Covering her face with her light-brown hair like a protective veil, the little girl looked up at me with her big blue eyes and flashed me a shy and wary smile. Her clothes looked worn and dirty and she was tightly clutching a bin bag full of her worldly possessions – just a few pairs of knickers, an old, moth-eaten teddy bear, a summer dress, and her school uniform.
Hiding behind the social worker’s legs, she was like a tiny little bird, timid and afraid – a quiet little sparrow of a girl. Little Stella*, of primary school age, was one of a handful of foster children me and my husband, Lloyd, were caring for in our home. Along with our own two children, Jackson and Vincent, our household was a sometimes chaotic but happy place, where we welcomed a steady stream of frightened and often traumatised children through our doors.
It hadn’t always been easy as each child had unique needs and sometimes challenging behaviours. That night, I carefully brushed Stella’s long, tangled hair and watched as she stared at me suspiciously while I tucked her into bed. I realised it was going to take a lot of patience to get her to trust me.
And who could blame her, because her social worker had told me they suspected she had experienced some kind of sexual abuse, although they didn’t know to what extent. And, sadly, while I wondered how anyone could ever hurt such a defenceless little girl, it didn’t shock me, either, because many of the children I’d taken in had experienced abuse.
Besides, I knew exactly what it felt like to be neglected and mistreated. My mum was a teenage parent, and at six weeks old I was taken away by social services, spending much of my own childhood in foster care.
Feeling frightened
Denne historien er fra June 01, 2020-utgaven av WOMAN'S OWN.
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Denne historien er fra June 01, 2020-utgaven av WOMAN'S OWN.
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MIND OF MY OWN
The Woman's Own columnist has her say on the gender gap, cats and timed hugs
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LET'S EMBRACE OUR CHRISTMAS TAT!
Becky Dickinson explains why she'll still be rocking around her tinsel-strewn tree this year
BURIED SECRETS
We look at the shocking cases of celebrities posthumously accused of being sexual predators-and how they got away with it
FESTIVE NO-BAKES
Pop on the Christmas tunes and whip up a batch of these easy sweet treats
PROTECT YOUR SMILE
Are you doing enough to look after your teeth and gums?
'TIS THE SEASON TO SHINE!
At last, Hayley McCrossan, 39, feels fit and healthy
FOR THE LOVE OF TOM
When Deborah Mitchell, 57, lost her son, she vowed to help other families facing the same heartbreak
THE NURSE WHO LEFT MY GRANDAD FOR DEAD belict
Rachael Fealey, 31, had one question for the woman who killed her beloved Grampa - how could you?
Coleen's MONEY WORRIES
What are the reasons behind her financial and marriage fears?