So I've had another long moment without blogging. I know, I know, I have got to do better. There have been a few things in the news I am ready to weigh in on. What I want to talk about today has been something that really sent me through an entire flood of emotions - sadness, anger, bewilderment, you name it.
There have been two cases recently of children in my area
murdered at the hands of their own parents. First, a 9-week old baby beaten to
death by his father while his mother helped cover it up. In the other case, an
11-year-old girl was severely abused, locked in a bathroom for days, and
authorities believe she was murdered by her mother, her body locked in a
freezer that she asked a relative to keep for her (the relative had no idea
what was inside).
Stories like these really break my heart and remind me of
just how thankful we should all be for the foster care and adoption system. Do
you know why the poor little girl was locked for days in the bathroom and,
according to her siblings, severely beaten if she tried to escape? It was
because she often had trouble making it to the bathroom and had an accident
here or there. Sound familiar? If not for the system, that could have been my baby. At 14, anyone who
reads my blog knows she is still struggling with potty training. Having to
carry a bag with extra clothes, underwear, wipes, and hygiene products
everywhere I go can sometimes be a bit daunting. And I have to leave a change
of clothes at the school, at after care, in the car, at the church, and at my
parents’ house. But as overwhelming as I sometimes feel, I ASKED for this job.
And so did this little girl’s mom. Maybe
she didn’t intend to get pregnant but when her daughter was born, I am sure
there were dozens of couples (and even single folks) who would have been
willing to adopt her. Once you take that child home and commit to being a
parent, there is no excuse for her actions. And my God, what in the world could
a 9-week old have done that would warrant beating him to death?
Although these two poor children fell through the cracks and
the system was unable to get to them in time, there are hundreds more like them
that are removed from their homes before they meet such a tragic end. Now, I am
not naïve, I know that there are those who become foster parents for all the
wrong reasons, and no system is perfect. But I just wanted to say a big THANK
YOU for all of those who have readily agreed to love and care for children
whose parents just couldn’t or wouldn’t.
And even if foster care isn’t for you, I am sure there is a
child at your church, in your family, or in the family of a friend, that you
can reach out to and offer a little help, guidance, love, or support.
I am proud to be an adoptive mom and to know that my baby
girl will NEVER have to suffer shame or feel inadequate because of something
she can’t control. Even though she AND her brother can test my patience, I
wouldn’t change one hair on their head. They are beautifully and wonderfully
made, and they are mine.
