Complaints department

When I was six, I wrote a letter to the “Police Chef” to complain about having to pay taxes.  I then wrote to the mayor and eventually the president.  Each time, I used the same argument about why I shouldn’t have to pay taxes—I needed to keep my money so I could buy things—like a car. 

My mother still has these fine artifacts, which should tell you that they were not actually mailed, but rather stolen out of the mailbox in a cruel act that deprived me of my first amendment rights.  I am sure she only did this in the hopes that the letters would one day be displayed in a museum after I become famous.  Surely it isn’t because she was embarrassed to mail said letters…

Samuel shares my sense of indignation for the injustices in the world.  While he isn’t all that worried about taxes, he has other causes.  Right now his cause involves the rules and laws that make him feel bad for being a foster kid.  He plans to write letters and make his voice heard.  Want to know the number one issue his list? The prohibition against the use of trampolines by kids in foster care.

The day that Hope and Faith were adopted they came straight home and set up the trampoline that had been out of use in their backyard during the entire eight months that they had lived there in foster care.  In Texas there is a rule that states that foster children are not allowed to jump on trampolines.  Not only may I not have one as a foster parent, but Samuel may not jump on them in other locations.  I must admit that I agree with him that it is absolutely ridiculous that there is an activity that a child in foster care may not do that we allow any other child in society to partake in.  If trampolines are really that dangerous, then why isn’t there some law protecting all kids from this hazard?

Samuel’s other complaint is in regards to the criminal history checks required of the parents of his friends.  He absolutely hates (and I don’t blame him) that one of us has to explain that he is in foster care and that the parents of his friends have to submit to a criminal history check before he can go to their houses to play.  He points out that his friends’ parents don’t have to require that of me before they come over to play in our home.  Samuel doesn’t like feeling different from everyone else.

So I am going to allow Samuel to write his letter.  And I will even pay for the postage required to mail it to some folks who should probably hear from kids like him.  I may even write a letter of my own, as I have some views about the rules and standards of foster care to share as well.  I’ll save those to post another day.