Sir, - I spent my early years from the age of seven to 17 in a group home, in Cappoquin, Co Waterford. I was there because of my parents' suicide. I am now a mother of four children, which makes me realise just how much I missed out on.
I'm sad at the lack of encouragement and personal interest shown to me. I'm very disappointed that I was never taken to a library. I would have loved it if someone had asked ecery day: "How was your day? How are you? What happened in school today? How are your friends?" Just some genuine human concern given consistently.
I know many staff members always did the very best they could, given their many responsibilities, domestic duties and time constraints. Their very best, though, was not enough for me.
Children in care have special needs, special emotional needs,that were not met by their natural parents, to be loved and to feel loveable. Therefore, children in care need to be especially loved and to feel completely loveable.
Under the care of a childcare worker who has the human qualities necessary to demonstrate love and genuine human concern, the child in care can feel: "I am loveable, I am precious, I am worthwhile, I can be anything I want to be and most of all I am special because I am me."
I feel it is vitally important that all members of staff enter self-awareness programmes such as counselling courses and on-going parenting courses. There should also be weekly counselling supervision for all members of staff and weekly family meetings to be held weekly all the children and staff together. - Yours, etc.,
Carolyn O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary.