This week marks the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech delivered on August 28, 1963 in Washington DC. You can read it by clicking here if you would like. It is such a well known and well respected speech that I won’t get into the contents here other than to say I love reading it and watching him deliver it.

I started thinking about the dreams I have for my family because of this major anniversary.

I have a dream that one day everyone will see that there is no difference between the kids who we adopted and those who were born to us. We chose to add to our family in two different ways. That was our choice. They all bear our name and we love them the same.

I have a dream that people will one day look at our children and not have pity on their faces. We didn’t rescue them they grow us. They have taught us about compassion and kindness and what it means to trust.

I have a dream that one day the term “foster kid” will no longer be a negative label. Kids who have been hurt (physically, emotionally, mentally) should not be treated like they can’t be trusted. They have been moved from the life they know and placed with strangers. This feels like punishment to them because on some level it is. They never asked to be put in this situation. Let’s stop treating them like they initiated anything bad that happened to them. They never asked for it so let’s quit acting like they did.

I have a dream that one day the system will have the welfare of the kids as their primary focus. That they will focus on health and nutrition as avenues of healing. That they will realize that connection is the most useful form of correction. That alternative treatments would be considered equally with traditional medical options. That they will no longer be subjected to unnecessary medical treatment. They don’t need to be tested for everything that could possibly be wrong medically. They need nurture and love.

I have a dream that strangers would stop being critical of our daughters’ hair. You’ve seen our pictures we are doing the best that we can.

I have dream that one day the world will not tell my daughters that they are anything less because of their gender. I want the world to be kind to them and treat them as if they are capable of anything because they are. Girls are not weaker than boys. Witnessing childbirth cured me of such fallacy.

I long with Dr. King to sing the words of the old spiritual “Free at last! Free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

I have a dream today.

What are your dreams for your kids?