On foster care, my niece was in it for about five days a couple of years ago. I am a thousand miles away. I actually reached her by phone, the zillionth time I called (no answering machine), which I can only assume was annoying, but I just had to talk with her. Complex situation, but as she and I talked later on one of her visits to me, formative (my word) for empathy and, unfortunately in some ways, alienating re my ex, her uncle, who she thinks didn't bother to call her - he says he did, and so on. But once didn't do the job for me, so I can see the disconnect.
It all had to do with her not being at her mother's (don't get me started) on some visitation weekend, and her father not knowing where she was (he long past wit's end re mom and now a daughter with spare interest in listening).
Oh, yes, it's coming back to me as I type... her mother was in one of her many trips to county hospital over the years and mentioned to the social worker about her daughter... who turned out to be staying at a girlfriend's.
T., then sixteen, didn't find it as appalling as many might; she liked the foster mother and got along with the people there. But her antennae grew some more.
T's mother died this year and I won't elaborate here except to say she was troubled both with good reason and because she had psychologic and selfmedication difficulties.
T. was also in care way earlier in her childhood, which again I won't elaborate on because she isn't the feature of the thread, but she remembers, in particular, a woman named Rosa.
Honor to those why try...
Honor those who try.
For sure.
There are way worse things than foster care.
Right now I'm hoping that Mo's half sisters end up there -- at least then we'd know where they are.
Foster care at least shows that someone is paying attention.
Yes, there are worse things for children than foster
care. At least there the chances of being abused are
very remote.
I know just because I read that some children's time in foster care is hell, varieties thereof. And if not hell, damned lonely, and lonelier.
I guess I have, as a person out of the loop, a general question, re making foster care a way to make a living and do good, if inclined.
I'm not entirely against that, as one can survive, theoretically, on it, and do it and help the foster children - though I gather many use the money in other directions... but it is so little against such needs, I dunno...
but it seems to me much of the motive out there is primarily survival money. Seems a lousy choice, if you look at it from some eagled eye.
But it is possible to be in monetary need and want to care for troubled children... indeed relatively likely.
Not that any other choices are much better. But has there been any effort world wide to supplant this kind of strained saving of people with few options? Or, support this kind of strained saving, giving those with few options but basic good sense a base?
Not that I know, but the subject is larger than our wee foray.
Reyn after he read the essay:
Very well done. I'm not an expert by any means, but the young writer appears to have good writing skills. Perhaps a career pointer?
nothing to say.
just tears
I hope that child can use her Newsweek essay on her college applications.
She's a winner.
