It was a warm summer day in 1999 when my wife and I celebrated our youngest son’s third birthday. We bought him a birthday cake, ice cream, gifts and decorated our home to celebrate the special moment. My day seemed perfect until a tiny angel ran past my office. She had big blue eyes, curly blonde hair and appeared to be my son’s age. She reminded me of Shirley Temple, the late child movie star. “Must be a co-worker’s daughter,” I thought. Moments later, I rose from my desk and noticed the tiny girl standing next to Bill, a children’s services co-worker. He was her social services caseworker.
Just days ago, he had removed her from an abusive home. I told him I couldn’t understand how anyone could harm such a beautiful child. He didn’t have an answer. After dinner, I watched my son eat his birthday cake and open his gifts as my thoughts drifted back to the tiny angel in the blue dress. Bill had told me that many of the children in the county's custody have never had a birthday party or ever received any gifts. He said they are just fortunate enough to be alive.
Unfortunately, if these children aren’t adopted or taken in by family members, they don't experience any stability. They will carry their belongings in garbage bags from one address to the next. These nomadic children will spend their entire childhood wandering from one foster home to the next.
And once they emancipate from the system, they are released into the world and must fend for themselves. Imagine being released into the world without love or any parental guidance. It's a scary thought.
Unfortunately, many young adults never recover and turn to drugs, crime, and alcohol. Parents often forget that their child only has one childhood. It's up to parents to make sure their children have a safe and happy childhood. An abusive environment can alter their adult lives.
So why are so many people screwed up? It's because they never learn to love or trust anyone. And if these children never receive any counseling for their past troubles, they may carry years of anger and pain into adulthood.
Just days ago, he had removed her from an abusive home. I told him I couldn’t understand how anyone could harm such a beautiful child. He didn’t have an answer. After dinner, I watched my son eat his birthday cake and open his gifts as my thoughts drifted back to the tiny angel in the blue dress. Bill had told me that many of the children in the county's custody have never had a birthday party or ever received any gifts. He said they are just fortunate enough to be alive.
Unfortunately, if these children aren’t adopted or taken in by family members, they don't experience any stability. They will carry their belongings in garbage bags from one address to the next. These nomadic children will spend their entire childhood wandering from one foster home to the next.
And once they emancipate from the system, they are released into the world and must fend for themselves. Imagine being released into the world without love or any parental guidance. It's a scary thought.
Unfortunately, many young adults never recover and turn to drugs, crime, and alcohol. Parents often forget that their child only has one childhood. It's up to parents to make sure their children have a safe and happy childhood. An abusive environment can alter their adult lives.
So why are so many people screwed up? It's because they never learn to love or trust anyone. And if these children never receive any counseling for their past troubles, they may carry years of anger and pain into adulthood.
1 comment:
I wish I knew the answer to this. People are screwed up and it seems to be escalating. Mothers, selling, abandoning or even killing their children because they are an inconvenience or a burden.
I almost can't stand to turn on the TV because it will undoubtedly be telling yet another story of an inconceivable crime against a child.
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