There are many reasons why I became involved with Mountain Star to advocate for child abuse prevention. I think much of child abuse may stem from poverty with the pressures parents face in today’s world to provide for their families without being able to earn a living wage. Although I grew up “poor” so to speak, it was different in the 1950s-60s in many profound ways. A family could make it on one parent’s wages, life was not so commercial and drugs were not widespread. I don’t think I even knew that I was poor as a child. I contrast that with today’s world, where even grade school children think they need a cell phone and parents are working two jobs just to get by. These pressures cause parental frustration and anger that can lead to chemical dependency and child abuse.
I remember when my youngest daughter went to kindergarten in 2001. Most of the children in her class had never held a crayon nor been read to. One little boy came to school with cigarette burns on his hand. This picture is very different from my days in kindergarten in 1958. And so when I was asked to join Mountain Star to help prevent child abuse through community advocacy and fundraising, I looked back to my childhood and realized how lucky I had been to have the parents I had. I knew I needed to join the fight and do what I could to help vulnerable children grow up in a safe and healthy environment. I appreciate that our mission focuses on the complete family and wants to educate parents as much as help children develop socially and intellectually in early childhood.
- MountainStar Volunteer
