As I walk into the exam room, she’s already on the exam table. All 18 pounds of her. She’s grabbing her toes and has a wide smile on her face. Her mother and I exchange greetings and we begin discussing her growth and development.
I shine the otoscope light for her to see. First into my mouth. She giggles. Then into hers. I can see her 4 budding new teeth emerging from the top of her gums.
Her mom and I continue talking. I talk to her as well. She’s adorable. Before her mother even says it, I already know but she says it anyway…”I’ve only had her and her sister for a couple of weeks. I’m her foster mom. Their second foster family.”
And my heart breaks for these two small children. I glance over at her big sister, waiting her turn. Not even two yet.
The foster mom and I continue talking about speech development, upcoming milestones (like walking and first words), car seat safety, bottle weaning, eating healthy, and the diaper rash that isn’t getting better.
In the end, I handed her a prescription for a diaper rash cream.
That’s it. And I felt deflated. Because I could not give her what those children need the most.
Their mother. A mother not ravaged by addiction and drugs.
And I see too much of it. Too many kids just like these two.
And all I could do was say a little prayer. That all the hands that come into these young children’s lives are gentle and loving hands. That the words that reach their tiny and innocent ears are full of empathy and encouragement. That their first steps, first words, and first days of school won’t pass by unnoticed or uncelebrated.
I pray that their little moments do not get lost.
Lost in this parent shuffle. Where they are literally shuffled from one set of hands to another.
I pray they find a permanent, safe, and soft place to land.
And I know there’s no easy solution for them. For all the children exactly like them.
But today, all I can do is ask for your prayers, best wishes, good karma, and well thoughts for the thousands of children in limbo. Waiting…for their mothers, their fathers…someone to wrap them up in their loving arms and never let go.
More reading about foster children and how you can help:
10 Things Every Pediatrician Should Know about Children in Foster Care
How you can help children in foster care
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I’ve been home twin-raising for the past two years. For the 12 years prior, I practiced law, primarily in the area of dependent and neglected children. I was their guardian ad litem, served on the foster care review board, helped found a safe house for children removed from homes where meth was being manufactured, and raised all the hell I could to keep as many falling through the cracks as possible. Nothing was more rewarding than finalizing adoptions for these kids, some who waited in vain two to four years or longer for their parents to get back on track, all the while faithful and hopeful. Heartbreaking. Kids need permanency, stability, unconditional, first priority love. Period. Good foster parents, I admire you the most.
Sigh…you know how I feel about this. For the foster kids I see at my school, all I can give them is half an hour of ME. But you are so right, we really can’t give them back their mom. I always want to take them all home…
xoxo
I’ve been thinking a lot about this. (I just read The Language of Flowers, and the main character is a young woman who was shuffled through the foster system until emancipation.) It makes me so sad to think of these kids and how they don’t have a center to come back to
I love your heart! I can’t wait to adopt myself, and I know we’ll be doing foster parenting when we’re older with more space. Every kid deserves a great mom & dad.
Wow. This is a very powerful post. I agree with your prayers Melissa. Keep up the good work, and keep the faith.
I felt sad every time I heard stories like this. I pray that they find a family that can keep them forever. And pray that people with big heart with these children multiply.