| I am here in the pediatric intensive care unit caring | | | | room, walk away, call someone, hit the wall if you |
| for a beautiful 5 year old diagnosed with a terminal | | | | have to. But don't hurt your child. And that means |
| cancer as her parents make every decision possible | | | | any child, any age. No excuses. |
| to prolong her life. Of course, I am not alone in this | | | | 2. There are programs out there to help a parent |
| unit. In every other cubicle there is another nurse like | | | | learn parenting skills and coping skills. Look for them. |
| myself caring just as deeply for another child. Some | | | | Call your local hospital and ask for the social service |
| of those children are also terminal, while others have | | | | department. Call the non-emergency number for your |
| an acute illness or injury where recovery is expected. | | | | police department. Call a local church. Call a friend. If |
| But in one of these rooms here tonight, there is an | | | | you feel yourself getting overwhelmed, swallow your |
| innocent infant who was born completely healthy. He | | | | pride and call someone to talk to and share your |
| didn't become acutely ill. He didn't get an unexpected | | | | situation. Talk to your family doctor especially if you |
| terminal diagnosis. He wasn't in a car accident. He was | | | | have had these feelings for sometime, he may be |
| shaken, squeezed, and thrown across the room as a | | | | able to direct you further. Just call someone... |
| result of a parent who lost their temper. And it | | | | 3. If you are a friend of someone who has anger |
| makes me sad..... | | | | issues, speak up for the safety of their children. |
| In our world filled with the newest technology and | | | | Offer to go with them to seek advice. Offer |
| the best of the best in merchandise, we can not | | | | babysitting to give the parent a break. Offer to |
| seem to stop child abuse. Not only do we not stop it, | | | | discuss options for whatever situation is causing the |
| we don't really address it very well because it makes | | | | frustration whether it is money, job, housing, or the |
| us feel uncomfortable. Our media bombards us with | | | | child's behavior. But offer something, it may be the |
| visual stimulation daily about what we need to make | | | | only lifeline that adult receives. |
| us happy, or to make our lives better. But do we see | | | | 4. Educate yourself as to what programs are |
| advertisements for helping parents cope when they | | | | available in your area. Volunteer if you can or consider |
| are frustrated, angry, financially distraught, or | | | | making a monetary donation for the prevention of |
| overwhelmed being a parent? Do we look for | | | | child abuse. If there are no programs in your area for |
| programs in our areas where we could volunteer to | | | | parents, young or old, consider starting one. Visit local |
| teach parenting or to mentor young mothers and | | | | churches to see what programs they offer for |
| fathers? No, I say.. we are too busy and concerned | | | | parenting, preventing child abuse, and assisting teen |
| with fashion, career, and finding that illusive thing in | | | | moms. Check with your school corporation and find |
| life we call happiness. | | | | out what they have to offer and what their needs |
| Here are a few things to consider: | | | | are. |
| 1. Adults get angry and frustrated... especially taking | | | | As a society, we should be horrified that the abuse |
| care of and being responsible for a child. All those | | | | of a child occurs under any circumstances. If we |
| things we seek to make us happy also add stress | | | | educate ourselves and others, perhaps the life of |
| which leads to frustrations and anger. But it is NEVER | | | | one child can be spared. Isn't the subject at least |
| ok to take that anger out on a child. If you find | | | | worth our thoughts and prayers? |
| yourself getting mad or out of control, leave the | | | | |