Today in the world of child care

We live in an age where there's an actual hotline to report child abuse.

Where they tell you that 'If you're calling between 1 and 4 PM, call volume is usually high, but please stay on the line'.

Then you talk to a person who listens carefully to everything you have to say.
In this particular case, I had a lot to say.
I couldn't write anything down while the child was speaking to me, but when the child went off to play with friends, I scrawled down as much as I could remember.

Let me tell you, there is no way that child is making *any* of this up.

Then you're asked a series of questions... such as the child's age, where they live/go to school and names of other family members.

It's not an easy thing to make that call.
What if your call is the one that causes a child to be removed from his/her birth family?
The horror stories about foster care are out there.

Or what about the stories about how a child fell through the cracks and nothing was done until it was too late?

There are all kinds of reasons to be apprehensive about dialing the number that's been programmed into every telephone I've owned in the last 13 years.

Then there's the big reason to make the call anyway. That young person who is talking to you with such openness.

And when a child trusts you enough to tell you what is happening, you damn well better listen. And then do everything you can to save that little person.

I love my job on most days. Today was no different, I found many things to enjoy and had a good time with 'my' kids.

Some days, though, my job causes me some pain.

The manager I spoke to was concerned about whether or not I was okay, offered to send someone out in case I wanted to go home. I assured him that I was fine, that I'm quite good at compartmentalizing and maintaining my equilibrium in front of kids.

I can't deny shedding a few tears later, though.