Hey you, you good? Uum, I love to read just as much as I love to write. And I remember reading a quote that went something like if you exist solely for yourself, you are selfish. I must admit that I can think of one too many instances where I was a selfish individual. It was all me, me, me. Never again, we rise by lifting others.
And I want to spread love, give hope, and help out where I'm able, here on Steemit! I am somewhat new to this platform and to be honest, other than how to post, read other people's articles and to follow fellow Steemians, all else is jargon. Don't laugh. I'm sure it wasn't a walk in the park for you either at first.
Anyway, so I got to thinking, how can I help others on Steemit? And my answer was right there in the tags, under the words, #familyprotection. Out of curiosity on what family protection was all about, I clicked the button. I couldn't stop reading. It was a forum that highlighted how Child Protective Services had failed so many families through the legal system.
Stories, TRUE stories of how good parents had their kids taken from them and the saddening impact it had on all of them. I guess I kept on reading cause I somewhat felt I could relate, especially to the kids who are now grown-ups giving their story. While I was not raised in foster care or adopted, I spent most of my childhood away from my mum (she's a single mum) and in different relatives' homes.
It's a lonely feeling, not having your mum or dad around as a child. Can I be honest? Of the homes I have lived, we had ample food each day in some while in others, we barely had enough and sometimes even slept hungry. And believe me, I preferred the homes we sometimes lacked, cause that was where my mum was. The homes my mum was absent from felt like prison cause I was never at any one moment free enough to be myself.
Of course, I'm grateful to the people that housed me when mum couldn't but once she and I started living together again (l was 19, I'm 25 now), I felt... I felt alive. Now, we sometimes have much and sometimes a little but TOGETHER!! And I wouldn't have it any other way. So I understand what these brave souls are talking about, I feel their pain, and I support them 100% as they stand up against the Child Protection agencies that ruined what was supposed to be the best part of their lives.
I will be the first to admit that growing up without a parent around and from home to home bruised me emotionally. I always thought it was daddy issues (I have an absentee dad) that were to blame for my insecurities but once I continued to dig deep on this family protection topics, I realized there was another problem. I lacked parental love, guidance, and security when I needed it most, growing up.
Child Protection agencies have no right to put a child through such torment. I was lucky I was around familiar faces but a child thrown into the system doesn't have that luxury. He/she is around total strangers. I can only imagine how much worse the solitude gets. And although my mum and I got estranged at one point, I knew her. However, with most of these kids, they are denied the right to know their parents even as grown-ups!! That right there is the definition of cruelty.
So come on Steemians, don't exist for yourself solely, help lift others. Support 
Let good parents raise their children!!! Let good parents raise their children!!! Let good parents raise their children!!!
