Thirteen years ago an experience changed the way I looked at my life and my family. Was working as an oral surgeon’s assistant and had went out to lunch with the girls to the local Burger King. A typical lunch hour crowd filling the place, with everyone chatting amongst themselves, and no one taking notice of each other, as they relaxed for their hour.
Lunch hour was always the break we needed from our insane surgery schedule of what seemed like an endless line of wisdom teeth extractions. A chance to complain about our boss, chat about the latest episodes of Lois and Clark, or how we couldn’t lose weight while eating a Whopper; it was a nice escape. At least until the unknown mother and child came bursting into our lives.
Mother and son came shouting and fussing into the restaurant, loud enough to interrupt most conversations. This seemed like a daily routine for the pair and this time it was over the little guy not getting out of the car fast enough to appease his mother. Loud enough to garner everyone’s undivided attention this argument was over him not telling what he wanted to the waitress fast enough to suit his tyrant of a mother. She grabbed the back of the child’s shirt and started shaking and dragging him around.
The painter standing behind them in line had clearly had enough and politely said; “I believe your son is choking.”
"Instantly lashing back; “It’s none of your damn business, what’s goin’ on here!” Screaming she began again; “Another word about it, I’ll get the gun out of my car and blow your brains out!”
"Fear gripped everyone as they watched in stunned silence. Personally, I’d never witnessed anything quite like it and hope to never again. You could hear a pin drop as she took the child and left. Everyone was looking at each other, wondering about what they had just seen.
A couple of us slipped out the door to attempt to get her license plate number, without luck, but the manager assured us that during the commotion someone had already written it down, as well as notified the authorities. This relieved most of us, but I had to wonder how often this type of thing had happened in that household.
That day touched my life in countless ways and led to me getting involved with our local foster care system as a foster/adoptive mother and serving as a volunteer CASA in support of these kids. Having adopted three wonderful children that deserved a safe and loving home, I wish there was more that can be done to protect children from this sort of treatment. Sadly, this abuse is some of the milder that happens out there.
Every time I hear of another celebrity going outside this country to adopt a child it breaks my heart because we have so many wonderful and needy children right here in the United States. Most families are oblivious to how many children sit in the system, desperately needing nothing more than loving homes. They deserve all the love a good home can give.
If you have a chance to reach out to these kids… Do it. It will change your life. Even if it’s something as simple as giving hats and gloves or donating Christmas gifts, it matters so much and these children appreciate it more than you can imagine.
Take today to reach out and help a child in foster care. They need all the love they can get.
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