Wish List of a Foster Child in Oklahoma
Dear Whoever Reads This,
I don’t know if wishes really come true, but if they do, here’s mine. I’ve never made a list like this before. People usually give me what they think I need, but no one ever asks what I actually want. So, here it is, just in case someone cares enough to read it.
- A Forever Family – More than anything, I just want a place where I belong. A home that doesn’t change every few months. A family that doesn’t see me as just another kid passing through. I want parents who will love me no matter what, even when I make mistakes. A little brother or sister to play with would be nice too.
- A Bed That’s Mine – Not one I have to leave behind. Not one that used to belong to someone else. A real bed with blankets I get to pick out. Maybe something blue, like the sky when it’s happy.
- Photos of Me Growing Up – I don’t have baby pictures. I don’t have school pictures. Sometimes I wonder if I ever really existed before now. I’d like a picture of myself to keep, just to prove I was here.
- A Dog – I know this one is a long shot. But dogs don’t care if you’ve been through five houses in two years. They don’t mind if you cry sometimes for no reason. They just love you. That’s all I really want.
- A Place to Call Home – Not just a house, but a home. A place where I can decorate my room however I want and not worry about packing up again soon. A fridge where I know my favorite snacks will always be there. A front door that I have a key to.
- Friends Who Stay – It’s hard making friends when you move a lot. People forget about you, and sometimes you just stop trying. I wish I had a best friend who wouldn’t disappear when I have to switch schools again.
- A Birthday Party – One with balloons and cake and people who know how old I am without asking. I’ve never had one before. I just want to know what it feels like to have a whole day that’s mine.
- New Clothes – Not hand-me-downs or things from donation bins. Just once, I’d like to go to a store and pick something because I love it, not because it’s all they have in my size.
- Someone to Believe in Me – A teacher, a coach, a foster parent—anyone who looks at me and sees more than just a kid in the system. Someone who tells me I can be anything I want when I grow up.
- A Hug That Means Something – Not the quick, awkward kind. A real hug that makes me feel safe, like I matter to someone.
