The Impact of NOT Putting Children First
In the wild, survival sometimes demands unthinkable sacrifices,
even from parents. Take the polar bear, for example. In extreme conditions where food is scarce, a mother polar bear may be forced to walk her cubs to the point of exhaustion, and if starvation becomes imminent, she might consume her offspring to survive. Likewise, the African bullfrog sometimes eats its own tadpoles, selectively culling the weaker ones to ensure a better future for the others. And in the world of spiders, certain species of mother spiders allow their young to eat them, an ultimate act of sacrifice to give their offspring a fighting chance.
In nature, survival and sacrifice are tightly woven together. But for us, in our world,
there’s no justification for sacrificing our children’s well-being—our responsibility is to nurture, protect, and guide them. This isn’t just an instinct; it’s a choice. It’s the reason why putting children first is not only morally right but crucial for a better society.
Why Putting Children First Matters
Prioritizing children means more than just meeting their basic needs. It’s about providing them with the tools, resources, and emotional security to grow and succeed. For some kids—especially those who have been adopted, are in foster care, or live in challenging circumstances—this priority may be the difference between a life of thriving and one of merely surviving.
As an adoptee myself, I know how vital it is for children to have adults who see them as individuals with potential, not burdens or problems to solve. Adoption provided me a foundation of love and support, but it also brought a unique set of challenges. There were times when I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, caught between the identity of who I was and the unanswered questions of where I came from. It was a confusing and sometimes painful journey, but knowing there were people who put my needs first helped me find my own way.
The Importance of Safe, Stable Foundations
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Children, particularly those who come from vulnerable situations, need strong support systems to build their resilience. Every child deserves to grow up feeling safe, seen, and valued. That means not just fulfilling their physical needs, but their emotional ones too. Insecure, neglected, or unsupported children often carry those wounds into adulthood, making it harder to break cycles of poverty, violence, or neglect. But when we invest in children and make them the center of our policies, resources, and actions, we empower them to contribute positively to society and to help others in return.
Why Children Deserve the Best of Us
Children are the heartbeat of any society, our future and our legacy. To me, the greatest lesson from my adoption story is the power of resilience and the importance of having people who genuinely care. It taught me that putting children first is about giving them the tools to handle life’s challenges without compromising their sense of worth. It’s about making sure they know they are loved and that their voices matter.
Our responsibility is to ensure that every child—regardless of their start in life—has access to the resources, love, and stability they need. We have to be the guardians of their innocence and advocates for their potential, not just because it’s the right thing to do but because when children flourish, society flourishes.
MONDAY DEC 9th 7:30P POETRY vs. HIP-HOP NASHVILLE Featuring Wolfe, Singer Tae Lewis from The Voice! & Spotlight Poetry by Boston Music Award Winning Poet Amanda Shea!
It was my son’s 30th birthday
on October 30, 2024.
This milestone brought back memories of one of the hardest choices I ever made: choosing to let him go, trusting that his future would be better in a different setting, away from me. At that time, his well-being was at stake, and I blamed everyone I could—his grandparents, his father, even God. The decision to step back felt unbearable, a mother’s worst nightmare. And it didn’t come without a price; the distance between us grew, and despite my attempts to reach out, our relationship frayed. When we spent time together, his pain showed, and his anger was palpable. For years, I bore the weight of his resentment, believing I was meant to suffer for the choices I made.
My son is now a professional basketball player,
living a life filled with experiences and world travel. When I see him on TV, I still find myself waiting for a simple “Hi, Mom” to the camera—a moment that hasn’t yet come. But I understand now that, if I hadn’t let him go, he might not have had the opportunities that shaped him into the man he is today.
This is why putting children first sometimes means making unimaginable sacrifices. It’s about loving them enough to let them grow, even if it’s from afar. As the Bible reminds us, “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Sometimes, “the way he should go” isn’t the way we envisioned, but the one that allows them to thrive.
So, let’s learn from nature’s harsh realities and instead choose compassion over survival at any cost. Putting children first is the way to build a compassionate, resilient future. In my life, it’s been the adults who valued my needs and dreams who made all the difference. Now, as an adult, I aim to pay it forward, ensuring that no child feels abandoned or alone on their journey.