we had returned from a full evening of joyous celebration
everyone changed where they were going to sleep several times
as the heat this August night is unbearable and no air-conditioning
first Nadia camped out with Lara in the bedroom
then soon found herself next to her Nanny in her queen size bed
Ayden began his sleep in the living room
then declared his manhood at the age of eight and sauntered down alone to his room
Nanny was alert and awake…trying to rest her eyes
almost eleven oc’clock when she heard the little boy”s cry
she flew from her bed and went to Ayden’s room
there he lay sobbing on his bed and crying,
“Nanny, you said you would come if I cried!?”
“Darling, what is the matter?” as she picked him up and held him in her arms
Again he said, “Nanny, you said you would come if I cried!?”
Again, Nanny replied, “And I have, Ayden, here I am for you!”
“But, Nanny, I was crying in Day Care for you last week and you didn’t come?”
he sobbed as he spoke…and my heart took a jolt
How do you explain you are three hours away
And only allowed a once upon a time monthly visit?
He went on to explain, “They are mean to me in DayCare…they don’t get me.”
“I cried and cried so hard and wanted you to come, but you didn’t!
Because I had a hard time the day before, and cried and cried, they wouldn’t let me go to the pool
the next day. And I cried and cried, hoping you would come…but you didn’t and I cried so hard.”
“Ayden, did you tell your Dad?”
“Yes, but he said it would be the same in any Day Care. It made me so sad.”
“Ayden, darling, I didn’t know…but I think of you each morning, and throughout the day,
and I carry YOU in my heart…I wish you lived closer…I wish I could see you more…
I do love you…maybe one day it will be different… I will speak to your Dad about it and maybe he can talk to the Day Care.”
And he cried more, sobbing in my arms.
“What can I do, my darling boy?”
And he said, “I wish I could see you more. I love you so much, Nanny,
and I miss you so much! I wish you could come more often.”
And I said, “Me, too. I wish I lived closer.”
…and then, I dried his tears, and there he fell asleep in my arms…
and my heart cried for this little boy who just needs to be loved…
Footprints of Thoughts 
O my dear friend. I can’t imagine the pain you must have felt when he said he cried for you to come. And the pain that must remain in you heart.. It tears at me, too. I continually affirm God’s protection for your dear grands. I know God is everywhere present… Big hugs, MariG
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thank you, for your prayers for us all in this situation…
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yes…all he wants is to be loved by someone who loves him back
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yes…it is so hard when we become so important in our own minds, or the battle, or the vengeance, and the person who needs the love is immediately before us…where we should be placing positive energy…it is hard to bear to see a child suffering
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When I can’t be with my grandson that we would both like… I remember that he chose his parents for his experience… and will be ok. Hope this may help you too… Barbara x
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thank you…yes, I have been told that recently…it is a different way of approaching life from what I was raised with…but, I think I do understand your sentiment and I appreciate your sharing your belief with me, Barbara.
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It’s not really a belief, it’s just knowing that I have to let go and trust the magnificent divine essence of my ‘grand’ child will take care of himself always. It brings me peace… Barbara
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I like that thought: “…the magnificent divine essence” will take care of the child. Beautiful, Barbara!
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Precious and powerful words. Praying for you and yours that TRUTH & Justice will prevail.
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Thank you, Shandra. I am doing research on how children are perceived in this country. It is unfortunate that in today’s climate and after years of psychological research, children are still viewed as “property” in the eyes of our legal system. Children are precious gifts…it is so hard when people view them as entities to be controlled and punished. I see it all around me way too often. Our judicial system is so out of touch with precious human life. I have been reading about so many cases of juveniles being tried as adults — recently, judges in the state of Florida, lost their moral ethics entirely! When juveniles were brought before them for minor offenses they were incarcerated because the judges’ decisions were “bought” by a man who owned the prisons. Besides the corrupt judicial system, it seems that Social Services does not place the needs of the children first. Their primary goal is re-unification of the family. While this is noble, I do not think it should take precedence over the psychological and physical placement of children into a harmful situation. There are thousands of cases where the words of children are ignored. We do not value our children in this country despite all the rhetoric. Thank you for your visit and for taking the time to comment, Shandra.
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