I looked at my son one day after he had been injured in a respite house, I looked at the bruise on his forehead...as he was watching the singing in a church on TV
I said I wish I could help you James, I wish you could talk I wish you could talk
and I cried gut-wrenched at what had happened to him and he couldnt even talk about it...
I saw mothers on the royal commission report on Disabilities in Australia...standing up and testifying about their children being hurt...albeit adult children
the mother cried when she said my daughter has been abused physically in every single place she has stayed...you write reports but nothing gets done...she broke down...
I said to the Minister of Disabilities (NDIA) for Australia you put in codes of conduct and protocols but you dont punish anyone for hurting the vulnerable ones in their 'care'
that is the worst part
people getting away with it and as a mother you just want to protect them... why shouldnt we protect our young no matter what age?...thats how it works
I have talked to other mothers and they start to tear up talking about their child being hurt by the manager of the house where they stayed...or people covering it up...bruises broken bones and nobody knows how...
mothers cry everywhere and then they get angry, we will not stay down...
I loved how in the JoJo Rabbit movie the mother of the little boy beats up the youth leader for being so negligent - she kicks him to the floor - you hurt my child you hurt me
a mother's love,for her child is deep and strong
she is gutted when her child is hurt
she will never get over it
all the crying mothers (a poem)
I am tired so tired
of all the lies by workers
who let my son get hurt
I am tired so tired
of seeing mothers cry and nobody listens
I am tired so tired of carers who do not care
they see dollar signs thats all they see
tired so tired of the police who say my child is not important enough to follow-up and investigate an assault on my innocent dear one
tired so tired of politicians who talk about protocols and codes of conduct that are never enforced
we are tired and we cry all the mothers
we see our child hurt alone unable to say what happened to them
at the mercy of those who show none
who cover up
and lie about what happened
so tired of the pretend words of disability managers, workers, in their caring organizations
when will you learn?
perhaps your hard heart might crack one day...
I told a young person about what happened to my son and she cried in front of me...I am sorry so sorry she said...
Its ok I said trailing off
she was crying for my son she was crying for me
I was touched because of her tears...
they were for my son they helped me go on
perhaps all our tears could flow together into a mighty river and cannot be stopped it will break through the hardest rock...
Thank you for signing my petition - we need to stand up for what is right our disability vulnerable children should not be allowed to be hurt...regardless of age...Anndrea Wheatley (mother)