Unofficial Mom: Joyful Heart

September 28, 2010

Joyful Heart

Rebecca (aka Country-Fried Mama) is hosting an awesome and beyond important carnival today. Please take a second to read about it and then link up!

About this blog carnival: “The world I want for my children” is an effort to support The Joyful Heart Foundation, which was founded by Law & Order: SVU actress Mariska Hargitay to help victims of sexual assault mend their minds, bodies and spirits and reclaim their lives. Today, the foundation is at the forefront of an effort to end a disheartening backlog of tens of thousands of rape kits in labs across the country, a backlog that contributes to a rapist’s 80 percent chance of getting away with his crime. The backlog and its detrimental effects will be the topic of an SVU episode on September 29th.

Please help us raise awareness for this important work. What kind of world do you want for your children? Write your post and link up here.

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I sincerely thought I would sit down and knock this out. There is so much I want for Pie that I thought I'd have too much for a single post. Turns out I want so much that I can't even smash it into rational thoughts. But I'm going to try...

The world I want for my daughter is:

one where the fact that she is in a family created by open adoption is looked at as awesome because she has so many people to love her instead of something weird and different
one where the fact that she is multi-racial (though she doesn't necessarily look it) is a reason for celebration instead of ridicule
one where she can date/live with/marry anyone she chooses. ANYONE. Any person of either gender and of any ethnicity and won't face discrimination because of her choice
one where she could work at a fast food joint or be a doctor and either way her contributions will be valued
one where the size of her house, the emblem on her car or the designer of her clothes is not the determining factor of her worth
one in which she feels as safe and secure as she does within my arms

This list is really just the tiny, tip of the iceberg of what I want for her. But ultimately I want this little girl to be happy.

And I hope against hope she never has to deal with sexual assault...like I did.

Comments (31)

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Emily · 757 weeks ago

I love this post! I could not have said it better. Pie is lucky to have you as her mom.

Now time for me to be a little shallow, I really love those legwarmers too. I want a pair for myself. I think I could rock em.

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Salt 26p · 757 weeks ago

This is a beautiful post, Sara. You are such an amazing mommy and Pie is so lucky to have you there to support her every step of the way!

1 reply · active 757 weeks ago

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Christina · 757 weeks ago

What a great post! Pie is very lucky that you were chosen to be her Mommy! :)

1 reply · active 757 weeks ago

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momnom 80p · 757 weeks ago

This is a great post Sara. And here I am blabbing about private parts and grill fires. You are amazing.

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--K · 757 weeks ago

I want that world for me too and babe and every body else. Great list!

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brian · 757 weeks ago

those are beautiful thoughts for her...and i do celebrate botht he adoption and her multiple race...your world sounds lik ea great place...

1 reply · active 757 weeks ago

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Tracie · 757 weeks ago

Happiness is a beautiful thing....so many other details can be worked out if the happiness part is there.

Beautiful post! Thank you for speaking out-from one survivor to another.

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callmelaurajane 57p · 757 weeks ago

Don't hope, darling. Just pray. She is loved and protected and will live a beautiful life. Just look at that gorgeous smile?! Only perfect and beautiful things will come her way. =)

Many prayers for you, too, Sara and any healing you might still need. ((hugs))

1 reply · active 757 weeks ago

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Dawn · 757 weeks ago

she's adorable and deserves your wishes which are fantastic ~ wishing you both your world for her & more

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Diaryofamadbathroom · 756 weeks ago

You would think that it would be easy to write about a perfect world for your children, but it's not. The bottom line is that we want them to be safe, happy and confident (which on the surface, sounds so easy but is really quite complex). This was a lovely post for an adorable little girl.

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Cheryl · 756 weeks ago

Beautifully written. I understand how hard it is to keep it simple when what we all want is so complicated. Happiness is all.

1 reply · active 756 weeks ago

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bluecottonmemory 55p · 756 weeks ago

The world has changed so much since I was in elementary school. My parents were divorced - and back then, people treated you differently because of it. My first year in elementary school, the definition of desegregation was multi-racial, sure - but color segregated into different classrooms. Life has become more color-blind, more beautiful in its diversity. My oldest son and his wife talk about adopting in Haiti. In our household, it's not about race, though it is about behavior. Be respectful! Talk nice! No tantrums! No smoking! No drinking! Then come on in! I love your future you want - I want it for my kids and the kids they go to school with!!!

1 reply · active 756 weeks ago

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Cheryl @ Mommypants · 756 weeks ago

I so agree with this - especially the part about them being free to love and marry whoever they want, regardless of gender. I can't believe this country still doesn't allow gay marriage! Also my kids are semi-bi-racial (my husband is half-Korean) but it's not a big deal out here in SoCal..

1 reply · active 756 weeks ago

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JustLikeTheNumber · 756 weeks ago

That they can just be happy in the world they're in, right? It's not too much to ask. Thank you for being so brave and honest with your words.

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Stacia 52p · 756 weeks ago

I had the same trouble when I was drafting my post, Sara ... Feeling so acutely the world I want for my daughter but not being able to put it all into words. You've done so beautifully! And I'm so sorry you had to overcome the pain of a sexual assault. Your story is one more powerful reminder why this meme is so worthwhile.

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