I find it a bit hard to believe that if 2 parents die, custody of all children is given to the eldest sibling, which is what happens in this show. Where were the grandparents, or other relatives?
shareIt sounds as if you probably never watched the series?
No relatives, so where would they place the children in such a situation? The State would decide. Lovely eh? If you were the oldest child and were of legal age would you at least try and save your own family from being torn apart and placed in separate families that the State arranged? Thank goodness they allowed Charlie to try and keep them together and the series was all about that struggle to keep them that way.
They did discover a grandparent along the way but that was a sad/bittersweet end too.
[deleted]
Really? How do we explain that to all the children IN THE REAL WORLD who have no family left and are then separated from each other and placed in foster homes? The real world doesn't have many alternatives. Surely you believe there are foster homes and broken families? Thank GOD it's not typical but it's far from unrealistic. So back to my point... given the circumstances what would you do if you were the oldest child and were given the chance to keep your family together? I, for one, would immediately sacrifice my entire being to keeping us together.
share[deleted]
Well no kidding, it's television eh? Imagine that, fiction seen on television. Fascinating insight. You've nothing more than childish reaction. Still no response to my question about the real world, quite understandable considering your posting history.
share[deleted]
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001391/board/nest/142255996?p=4&d=1422 67792#142267792
Indeed son, with this kind of post you certainly show your true colors. Bye bye my young troll.
[deleted]
It really wasn't that far-fetched..... Charlie (the eldest) was in his 20's when their parents died. It's not like the state just handed him this responsibility and walked away. They had regular visits from state workers to ensure that the kids were being properly taken care of. That's what the series was about. Keeping the family together.
If you're a bird, I'm a birdshare
Also... And please, someone, correct me if I'm wrong....
I think that most state laws are almost forced to assign custody to the closest living (adult) relative. Unless that person chooses to forgo his or her rights, the kid(s) go to that person. Otherwise, they try to find the next closest living, willing, adult relative.
(This all, of course, assumes that the parents hadn't specified who they'd want the kids to go to after their death)
If you're a bird, I'm a birdshare
[deleted]
this really isn't that far fetched. the couple with the 9 special needs kids who were resently murdered(last name billings I believe) is one example.
and here's another--based on a true story.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0395565/
[deleted]
I'm sure it was probably assumed that Charlie was written into the parents will as the children's guardian should something happen to them. With their business, many children, fancy house, etc, they had wills dictating what needed to be done. My parents put me in their will as guardian over my sister when she was under 18. I'm eight years older, so I would have been granted custody of her had my parents died.
shareI don't think it's that far fetched, not everyone has a big extended family, or any extended family at all.. Three of my 4 grandparents were dead by the time I was 22, my only living grandfather has health issues, and even though he does fine caring for himself, he couldn't take on a grandchild to raise full time. I have a sister who is almost 15 years younger then me, and God forbid if anything happened to our parents, I'd fight tooth and nail to raise her, (mind you she is 18 next April so it really is a non issue lol).
There is no law that would force someone to take custody of these kids, the closest blood relative would automatically be approached to take custody, but they don't have to say yes.. they can keep looking for family, (as from what I understand, they almost always try to get orphans placed with family), but if they don't find anyone suitable or willing, they'd go into foster care, even put up for adoption. On the off chance a relative does say yes, they don't just get a free pass either, they are monitored, at least in the beginning, to make sure that it is in fact the right decision, and that everyone is healthy and happy.
In this case, the show was about a family's struggle to stay together, and about how they grow and change as a family in the process.. not so far fetched when you compare it to some of the other stuff they put on the idiot box these days... Lost and Prison Break are the first to come to my mind.. not bagging them, but really, if you want to talk about hard to believe..
You're Perfect Yes It's True.... But Without Me You're Only You
[deleted]