for kidnapping. Shannon now has no money or gas to take the boy home. The cop works out that he can stay the night and they will work something out in the morning. Next morning Justin's step father calls and says that she can keep him if she pays for all the stuff they just bought him. The total $1,700. They even have a way for her to pay it off. Just continue to pay child support. All she has to do is sign a paper and the kid is hers. NICE. What loving parents. Let's look at the stuff she needed to pay for. Glasses, she would have had to pay for half anyway; dental work, same thing; clothes; a new bed, of course Shannon doesn't get the bed, just gets to pay for it. So Shannon signed the paper and will be getting a lawyer. She still has to get him registered at school. They had blocked that before and now need to undo that. Shannon has found cases were custody was given to a non-parent. Shannon you are a great person. Justin is much better off with you.