I was so sad to hear about the Camano Island toddler who was locked in his room everyday while his father worked (“Neighbor frees locked-up child,” May 1). For those of us who love our kids and worry about them this kind of neglect it is almost impossible to imagine. Yet, thousands of children are neglected in our state each year. Their parents are not meeting the demands of parenting and the children are left to cope on their own. How is a child in this situation ever to feel loved, to feel part of a family or part of a home? What of this toddler’s 11-year-old brother, who has the overwhelming responsibility of sneaking home from school to change diapers and feed a baby? When does he get to be a child?
This is when foster care steps in. A chance for both of these children to have a break from their troubled home and to get a fresh start. But in Washington there is a shortage of foster homes. My two children, whom we adopted from foster care, are not unlike the children in the story. My own adopted son spent hours home alone and cared for his baby sister. My adopted daughter was often unattended and had to fend for herself. Thank goodness, they got the support they need, joined our family and now have a regular life.
So, the next time you pick up your child from school, drive to a baseball game or tuck your baby into bed, think about a little boy locked alone in his room. Better yet, do something to help.
On any given day 11,000 children are in foster care in Washington state. To find our how you can help call Families for Kids recruitment resource at 1-888-794-1794.
Everett
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