Dear Mum,
I want you to know that:
You taught me how to be strong and give strength to others.
You taught me how to love and be loved.
You taught me how to fight for what's right by never giving up, even when the doctors and other professionals did.
You taught me how to carry on when I just didn't want to because that's what you did.
You taught me to work hard for what I want and that it is okay to follow my dreams as you did.
You taught me to be selfless, as you were all those times you spent on a fold-up bed next to me in the hospital.
You taught me to never give up on a relationship that was important to me.
You cared, you loved, you supported me just so I could have the best life.
You provided normality in a judgemental and scary world.
You were the glue that held me together at times
You were the glue that held the whole family together.
You taught me to never give up on myself and fight to the end.
You taught me to not take things for granted because you don't know when they will be gone.
Some of this you taught me too late... when you were gone and I couldn't thank you for all you had done.
When you were gone I realised that we had a better relationship than I gave you credit for.
When you were gone I realised how much you held our family together.
When you were gone I realised that with you in it my life was full.
When you were gone I realised how alike we were.
When you were gone I realised how brave you were to keep silently fighting not just at the end but throughout my whole life.
When you were gone I realised how much you had done for me throughout my life.
So mum,
I hope you are proud of the woman I have become and I can continue to make you proud.
I hope you know how grateful I am for all you have done for me.
I hope that you know how much I love you even when we didn't like each other that much.
I thank you for the life you gave me and for not listening to the professionals.
I thank you for the lessons I've learnt.
I thank you for being the beautiful, talented woman that you were.
I thank you for all the encouragement you gave me.
I thank you for all the opportunities I was given because of you.
I miss our talks.
I miss our hugs.
I miss your smile.
I miss hearing you sing and play the guitar.
I miss the way you would look at me when you thought I wasn't watching.
I miss the strong family unit that we had because of you.
What I wouldn't do to rewind the clock. All I have are memories now and well what can I say, there are some amazing memories all because of you and all that you did for me.
I hope you are having fun up there with all those amazing musicians and your dear friend.
Until we meet again, I just want you to know just one more time, I love you and miss you every day.
But I will stay strong and I will carry on fighting for what's right.
I will try my best to continue to make you proud.
From your daughter, I thank you for being my mum and showing me what it was to be loved.
Love always
Sarah
About the Creator
Sarah Park
I have wrote a blog for many years and more recently realised how much I love to write. I would love to get my work out there and develop my skills further.
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Does the Equality Act help disabled people in Employment?
In 2010 the Equality Act replaced the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The Equality Act is to cover more areas of an individuals life not just employment like the Disability Discrimination Act did previously. One of my main concerns is how several different minority legislation's have been lumped into one and that this is meant to be sufficient, won't this make the current Act less flexible? limiting those who are seen as having a disability as not all individuals fit nicely into a category of impairment. So does the Equality Act work?
By Sarah Park3 years ago in Journal
"Innocence Broken: The Tragic Reality of Abused Children in Minnesota's Broken Child Welfare System"
As a society, we often like to think of ourselves as protectors and advocates for the most vulnerable among us – our children. However, the harsh reality is that even in a developed country like the United States, children are not always safe from abuse and neglect. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Minnesota child welfare system, where numerous instances of abuse and mistreatment have been reported, raising questions about the effectiveness and ethics of the system. One of the most alarming issues within the Minnesota child welfare system is the high rates of re-abuse. According to a report by the Star Tribune, nearly a quarter of the children who are placed in foster homes by the state are abused or neglected again within five years. This is a devastating statistic, as these children are already victims of abuse and neglect, and it is the responsibility of the child welfare system to ensure their safety and well-being. However, it seems that this system is failing in its duty, leaving these vulnerable children at risk of further trauma. Moreover, there have been several cases of physical and sexual abuse in foster homes, further highlighting the flaws in the child welfare system. In one shocking case, a 10-year-old girl was sexually abused by her foster father, who had been convicted of child pornography before being approved as a foster parent. This raises serious questions about the vetting process for foster parents and the lack of oversight in the system. How is it possible that a convicted abuser was allowed to be a foster parent and harm a child in the state's care? Another concerning issue is the overrepresentation of children of color in the child welfare system. According to data from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, African American children make up only 5% of the state's child population, yet they account for 20% of children in out-of-home care. This disproportionate representation raises questions about racial bias in the system and whether children of color are being unfairly targeted and removed from their families. Furthermore, the Minnesota child welfare system has been criticized for its high caseloads and inadequate resources. Social workers in the state are often overwhelmed with heavy caseloads, which can result in delayed response times and inadequate assessments of vulnerable children's situations. This lack of resources and support not only puts children at risk of re-abuse, but it also puts a strain on the already overburdened social workers, leading to burnout and high turnover rates. The consequences of these issues within the Minnesota child welfare system are grave. Not only are children being re-victimized, but their chance of living a stable and fulfilling life is also significantly impacted. Studies have shown that children who experience abuse and neglect are more likely to struggle with mental health issues, educational difficulties, and even criminal behavior in the future. By failing to adequately protect these children and provide them with the support they need, the child welfare system is setting them up for a lifetime of challenges. In conclusion, the abuse of children in the Minnesota child welfare system is a serious and ongoing issue that requires immediate attention. The system's flaws, including high rates of re-abuse, inadequate resources, and bias, have left many vulnerable children at risk and failed in its fundamental duty to protect them. It is the responsibility of the state to address these issues and make significant changes to prevent further harm to its children. Every child deserves to be safe, loved, and cared for, and it is time for the Minnesota child welfare system to live up to that duty. Start writing...
By Katie Stangel7 days ago in Families
Snow Need to Rush
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