Another Innocent Victim
On the way to my son’s class field trip today, I sat next to a little girl who was bubbly, adorable and quite the little bossy pants. She reminded me so much of myself as a child. We got to chatting and she openly shared some of her life story. Her daddy is currently in jail for beating her five month old twin siblings with a belt buckle. She lives with her mama and her mama’s boyfriend, who beats up on mama. She is the youngest in her home and has four siblings. The oldest sibling is also currently in jail. I had to literally close my mouth because I didn’t realize that my jaw was headed toward the floor. The things that this young kindergartner has already experienced in life are shocking.
I feel bad on days that I yell at the kids, or fail to give them enough attention. Do these parents have any conscience? Do they realize what they are doing (besides the physical abuse) to their children? I just hugged her and struggled to fight my tears. I totally expected someone who has been through such horrifying days to be withdrawn and depressed. If this little girl was any of that, she sure hid it well. She joked with me and played around with the other kids as if life was just dandy. When we sat down for lunch, she pulled out a piece of bread and juice. Her eyes lit up like it was Christmas when I handed her my strawberries and Chex Mix. I wanted to give her so much more. I wanted to take her home with me and give her the life that she deserves. I know that we are not perfect parents by any standards. Our house is not spotless, our attention and patience is sometimes stretched thin. However, when I see a child such as this girl, it breaks my heart to let her go back home and be subjected to a life of crime, pain and dysfunction. I’m going to have a tough time sleeping tonight.
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POSTED IN: Catch All
5 opinions for Another Innocent Victim
Shannon Smith
Apr 8, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Oh my! That IS heart-breaking. I’m in tears. I can’t imagine being the one to have had the conversation with her. I will say a prayer for her.
Ashley
Apr 9, 2008 at 7:23 am
She was probably happy and bubbly because school is probably the highlight of her day. My mom taught elementary school for 24 years and the things she’s seen and heard and felt are absolutely horrific. After years of calling child service hotlines and trying to minister and counsel and help all she could along with you know, teaching, it just got to be too much for her. I don’t understand it either. She would come home so drug down and sad and it seems like year after year things didn’t get better for these kids. The thought of beating a baby is beyond my capabilities. I can’t wrap my brain around it.. But I’ll tell you one thing - when I hear people complaining about free lunches and breakfasts I think back to the kids who I’ve personally witnessed scarf down those meals because it was probably all they were going to get to eat that day and I want to slap those people.
It’s also horrifying to see how overloaded and bogged down our social workers are. I honestly believe that they DO care. But they are swimming in a sea of need just like the teachers.
Karen
Apr 9, 2008 at 10:03 am
It breaks my heart when I run across kids in this situation. There’s a little girl in my daughter’s first-grade class, who is in foster care. She’s very ho-hum about her situation and will tell anyone who will listen. I just want to take the poor thing home. Even if my home isn’t perfect, I know it’s full of love.
Maria
Apr 9, 2008 at 10:08 am
This brings tears to my eyes and makes me want to hold my little one even tighter. I can not even imagine only offering bread and juice– exposing the child to beatings and abuse– abuse that will stay with her for years and years. The poor soul of that child…
Melisa
Apr 15, 2008 at 1:26 pm
For this little girl to be exposed and nobody doing anything about it is awlful. That is why there is such a thing as “foster care,” in a lot of states it is against the law not to report abuse and from what I have read that is a form of abuse.
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