“Home is a child's first and most important classroom.”
― Hillary Rodham Clinton, It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us
Today, my eldest daughter called me to say, “Happy Mother’s Day.” She’s not “my” daughter in the DNA sense. She came into my life when she was 16 years old as a foster daughter. A year later, her 13-year-old sister came to live with us, too. The eldest is about to turn 40 and our relationship has been an ongoing mother-daughter connection. The younger one just became a mother herself, however, she chose not to stay in touch with me. Still, I stay up to date on how she’s doing through her sister.
Six years ago, I became the non-relative legal guardian of a girl who is now about to turn 14. I’ve known her since she was a toddler when she was in the custody of her paternal grandmother who was a neighbor of my mother.
I have no biological kids and, over the years, people have told me it’s “different” when “they’re your own.” I have no idea if this is true because I have nothing to compare it to. All I know is that I love these girls unconditionally — they have enriched my life and given me proof of the power of the human spirit.
“Knowing what to expect next gives children a sense of security.”
― Hillary Rodham Clinton, It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us
I share this because — on Mother’s Day — I hope to get more people to consider being foster parents. Yes, there are challenges when parenting kids who have been neglected or abused or simply abandoned. But you also get to witness countless miracles when when you give them a safe place to land.
Indeed, it takes a village.
One of the many reasons I support Hillary Clinton is her lifelong work in the pursuit of improving the lives of children, women, and parents.
Back in February, I wrote this diary listing just some of the Senate legislature Hillary wrote and sponsored towards this goal: www.dailykos.com/…
While serving in the Senate, Hillary also wrote and sponsored legislature specific to foster children and the child welfare system:
S.Res. 630 (110th): A resolution recognizing the importance of connecting foster youth to the workforce through internship programs, and encouraging employers to increase employment of former foster youth. www.govtrack.us/…
S. 2944 (110th): Child Welfare Workforce Improvement Act — A bill to amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to examine and improve the child welfare workforce, and for other purposes. www.govtrack.us/...
S.Res. 566 (109th): A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate concerning the importance of preventing child abuse and neglect before they occur and achieving permanency and stability for children who must experience foster care. www.govtrack.us/...
S. 2658 (107th): Fostering Service Act of 2002: A bill to amend subtitle C of title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to give more youth aging out of foster care the opportunity to participate in national service programs, and for other purposes. www.govtrack.us/...
Happy Mother’s Day To All.