Taken From Home, Guest Post by Jana Grissom
“You call CPS right now and tell her to take me back to my mom!” screams a big brown eyed little girl.
She’s hurt, confused and just wants to go home. It wasn’t her choice. She didn’t want to leave her real family in the first place, but Child Protective Services swooped in and took her anyway, leaving a trail of tears in their wake.
I was a foster parent for four years in Texas. I can vouch for CPS, they want to protect children. According to DFPS regional statistics for, 15,924 children ages 0-18 were taken from their home and placed in a Texas foster home just this month! Regardless of intentions, it still hurts the kids caught in the cross hairs. Within the first hour of being taken from their home, the foster child is with people they don’t know, heading to live with more people they don’t know. A million questions are funneling through the mind of the foster child. Where am I going? Why do I have to leave? Are these people nice? Will they like me? What about my real family?
Over the next few months, the confused foster child will be moved into a foster home, enrolled into a new school, and taken to weekly visits with their real family only to be torn away again once time is up. The emotional roller coaster is never-ending. Isn’t it hard enough to be a teen living at home with your parents who never understand you and are way too strict? Imagine being taken. Everything changes and you don’t have any control. Life is turned upside down. Did I mention foster parents can call CPS and have you sent to another foster home if anything goes wrong?
The main character in One Prince, Two Kingdoms knows the challenge of foster care. He’s been in five foster homes since CPS took him. He’s always trying to protect the weak and be the man his parents taught him to be, but no matter how hard he tries, trouble haunts him. It would be easy to give up, but Johnny refuses. He continues to search for his parents and face the heartache at each dead. With each mistake, he learns there’s power in his choices. They can lead him further into the light or take him into the darkness.
You may be in a place where everything feels completely out of control, but remember there’s power in your choices. No one can tell you how to feel, talk, act, or treat others.
The choice is yours!
One Prince, Two Kingdoms
by Jana Grissom
Author:
Little Known Facts
I am the debut author of a YA Urban Fantasy, One Prince; Two Kingdoms. Also, I am a middle school teacher and advocate for foster children and at-risk teens. My novel was written in response to disturbing nightmares my two foster children at the time were experiencing. After several nights of being awakened by their screams and running to comfort them, I had an idea – write a story and let their imaginations defeat their fears. The children were excited to hear stories of magical worlds and powerful celestials sent to guard them. Each night before bed, I would add new scenes and more adventures. After a few weeks, the nightmares were replaced with excitement to hear the next chapter read. The children are now living with their grandparents, but their pictures remain on my walls. “One Prince; Two Kingdoms” is dedicated to them and all the foster children who have been in my care, as well as my past and present students; my family, my two amazing teens, Kaylee and Cody, and my husband and best friend, Roy. I hope “One Prince; Two Kingdoms” will encourage children in a place of transition to have hope and never give up.
A very interesting resumé, and a good that definitely appeals to me. I loved the guest post too. I will read this, thank you 🙂
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