Expendable Children

What's one child, more or less? One child too many? In some places that would appear to be so.

Places, for example, where a much older generation ghettoes itself, well away from the tumult of children's voices, expressing joy in life. Those who have themselves raised children and who now have grandchildren whom they can see when they wish, having no desire to share their lives in a prolonged fashion with these third-generation children. Preferring the calm and quiet of a neighbourhood consisting only of those experiencing the third and fourth life-stages.

Intolerant? Deliberately absenting themselves from the rich variety of human generations, preferring not to witness the unfolding of infant into youth, then early adulthood, with all the chaos that accompanies the entry into the various stages. They've experienced it once, and once seemed enough of a chore and a divergence from the preferred life. Who needs the impertinence of a child's endless questioning of the miracles of nature, for who has the patience to commit to advancing along that same path again?

Well, perhaps the grandparents of a child whom life would otherwise have abandoned. The child of a single mother who battles the demons of drug abuse, for example? Who made, for themselves, the preferable choice of complicating their lives again, rather than abandoning their grandchild to foster care. There are those who would have responded differently, no doubt, but Judie and Jim Stottler welcomed six-month-old Kimberly Broffman into their lives, their hearts, and their home.

She is now six years of age, a child with a vivacious curiosity, and a happy, questioning face. She has no idea why she has become a bit of a celebrity if one could call it that, given the notoriety of the situation, where the Clearwater, Florida retirement community is doing its utmost to remove her from their midst. She obligingly poses for the cameras when news reporters visit the community to write, once again, updates on the situation.

Her face would melt an iceberg.

But not, apparently, the hearts of those living in the retirement community where the rules are meant to be followed. And the rules of the Lakes Homeowners Association state that no one under the age of 18 may live in the community longer than two months. Assuredly, Kimberly Broffman has been living and flourishing in the community for most of her six years of life.

Serene, comfortable and emotionally balanced by the love of her grandparents. Who, after all, bought their property well before her birth.

And who have, attempting to honour the community agreement they initially signed, have attempted, time and again, to sell their property, and to move elsewhere, where they and their grandchild may live absent harassment. Their two-story, detached home, originally listed at $239,000 was dropped to $129,000, without any takers in their depressed economy where house values have dropped like a bucket into a deep, deep well.

The community authority insists they must move. But they are not, under any circumstances, to lower the price of their home any more, in the hopes that they may lure a prospective purchaser in these parlous times. For to do so would establish a devaluation of the other properties surrounding theirs. The Homeowners Association is determined to petition an area court to have the child removed.

The family, living on a very fixed income, has the kindly, concerned services of a pro bono lawyer, who observes "There's no where else to go except for foster care. My goal is to keep them together, which they still are".

No thanks to their friendly, child-averse neighbours.

Judie and Jimmy Stottler say they are trying to sell their home but vow not to give up their granddaughter Kimberly Broffman to stay in the Lakes.
	[Times photo: Bill Serne]