My 9 year old cousin (Drake) is currently living with my husband and I. His Mother (she’s my cousin to) is back in rehab for her crack cocaine addiction she was court ordered to give Drake up. His Father was shot and killed 4 years ago. The only other option was he either came to live with me or he went into foster care and I didn’t want him to go into foster care so I took him in. I’m only 24 years old and my husband is 29. No one else in my family would take my cousin because he’s known to get out of hand at times and to be honest, I really don’t think they care what happens to him.

I need some advice on a couple of things…. Every night before bed I get all of Drakes stuff together for school the next day. I put $4.00 in an envelope in his backpack for lunch. I leave at 5 am during the week for work and my husband puts Drake on the bus. I was doing laundry last night and I found $85 in Drakes pants. I asked him where he got the money from and he said his friend told him he could have it. I didn’t say anything else and when he went to bed I asked my husband what he thought about it and he said that he gives Drake $5.00 everyday for lunch because Drake asks him for lunch money. I told my husband that I already give him money. I’m assuming that this is the money he’s been making off of my husband so I took it. I have not spent it but I’m not going to give it back to him due to the fact that he’s been lying about needing money. I have also decided to start making him lunches so he doesn’t need money during the day. This is not the first time he has lied to us. He stole some of my fake jewelry about a month ago and sold it to another kid at the park. I got it back but he lied about the whole thing.

I received a phone call at work today and Drake allegedly touched a girls private area while playing and then proceeded to punch her in the face when she wouldn’t play along. He’s being suspended for 10 days starting tomorrow. I spoke to the school psychologist and he said Drake needs counseling for everything he’s been through. I agree but we already tried going to counseling and he was literally mute at every visit. How on earth do I handle this? Where do I go? Who do I talk to?

Thank you in advance for any advice.