Why are there so many children in our country that are unloved and unwanted by their mothers? I just can't understand this. I was loved very much by my own mother, and had a great, idyllic even, childhood.
From the age of 4 I informed everyone that I was going to be a nurse until I got married, and then I was going to be a mommy. That was all I ever really wanted. (I even told mom when I was about 12 or 13 that I was going to marry a man named the same name as my husband, and that I was going to have 2 girls in a row...right again.)
From the moment my first daughter was born I've been in love with her. The very first thought I had, when the cord wasn't even cut, but I could feel her tiny movements, was, "WHOA! I have NEVER felt like this before. There is no man on earth that I've even come close to loving like this little girl, and I will do anything, anytime for her." Almost 11 years later, that hasn't changed. I believe this is how it should be.
I know there are other women just like me when it comes to mothering. They adore their children. They protect them, watch them, do their best to guide them, listen to them, talk to them, help them, and most of all, love them. The thought of them leaving one day for college, or marriage, or work is almost unbearable. Who will protect them then? Yet we know that day is coming, so we do our best to at least prepare them to make it successfully on their own.
Lately, though, I've noticed more and more children seemingly longing for the love and guidance of an adult. The little 8 year old boy down the street who comes to play with my girls, but sits talking to me, instead. A 10 year old girl who comes to our house, and after playing a few minutes with C, comes to sit on the bed with me, and talk for an hour. A 3 year old behind us who wanders the streets day and night with no one even calling him home or noticing he's not there. A 13 year old across the street whose mother leaves him home alone night after night, in a house with no electricity, but she has the money to pay her cell phone bill and nightly booze. My own step-daughters, whose mother literally abandoned them when they were age 3 and 6. (Dropped the 3 year old at the police station while Daddy was at work, and 6 year old was at school.) I just can't figure out how it is that some women don't see what treasures their children are!
This morning on the news I watched the saddest story that happened right here in my hometown this week. A 10 year old girl was found riding her bike down the busiest street in town, NAKED and soaking wet. She was crying, and trying to find someone to help her. A man finally stopped to give her a blanket, and call the police. Turns out her mom had just tried to drown her in the bathtub, but relented when the girl promised she would leave and never come back home.
These are little people! They crave love and need nurturing. They have feelings. Honestly, if someone doesn't want children these days, there are so many options for birth control. If that's too difficult there are tens of thousands of parents willing, and anxiously waiting to adopt. I realize most of the people who read this are followers of the Bible, and don't believe in birth control, but you must look at all the people who don't follow the Bible, and for whatever reason choose to bring children into this world, only to neglect them or abuse them. A trip to the local pharmacy or free clinic would be better than a suffering child.
I hear so many moms say, " I need ME time." I can empathize with that, but I haven't had ME time in almost 11 years. I didn't have children to neglect them. I didn't have children to let someone else raise them most of the day. I didn't have children to gain ME time. I don't have a weekly date night. I don't have a weekly, "go-out-with-my-girlfriends" time. These growing-up years are my daughters' time to be with me. I'll have plenty of my own time (too much) when they are grown up.
Every child deserves to at least have love. I can't understand "mothers" who have children, but don't care for them and love them. I am, by no means, a great mother. I lose my temper. I try not to cook, if any other means of providing a meal is available. I can't teach English well. (LOL...see post below.) Some days I'm just so tired, or sad about other things in my life, I go hide out in my room with the pillow over my head for half an hour. But always I listen to my girls, talk to them, play with them, read with them, teach them, and above all CHERISH, LOVE, and TREASURE them. Don't all children deserve at least that much?
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