Somes I just dont understand...

So today I was put in a very difficult situation that not only broke my heart but made me filled with rage. Long story short Cinda had the Child Abuse Hot-Line on a parent after one of the pre-k children showed me a mark on him that he said his father had done. It was a very long day that I then spent with this child trying to give him a familiar face as he had to answer questions from DSS and the police. I then had to watch him as they went to the house with his mom and arrest his father. My day ended by talking to the mother as she explained how this was the man she loved and how it is unfair to have to choose between her children and her man but her children would always come first.

This situation just sucks. This child is not only just four years old but he is by far the cutest and smartest little boy ever, well ok not ever but still. He makes me smile every day in the classroom and it just broke my heart to have this happen. It also angers me that a grown man would ever think it is okay to hit a child. What freakin idiot uses his strength on a child??

It got me thinking sbout the other children in the classroom and the situations they live in. Many of them come from families that are broken apart, many do not have fathers, their fathers are in jail or worse dead. I had one child, another pre-k student say I don't see my dad because he took other people's stuff and mommy says he got in trouble. Do my other children get abused? If not physically, there are many that are emotionally abused. It breaks my heart, I wishes I could take all of them in under my own care and give them the love, and guidance they need.If this all was not enough these children have financial problems on top of everything else.

I love working with children and always have. I entered into this year hoping to be challenged but not really sure. Boy, was I wrong. I have been challenged in was I never even imagined. Children from the inner city are very different from kids I have worked with in the past. These children have to grow up so fast its amazing how street smart they are even at the simple age of 4. They also just have this need and desire to be loved and this is something I can do. I may not be able to pick them all up and take them under my wing and give them food, and proper schooling and housing but I can love them and give them the attention they desire.

This is where I believe this awful situation has allowed me to see some positive. I did what I could to make a difference. I will continue to treat this child with all the love and attention I can give him in the classroom and support him, knowing things may be difficult at home. I also hopefully prevented this from happening again. I hope that with help through the other staff at Vincent House I was able to keep this man from ever hitting this child again. Who knows? I guess I really don't but tonight this child sleeps in a home that his father is not in and not able to hit him and this for now will have to be enough to let me sleep through the night. Tomorrow is another day and there is nothing to do but keep looking forward.

God, grant me the serenityto accept the things I cannot change;the courage to change the things I can;and the wisdom to know the difference.