We attended a behavior training class this week and it was wonderful! As we go through this process we are continually shocked at statistics, possibilities, and how broken this world is.
The behavior class really emphasizes how hurt and emotionally wrecked the kids in the system are. It is very common for a 2 year old to model adult like behaviors because of the craziness they see everyday. They are taught to hate the police and develop a survival mentality at such a young age. Most kids come with food issues because they are only fed a bag of Doritos for the whole day. Our CPR training instructor said she had a kid come through the system that was practically orange because he had been fed so many Cheetos. (Our CPR instructor was a little crazy though)
In the next few weeks we have to put a criteria on what "type" of kid we are willing to take. If you remember when we started this process we were originally going International so you would think we would have already come to this decision. I have to admit.... deciding guidelines on a child has been one of the hardest decisions in this process.
We even have to think about religious background. If the child is Muslim the bio-parents have the right to require us to take them to a Muslim practicing church while they are in our care.
The number one questions we get when people ask us about our journey is not what age or gender it is what race?
I personally know we have friends and family that are uncomfortable with the fact we could possibly bring a RAINBOW effect to our family tree.
I will be honest, I am not at all raciest, but I am struggling with how I will be looked at and judged when our little family is out and about enjoying life. I hate that my heart even goes there!
It also weighs on me that we are still a culture that claims not to be raciest but are the first people to make a funny joke or comment about another race. or even stereotype. I am very guilty of this! Some jokes and comments are so natural that we don't even realize that they are offensive.
What if we adopt a child of a different race/culture and we break their hearts because of jokes or comments that we make, or friends make, or our family makes? Again I think of things that are said that people don't ever realize are offensive!
Then I watch a video like this and realize this process is so much bigger then any of my worries. The child God has for us will beautifully fit with our family. The world, the sin, will never go away. It might change a little but it is up to us to fight through it.
Why are children placed in Foster Care?
Children enter foster care for several reasons:
18.8% Physical Abuse
7.9% Emotional abuse
6.2% Sexual Abuse
3.2% Caretaker Inability
Source: Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services. (March 2007). Fact Sheet, Child Welfare Services. Downloaded April 2007 fromhttp://dcfs.co.la.ca.us
I don't care what color, race, gender, emotional problems, delays, special needs, etc.. a child might be or have, no child deserves to suffer and live in the abuse and neglect that over 397,000 children are experiencing. Yes there are over 397,000 children in the US that are in need of safety and someone to show them Christ like love.
Sorry for the soap box I am just heavy hearted this week trying to make big decisions.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/20/video_5_n_4993932.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000037&ir=Parents
