Ellen "Foster"

I just finished this month's Book Club pick-
Ellen Foster.
I liked it, but oh it was depressing. The poor kid!

It makes me think of a conversation I had with a foster mom while waiting in the doctor's office one day. She must have been about 74 or so, and had a baby in a carrier and two mentally-challenged kids with her, probably 4 and 7. She was telling me about the kids she'd fostered in her life, a total of 18. She said that most go through without being adopted, usually because the parents won't release their rights, or because they are just too "old" by the time they get to foster care. She had adopted one girl who was now in her 20's. It is just so sad that these kids don't get a "real" family of their own. In "Ellen" I saw how that foster family can become the "real" family in a child's life. All it takes is one person that's willing to give a hug and an "I love you."