terpsy
1 min readFeb 9, 2023

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You are perfectly right. Years ago, I fostered for four years a seven-year-old girl who had been removed from her mother by a prosecutor's order due to severe neglect. When I mentioned that she needed special mental health care and treatment, the relevant social services expressed concern that I wasn't being empathetic enough to this troubled child. Teachers at school tolerated her disruptive classroom behavior and refusal to participate in any way because they "understood" her and, at times, feared her reactions. I ended foster care when it became impossible to ensure her personal safety and the safety of others after she beat me. Despite her learning difficulties, she was a bright girl with skills, who went untreated for her trauma and possibly other mental health issues she was dealing with. Even with my best efforts, I was not able to provide the care she needed, and felt let down by the system.

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terpsy
terpsy

Written by terpsy

An amateur cook who owns a restaurant off the beaten path in Greece. An amateur writer as well, trying to amuse and comfort herself and hopefully others

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