I Think I Have Found My Calling

We all know I can be a little aggressive and forward, so maybe it is time I put it to good use. Yesterday, a nurse at our office brought in the 10 month old baby that she is fostering. She was the cutest little African-American with little Afro puffs and two bottom teeth. When I walked by she reached for me and I held her. As I was holding her, I asked the foster mom what happened to allow her to foster this child and that is when she told me that this is the SECOND time her parents have beaten her. I started to tear up a little, and as she is discussing the injuries, the baby turned her head and that is when those tears went to a FULL OUT BREAKDOWN! This 10 month old baby had a dislocated jaw and a drained hematoma on her ear that left permanent scarring that reminds me of cauliflower ear on a wrestler. This little innocent child has been harmed like this, not once, but twice in 10 months and you want to know the best part? Our system is so screwed up, that the parents still have visitation with the possibility of regaining custody because they feel like the baby is always better with the parents. Really? Needless to say, I squatted down on the floor of my bosses office and bawled like a child. My friend, Sandra, came running over because she thought that something had happened to my husband. Seriously, that is how bad I was bawling. A total mess. It took me a little over 3 hours to calm down. I am not sure what happened. I think it was just the devastation of seeing an abused child and knowing that this stupid, skanky woman can continue to have kids and I can't. I just could not recover. Luckily, my friend Carter didn't ask questions, but asked if I wanted to go have a drink after work. We went and his girlfriend joined us; eventually my husband too. We had a great couple of hours laughing, telling stories, and cheering me up. I love our friends.

So, with all of that, I encourage all of you to call your local representative and suggest an immediate change in child welfare law. We are thinking of drafting a bill and seeing how many people we can get to sign it. I am not sure if I have to stomp the stairs of the House, or what, but I'm NOT letting this go. Join me? ~Amy