Columns

When my daughter was very young, I once told her that when she had children, I hoped she had a dozen because she would drive one or two insane.
It was not one of my finer moments but I think she has forgiven me and perhaps even understands how I was feeling at the time.
Amanda, by the age of 3, had spoken probably twice as many words as I had as an adult. And twice as fast. She was incredibly organized, had way too much energy and wise beyond her years.

May is National Foster Care Month, a time to shine the light on the foster care experience. Let’s start with some facts and figures:
• More than 6,800 Kentucky children and youth are in out-of-home care, with 75 to 80 percent of those in foster care. Most are placed in temporary foster care due to parental neglect or abuse.
• The average age of a child in care: 10.7 years.
• More than 73 percent of the children/youth in care are white; 19.3 percent are black and 4.3 percent are Hispanic.

There’s news in the making, every day and everywhere. Over the past couple of weeks, I have had the awesome privilege of getting to work with city officials and residents of LaRue County.
I have been able to see and experience a lot by being behind the scenes as decisions are being made. I’ve shared laughter and even some tears with moms of graduates; I’ve stood in the rain and watched as work has been done on city roads and witnessed firsthand, neighbors helping neighbors.