Caring for kids

I have a serious problem with myself. Maybe I care to much, or maybe I am justified. I dunno, you can decide.

My 'friend' Junell has a 4 month old daughter, which she formula feeds. I feel really terrible for this little one.

Her parents rarely hold her, play with her, or hand feed her. What I mean by that is that they sit her in her swing every time that she is hungry and they put a blanket on her stomach and prop up a bottle and walk away. They don't talk to her while she eats, they never hold her while she eats, she cries and they ignore her. I mean, its really sad. Her parents just split. The father, David is moving to NE and will have the little girl every 6 months for 6 months until she starts school.  When they do hold her its for about 5 to 10 minutes and then they put her in her swing or on the floor and walk away.

Today when I was over there, everyone except me and Glenn went to the back to smoke. The little girl started crying because she was having tummy time and couldn't seem to roll over. She wiggled her way up to the swing and nearly smacked her head. I picked her up before she had a chance to get hurt. I rolled her over and she started to make a sad face. So I started to talk to her and tickle her. It almost seems like no one spends anytime with her, because when I started talking to her and tickling her, her eyes lit up and she started laughing! Junell had said earlier that 'It's hard to get her to laugh. She rarely does, even when her daddy plays with her'. I had no problem. She laugh and played with me until her parents walked back in. Which I explained that she almost hit her head and so I rolled her over. I also told her mom that she was dirty, because she started crying all over again since I got up.

Her mom lays her on her stomach to sleep. Running an unnecessary risk for SIDS. I offered breast milk to her so that she didn't have to formula feed. She said it was easier to give her formula. Thinking wise, I was thinking 'Why? It's healthier and better for the baby and her shit doesn't stink.' But you know I can only offer to help, Its not my place to tell her how to do things, so whenever I get a chance I give as much attention as I can spare to the little one. I was going back and forth playing with her and my 3 month old. I got to watch her the other day and I forgot her formula, but fortunately I left a breast milk bottle at my son's great-grandma's which is where we were at. So naturally, I fed her that. She seemed to like it a heck lot more than the formula, because she chugged it down! I returned her to her parents and they called me and said that she was so happy and well behaved. They asked what I did. I smiled and said, I played with her and talked to her.

I didn't mention the breast-milk so that way I didn't make her mad, because I love watching the little one. Do I have a right to be worried? I know she isn't my child, but I treat her as if she was. I would give my life for her, just like for my own child. I really just want the best for her. Is there a soft way to approach an issue like this?

The second child I care a lot about is 3 maybe 4

He is the sweetest child I have ever had the pleasure of being friends with. His name is Aiden. When I met him, his father was with Sara. Sara would sit in front of the computer instead of playing with Aiden, his father was always good to him. I used to feed him dinner and keep him at the table. I used to talk to him, play football with him. He would always say "'reach...." and stretched his arms out until I grabbed him and picked him up. He'd say 'Cowboys!' and I knew he'd want the football. I would play interference whenever Sara and Aiden's father would fight, by grabbing Aiden and taking him into another room and playing with him so he didn't have to hear or see. Sara was always screaming and hitting and drunk or high. I always hated that about her. No child should have to deal with such things. I wish I could've adopted him at times.

I have a huge heart when it comes to children. Especially ones that I meet, that are growing up in situations close to my own.

The next two children are in blessed situations.

Grace is three weeks old and an absolutely beautiful baby, her mother loves her so much and he father as well. She is so special! I had the pleasure of breast-feeding her once when she was a few days old. Her mom is trying so hard to produce enough to feed her little one. I listen to Olivia (her mom) about everything baby. Her dad Mike tells me about logic and science, they are fantastic people!

James is a wonderful little boy, with equally wonderful parents. I donated most of my extra breast-milk to his mother. She also had the same issue of the not producing quite enough. His mom and I met at healthy babies. Her dad is one of my old associates from work at T-mobile. I try to aspire to be like them.