What Do You See?

I see a child who is lost and lonely. I see a child who is put down at home and feels like she will never be good enough. I see a child who just wants someone...anyone...to believe in them. I see a child who is verbally abused at home. I see a boy who doesn’t remember the last time someone told him he is loved. I see a girl who doesn’t remember the last time she was hugged. I see a boy who is pushed around, slapped, and hit at home. I see a boy who gets more of the same when he gets to school. I see a girl who has been sexually abused by an adult she trusted. I see a girl who doesn’t understand why this happened. I see a girl who blames herself. I see a boy who doesn’t have enough to eat at home. I see a boy who doesn’t have clean clothes to wear. I see a child who doesn’t feel protected. I see a child who can’t go to the doctor when ill. I see a child who needs glasses, but doesn’t have them. I see a girl who doesn’t have a mother at home. I see a boy who doesn’t have a father at home. I see a boy who is homeless. I see a boy who wishes his older brother loved him more than drugs. I see a boy who was abandoned by both dad and mom within 2 months. I see a child who doesn’t feel important or special. I see a child who doesn’t feel supported. I see a girl worried about her family’s financial situation. I see a child helping to pay the bills at home. I see a child wondering if they are going to be evicted again. I see a boy who is the caretaker for his mother. I see a girl who is the caretaker for her younger siblings. I see a girl obsessing about her weight and looks. I see a girl dealing with mental health issues. I see a child who is too depressed to get up in the morning to go to school. I see a child who would rather stay home than deal with the stress of school. I see a child who feels judged daily. I see a child working through sexual identity. I see a girl who feels ugly. I see a child who has witnessed violence toward someone they love. I see a child who sees drug and alcohol abuse on a daily basis. I see a child living with their own drug and alcohol addiction. I see a girl who is abused by a boyfriend. I see a child who has witnessed a suicide attempt. I see a child who has a parent with only months to live. I see a child who has watched a loved one die. I see a child whose loved one is in jail or prison. I see a child who doesn’t know where a parent or sibling is. I see a child who fears their loved one is dead. I see a girl who experiences anxiety daily. I see a child who has been lied to. I see a child who is sad. I see a child who is scared. I see a boy who is too proud to ask for help. I see a child who struggles in school every single day. I see a child that others don’t understand. I see a child who is the perfect example of the fight, flight, or freeze response. I see a child who knows no other response when things get out of control. I am thankful he normally just runs when upset. I am thankful he hasn’t chosen to harm students or adults in the school. I see a boy who is still learning right from wrong. I see a girl abandoned by her friends for doing the right thing. I see a girl who desperately wants to be loved. I see a girl coming out of her shell. I see a girl who has learned to love herself. I see a boy finding meaning, purpose, and strength through adversity. I see kids that are doing their best to beat the odds. I see kids looking for meaning. I see kids that need unconditional love and non-judgemental support. I see kids that understand and support each other. I see kids who are kind and compassionate. I see kids that make me cry. I see kids that make me laugh. I see hope. I see kids that make me proud every day. I SEE A LOT OF TRULY AMAZING HUMAN BEINGS! “They’re all great kids; some just don’t know it yet.” - Jim Parry