Dear Parent Who’s Hurting Right Now,
I don’t know your name, but I know your heart. I know the pain of sitting in silence after a CPS visit, staring at the wall and wondering if things will ever feel normal again. I know what it feels like to want so badly to be with your child but feel like the whole system is stacked against you. I know what it’s like to be angry, ashamed, scared, and tired all at the same time.
You are not alone.
I’ve been there. WE have been there. I’ve felt like I was drowning in paperwork and court dates and people who didn’t see how much I love my child. I’ve questioned if I could really change. I’ve cried alone in parking lots after supervised visits. I’ve messed up. And I’ve gotten back up again.
There were times I wanted to scream, “You don’t know me.”
But the truth was, I didn’t even know me yet.
What I’ve learned is that healing is messy. Growth is uncomfortable. And recovery isn’t always pretty. But it’s worth it. Because every time I chose to show up, even when I was tired, even when I was scared, I was getting closer to the version of myself my child needs. And honestly.. the version I needed too.
You are not broken. You are in the middle of a hard chapter, not the end of your story.
You can grow. You can heal. You can recover. And you can rebuild your family.
Every parenting class you attend, every group you go to, every honest conversation you have matters. Your effort matters. Your heart matters. You are not your mistakes. You are a parent. You are a fighter. And your child needs the version of you that refuses to give up.
Stand in your strength. Tap into the fire inside of you. Let the system see your resilience. Let your child see your rise. You are capable of breaking cycles, of healing wounds, of changing everything. You are not a statistic — you are a story in progress, and that story is powerful.
We do recover. We recover our peace. We recover our purpose. And we recover our families.
There is still time. There is still a future. There is still a home with your child’s laughter inside it. I know it might feel far away right now, but what feels impossible today can become your reality if you just keep going. You can rewrite this story. You can be the safe place your child returns to, not just physically but emotionally. One day they will see not just the struggle, but the strength it took to come back. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to keep going. Healing happens in steps. Families heal in love. You are capable of both.
Go be great,
From one parent to another.
For Family Reunification Month, Loula Foundation stands with you. Whether you are just starting the process or fighting to stay on track, we are here for support, connection, and hope. Families are stronger together — and so are we. #WeAreLoula
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