Foster Care: Empathy and Reality (continued)

So, it came to the point, I stop trying to involve them in what was happening in their daughter’s life. What was truly heartbreaking was that they did not ask about her accomplishments or happeings in her life.

I did still have empathy but I also realized that they had to want to change. People have to see the problems to change and the majority of biological parents do not see it. A lot of these parents are living and parenting the only way they know how. Given the opportunity to change for the sake of their children they do not. This is a choice that the parents are making and cannot be viewed as an excuse for them.

I sat in my car and watched this mother escorted by the police handcuffed and shackled for the TPR (termination of parental rights). Tears ran down my cheeks, this was the mother of my foster daughter. The pain I felt was for her. The loss she would be dealing with, and that of my foster daughter. I set across a courtroom from her and testified against her while we both cried.

My toddler has also been dealing with medical issues and caseworkers have contacted a number of relatives to get some medical information. Her birth family is unwilling to help or provide information. Yes, I understand that they are hurt by the loss of her, but being unwilling to help her. Is that love? Where is empathy for the child?

For the foster child that has endured sexual abuse (by mom’s live in boyfriend which the children had told mom and other family members), burned with cigarettes or scalding water, the teen that was raised helping mom shoot up her drugs, not even provided with basic needs such as medical care, food, water, etc. were is their empathy?

More reading:

How Many Children Need to Die?

Drugs and Foster Care