Lost Children
Each day I look around and see more and more lost children. It does not reflect well on our society and I fear what kind of adults they will grow to be. When I refer to lost children, I am not only talking about those who do not live with their parents. Many of these lost children live with one or both parents, but something very essential is missing for them.
It is extremely difficult on those who have been taken from their parents and are in foster care or homes for children. They are thrown into a strange environment with people they do not know and all sense of security is gone from their life. They learn quickly how to survive, but it is not the life a child should have. Although they have been removed from a bad situation there is one truth - children love their parents no matter what they have done.
Other children live with one (or both) parents and still have no sense of security. They may live in a household where there is constant turmoil due to fighting. Parents may spend more time with their attention focused on the TV, computer or phone rather than on their children. When they do this they are not communicating or listening to their children which can lead them to do whatever it takes to get attention (good or bad). A child should not feel that they are invisible or what they have to say is not important.
If one parent is absent or if a child does not know the absent parent, the blow to their self esteem is undeniable. They will feel that they are not worthy of love and will strive to receive approval wherever they can get it - even from strangers. If their mother/father becomes involved in a new relationship not only does the child often take a back seat to the new partner, but you don't know how they will treat your child. They may not treat them as kindly as they should, or in the worst case scenario they may abuse them. If their parent does not protect them from these situations they learn that they cannot trust, and they learn to fear the adults who they should be able to turn to.
We all are responsible for ensuring every child feels safe, secure and loved. They need to know that they can turn to the adults in their lives and count on them. Whether we are their parent or another adult in their life, our goal should be to nurture, listen, teach, encourage and protect. To make them feel that they are precious and of great value to us and society. If we do this well then we will have fewer and fewer lost children
It is extremely difficult on those who have been taken from their parents and are in foster care or homes for children. They are thrown into a strange environment with people they do not know and all sense of security is gone from their life. They learn quickly how to survive, but it is not the life a child should have. Although they have been removed from a bad situation there is one truth - children love their parents no matter what they have done.
Other children live with one (or both) parents and still have no sense of security. They may live in a household where there is constant turmoil due to fighting. Parents may spend more time with their attention focused on the TV, computer or phone rather than on their children. When they do this they are not communicating or listening to their children which can lead them to do whatever it takes to get attention (good or bad). A child should not feel that they are invisible or what they have to say is not important.
If one parent is absent or if a child does not know the absent parent, the blow to their self esteem is undeniable. They will feel that they are not worthy of love and will strive to receive approval wherever they can get it - even from strangers. If their mother/father becomes involved in a new relationship not only does the child often take a back seat to the new partner, but you don't know how they will treat your child. They may not treat them as kindly as they should, or in the worst case scenario they may abuse them. If their parent does not protect them from these situations they learn that they cannot trust, and they learn to fear the adults who they should be able to turn to.
We all are responsible for ensuring every child feels safe, secure and loved. They need to know that they can turn to the adults in their lives and count on them. Whether we are their parent or another adult in their life, our goal should be to nurture, listen, teach, encourage and protect. To make them feel that they are precious and of great value to us and society. If we do this well then we will have fewer and fewer lost children
Very well written. Thank you for sharing and I could not agree with you more. :-)
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