Guardian Abandonment?

I live in Florida. My parents have had custody of my niece and her half-sister for eight years. I've been raising the girls for the entire time, as I had moved in with my parents to care for the girls "temporarily." Last month, my parents went to Kentucky and left my nieces with the non-custodial father/stepfather "for the summer." Now, they aren't planning on coming back. The father enrolled the kids in new schools for the fall. The girls are begging me to "bring them home." I don't know what to do. I know that my parents are not allowed to give the girls back to the parents without permission form the court. I want to call and report them, but I'm not sure what will happen to the girls. I'm only working part time right now because I've gone back to school. I'm also bi-polar, and I'm not sure what kind of stigma the court places on this particular disorder. Any advice would be appreciated. The girls are not happy where they are at all. Today, the girls are with me because the father's water is turned off. I know he's two months behind in his rent. He lives with his girlfriend and three (sometimes four) of her kids. What should I do?

I would notify the court and stress to them that the children have BEEN with you and have done well---and you are simply asking for legal permission for them to remain with you---I would act now while the water is off. The fact you are bi-polar isn't necessarily a risk to the children and certainly not any more of a risk than the other people in their lives have been to them.

Head to court, ask for an emergency hearing, tell them you want to report guardian abandonment (if they are reluctant to help you).......and ask for an emergency hearing for temporary placement.

God bless you for stepping into the lives of the children. Good luck.