It is super sad to think about any child whose needs are not being met. Sometimes the struggle is obvious and sometimes it is less apparent, at least on the surface. But, what we often fail to notice is that struggling is happening in our own homes, in our neighborhoods, at our children’s schools, and all throughout our communities.

Children in turmoil can be found closer than you think and the ways in which some children are distressed is not always immediately recognizable or understood.

However, if you look close enough, if you care enough, if you give your surroundings and the people in it more attention, you will see…you will see them.

To these children, I want you to know that I see you — that we all see you — and we are going to help you.

— To the child who is struggling socially, I see you.

— To the child who seemingly has lots of friends, but is pretending to be someone he is not, I see you.

— To the child who is longingly looking towards their parent to turn away from their phone, I see you.

— To the child who never gets a moment of independence from their helicopter parent, I see you.

— To the child who lacks confidence, I see you.

— To the child who acts cocky to mask her lack of self-esteem, I see you.

— To the child who is having a hard time in school, I see you.

— To the child who is getting straight-A’s, but has no fun, I see you.

— To the child who is tired because they are over-scheduled, I see you.

— To the child who is bored and sits in front of the tv all day, I see you.

— To the child who is lacking adult guidance, I see you.

— To the child who deserves a chance to exude responsibility, I see you.

Yet…I see somebody else, too…

And, if you look close enough, if you care enough, if you give your surroundings and the people in it more attention, you will see…you will see them, too.

To these parents, I want you to know that I see you — that we all see you — and we are going to help you.

— To the parents who give their everything to and for their child, each and every day, day in and day out, I see you.

— To the parents of each and every one of the aforementioned children, I see you.

To all of the parents that I know and the ones that I see, I see you. I see what you are doing and I see that you are trying hard each day. I see that some days you are a better parent and that some days you make mistakes.

See, the truth is that I see you AND your children. I see your kids and I know in my heart of hearts, that they are going to turn out just fine.

Why? you ask. How could I know that?

Because there are people who see your children on the days that you don’t. And, those same people are the people that will be there for you to support you when you need it.

It’s take a village, right?

I’m here to be a member of your village. We are all here to do that for one another.

“Saying that I am not responsible for somebody else’s child, is like saying I am not responsible for somebody else’s air. In the end, the choices we make about our world and our children affect us all. A child is somebody else’s child? No. A child is simply a child. Every child is my child.” –– Unknown.