a sad picture

I was out at the ranch this evening, taking care of my horses. One of the girls that has her horse boarded at the ranch has a very supportive family. Her Mother & even her grandmother come with her & help with cleaning the stalls & nightly feeding of the horses to help with her board expenses.

The mother has a little boy in a stroller & an adorable little girl about 3 years old with her. I'm thinking wow, she really has her hands full.....stroller in one hand & the wheel barrel in the other. As I was walking over to the feed room, the little 3 year old was walking along slapping herself on the face. I looked at her & all I could think to say was: "you don't need to do that....you are ok". It left me thinking that was the strangest, picture I have ever seen.

I had walked back over to the sink to mix up the bute (horse asprin) to give to my horse & was talking to the owner of the ranch. I said I was amazed at how the lady could handle all those children. That was when she told me the story. The 2 young children aren't the lady's own children. They belong to her brother who was living with a lady & they are the actual parents of the children. They split up & the brother couldn't take care of the children & the mother was abusive to them. The picture was taking shape. The lady at the ranch is adopting the 2 children & is in the process of doing that right now. Child protective services is in the picture & limiting the time the actual mother can be with her children. At the end of the last visitation (a few weeks ago), the actual mother ended up slapping the little girl......(who knows for what reason....if there even was one).

Right then, I realized what a sad picture I was seeing. The start of a child at only the age of 3, feeling like she has to hurt herself for some reason inside of her own mind. The damage that is done at such a young age. Hopefully once she is completely taken away from that abusive mother & immersed into the loving family, she will be able to heal, but will those scars continue with her for the rest of her life? Will she continue to feel that she has to hurt herself for some reason when something triggers it? This sweet, adorable little 3 year old girl that shouldn't have a care in the world at that age. How can anyone treat such an innocent child in such a horrible way?

I know the family she is being adopted by are wonderful & loving & would give their lives to protect her. I pray that will be enough to take away the hurt that has already started in this little girls life & that they will be able to recognize the signs that are there & help her with them so that the slapping won't develope into any worse way of coping with hurt.

I had to post this because I was so bothered by the picture I saw & how sad I felt for this beautiful innocent 3 year old who had no choice in what parents she was born to.

This family has a lot of work ahead of them with this little girl.....at least she has a chance for a change.....how many others out there will never have a chance to escape?
Debbie

Maybe in the future you will be a strong part of the little girl's life, who knows?

unfortunately that would be rather difficult for me to do from Kentucky. The sister who is adopting the children is strong & hopefully they will recognize & be aware if the problem if it continues to get right professional help before it gets out of control.

Debbie

((((eskie))))) i know this picture... it's a gift and a curse. i've seen a few myself.