Many posts I see here are about rescuing and caring for abandoned, neglected, or abused animals. I highly respect the people who give their time and money for such efforts and consider their work vital. What bothers me is that I never see posts from others giving information about how to help a child in foster or custodial care situations (as well as the caregivers). Mid-life surrogates have to deal with the same issues, responsibilities, and other demands necessary to raise a child that parents do, many times uncompensated in any form, not even a tax deduction. We all know raising a child at 35 is nowhere near comparable to raising one at 55. Grandparents often find themselves in this situation. Many families caring for related or unrelated children are below the poverty line, but many have sufficient income and simply need other kinds of help. If your church or social group isnt already involved in this kind of altruistic endeavor, please consider it. There are many, many ways to make a difference. Show the child an act of kindness by taking them to a movie, for an ice cream, come to their birthday party with a gift, help them with homework, or take them to the park. Help the caregiver with Santa, shoes, clothes and other expenses as well as just as little time to themselves. If you are extended family, please do not treat the child as different from other children in the family to further his or her feelings of being less important. Dont be a part of the childs life only when others make it easy and convenient for you. Participate in their lives by going to special events, take them on a vacation, or simply call them once in awhile. Our society is seeing more and more children from even prominent families in such situations. A negative consequence to that is sometimes shame which results in an appearance of self-importance and being a cut above. Or maybe its just not giving a damn. This post is not a do-gooder one. Look around and you will find a family who needs you, who are not living off the government, and who didnt necessarily ask to be in this situation. Several points to this lengthy post. One is CHILDREN WHO NEED YOUR HELP ARENT ALWAYS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. Two is SHOW SOME COMPASSION, PARTICULARLY IF ITS IN YOUR OWN FAMILY. Three, HELPING A CHILD DOESNT NECESSARILY INVOLVE MONEY.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Apr 2014 00:14:52 +0000
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