Definition of a family

There’s been so much in the paper about the holiday season—gifts and sales. This time of year I am particularly thankful for family, but not necessarily in the traditional sense of the word.

I have the privilege of working with some of the best therapeutic foster parents around our state. Most recently, a co-worker and I were talking about Thanksgiving. He said one of our families, which works with teenage boys (since 1997), was planning their Thanksgiving dinner. He mentioned those that were to attend. He named three teens previously placed in their home and who had long since left the foster-care system. They were all coming “home” for the holidays and bringing their families.

This made my heart sing. Each of the young men previously placed in this family’s home came from homes that are often referred to as dysfunctional and abusive/neglectful. Each young man identifies this family as his family. They frequently call home and talk to their former therapeutic foster mother and therapeutic foster father. They have their therapeutic foster sister’s cell number and call her for sisterly advice. They are all successful young men in their own right, leading upstanding lives which contribute to the greater good.

This therapeutic foster family is not the only one my co-worker told me about, as there were others. It does, however, paint the picture of what the holidays and family are about. LEAH WILLIAMS

Little Rock