IS IT just me or does everyone try not to look away?
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IS IT just me or does everyone try not to look away?
My kids are happy. They’ve all got jobs they love and a roof over their heads. They are fun to be around and I am incredibly proud of them, but sometimes I look at them and think they are nothing more or less than they should be. They have been loved, nurtured and supported every day of their lives. There was barely a raised voice in our house, let alone a flying fist, drug-taking, alcoholism, mental illness or sexual abuse.
They have two parents who would literally lay down their lives for them and a much wider support network of friends, colleagues and relatives who love them too.
Life has been very good to my kids.
In Queensland tonight, roughly 9000 children will need out of home care. Nine thousand. It’s a big, sad number isn’t it?
Yesterday 92.7 Mix FM and the Sunshine Coast Daily launched the Bear for Care campaign to support those kids.
Lots of people ask the question “what can I do to help” and this is the answer. Just buy a bear to show your support for our Foster and Kinship Carers who are already do amazing things. Or, if you’ve got a spare room, change the life of a child for ever, by welcoming them in to your home and supporting them until they can return to their families.
In particular, IFYS needs people able to care for children with a disability and young people eight years and over.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foster and Kinship Care program “D’Jinang Djaa” is desperate for five new carers too.
There are no rules to determine who makes a good foster parent. It doesn’t matter how old you are, what gender, what cultural background, if you have kids at home or have never had kids.
Anyone with room in their house, who is good at connecting, good at listening and slow to judge is a great candidate.
At www.fostercare.com.au there is a quick test you can do to determine whether foster care or even respite care would suit you.
If you just want to buy a bear, we’ll be so grateful. Catch us at Bush’s newsagency in the Big Top between 9am and 12pm, or go and see Anne and Joe at Wirreanda News in Buderim.
No matter what they’ve been through to this point, all children need at least one significant adult to become a lasting presence in their lives.
It’s simply not fair that the kids with the most to deal with generally have to do it alone.
So please, contact IFYS and talk about changing the life of a child. You never know, it just might change your life too.
Caroline xx
