Terry Foster: It Takes A Village To Raise A Child

By Terry Foster
The Family Deal

Southfield – For 30 seconds the precocious girl with the blond hair was my daughter. My job was to keep her safe until her parents could step back in her life.
Her father was busy with three other young children inside a chicken place. The mom went to the car in the parking lot. A few moments the little girl followed while the dad became distracted.

I was eating with my son Brandon when I noticed the girl opening one door and was struggling to get the second door so she could get to the parking lot. Cars whizzed by to get to the drive thru or to find a spot to dine in.

She was seconds from running into the parking lot to look for her mother. For a split second I thought of the Nebraska family that lost their toddler to a gator at the Disney Resort in Florida. I hopped up from the table and screamed to the dad "Is that your daughter outside the doors?"

He looked around and screamed "yes."

By the time I reached the girl she'd just stepped outside. I think I scared her a little bit.

"Hey can you come inside?" I asked.

She obeyed and the father shook my hand and said "God bless you."

I then handed ownership of the girl back to him. I did not judge because I've been there before. Kids scoot and run and are curious. Sometimes you are attending to one when the second decides to take a walk on the wild side.

I've gone out with Thing One and Thing Two – Brandon and Celine. This poor guy had Thing Three and Thing Four.

I grew up in a neighborhood when we adults all watched out for children. They sent reports to your parents even when you were blocks away from home. The mindset was it takes a village to raise a child.

I am glad I was part of that village earlier this week.

(Foster can be reached at Terry.Foster@cbsradio.com. Twitter: TerryFoster971)