Although this is an American article, the experiences are across the board. Our system is broken and traumatizing to children of all ages. Those in foster care are 12 times more likely to be prescribed psychotropic drugs, scrutinized for the mistakes of their natural parents AND for still loving and wanting a relationship with said birth parents. research by the Casey Family found one in three children in their study had been abused while in foster care and that is just the reported cases. Foster kids are often scared to speak out because they know they are likely to be moved and after many previous placements already, sometimes it's a case of 'better the devil you know!'
Foster kids learn early that no matter how 'perfect' a placement may be, they will never find the kind of love that a biological parent can give.. even if they are small moments often overshaddowed by many more of abuse, foster parents can only give so much of them selves to a child that is not truly theirs. The rules and expectations are different between their natural kids and their foster child, the amount of them selves they give a foster child verse a biological child is also different... and that difference also creates a pain despite these differences not being intentional. Foster kids often spend their entire lives searching for that special connection with someone and most never find it.
Give this article a read. If you are a foster child you will most likely relate to much of this article, and if you are not a foster child, it may show you another side to life.
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