13 February 2009

Celebrate Love. Adopt.


Thousands of children lanquish in our foster system. They live in foster homes, orphanages, group homes, under bridges, and in cars. Some are held in detention centers. Even jail. Because there are no adults out there willing to love them.

No one looks out for these children. The protection services are overwhelmed, and many of the social workers responsible for these kids are burnt out. These children are lost, and many will never realize their full potential.

But what really kills me is that they are forced to grow up without any sense of belonging. Even if they're lucky enough to find a foster family, in all but the most loving homes, they are reminded every day that they are not actually family. They know they will not be adopted, and that the bed they sleep in tonight may not be theirs tomorrow.

I get really frustrated when I think of the resources wasted in America so that couples can make shiny, brand new babies, when there are thousands of children already living who need their love.

19 comments:

steve said...

Well, I guess that's somewhat a personal choice that I've got nothing against (as long as you don't overdo it like that crazy lady - holy crap!!). But yes, you have a good point, and folks should indeed consider their options. Well done and happy weekend!

Fred Miller said...

You can't write enough about this. Even though I've never been able to have kids, three of my six brothers and their wives have adopted kids. And I'm a personal friend of Senator Brownback and his wife who have adopted a girl from China and a boy from Guatemala. And I think it's ironic that we talk so little about the "adoptedness" of any of the kids. You actually forget until somebody asks why one of us is so dark when the rest of us are blond. Trouble with forgetting is that, somehow, the encouragement for others to adopt is somehow . . . I don't know . . . lost.

INDIGENE said...

Well said...well done!

Cindy said...

Beautiful. I've felt that tug recently. We have so much, and there has got to be a way to share it.

Aaron said...

Eeek.

Boy. Talk about a minefield. I don't even know where to start. I don't want to rain on your parade - so, I won't. I hear you, 100 percent. And you're right, it's a crying shame. But it's going to take a lot of changes in our overall society to fix the situation.

Guess we'd better roll up our sleeves, then.

andrea said...

Yes! The whole octuplet thing is just a moral train wreck in my opinion.

merlinprincesse said...

I agree with you 100%! And glad you have the guts to talk about it... Two of my 3 nieces have been adopted.... I'm very proud of them.... Even if they are (the 3 of them in fact) TEENS!!!!!! (Meaning sometimes a pain in the a....) Hhehehehe... ;o)

soulbrush said...

what a fantastically 'sane' post.

Teri said...

This is a fabulous lovely illo and the commentary is perfect.

valerie walsh said...

you are so right! My neighbors just told me they are adopting and I am thrilled for them :)

Montag said...

Exactly.
Thank you for this post.

Renee said...

And the worse part of this is that it is true.

It is so true in fact that I am at a loss for the right words.

Love Renee

Renee said...

I had to come back. This isn't so much about the children already in the system, but the children that very likely will be put in the system.

My middle daughter Nadalene always says that people should ask the question of themselves 'Yeah, you may want a child, but would the child want you?' I think it is relevant because so many people are having children they don't want or can't take care of.

p.s. You never talk too much. You are a muse to me and I come to look and feel you all the time.

Love Renee

Valerie Lorimer said...

THis is wonderful. Thank you for what you wrote.

studio lolo said...

bravo Cat! I remember the movie "A Cider House Rules" and choking back the tears on "adoption day" when perspective parents would come and end up choosing the "prettiest" child while leaving gaping holes in the hearts left behind. But real life is worse than that. We step over kids on the street and in the subways, sneering at them like they were 'less than.' I'm sure many people have mumbled something like "where are their parents!?" as they pass them by and give them scornful looks. Most of those kids would BEG for discipline because it would mean someone cared about them enough to want them home.
Ugh. Home.
And don't even get me going on the same problem in the 4-legged realm with those backyard designer breeders while our shelters are overflowing.

I have to stop now. I don't have enough breath or words to cover all I want to say.
Thank you Cat, for saying what you did and for saying it so well.
XX

° said...

gotta love being an American at times and i say that sarcastically. Seems
like we'd be able to come up with a solution but i wouldn't hold my breath waiting for congress to do it.
like ur pic too

Unknown said...

here here. I agree. I was adopted and I had a stable consistent childhood.

*jean* said...

i completely agree with you about what is being done in the name of having children when we should be taking care of the ones that are here....

we have several adopted children in our two families...can't imagine it any other way...they are a gift...

TracyC said...

Great thoughts! Our four daughters are adopted--couldn't imagine life any other way.