Editor's Note: Window on the Clearwater joined the Wednesday's Child network a little more than a year ago to help spread the word about children that are waiting for families to give them the loving care that they need. Each Wednesday we will profile a different child. For more information about Wednesday's Child and how you can be involved check the web site at: http://www.idahowednesdayschild.org/.

Kallen

Age: 10

"My name is Kallen. I enjoy skateboarding, bike riding and am learning to play golf. I would like to learn to ride a dirt bike someday. The family that I would like would have fair rules and would like to be active with me. I want a dad and all brothers, only I don't want brothers that bully me. I don't think I want sisters because girls have cooties. Well, maybe I would like sisters if they were older and nice. I want pets in my family. I would like snakes, dogs and sheep. I would really like to ride a sheep in a rodeo, someday."

Funny, smart and unpredictable is how Kallen's social worker describes him. His foster mother describes him as gentle, loving, tender and tough at the same time. He loves back rubs and having his feet rubbed. His sense of humor and matter-of-fact attitude has helped him to persevere through many moves while in foster care and through the losses in his life.

Kallen would blossom with a family who likes to fish and camp. He also is great with pets and has a turtle that he really enjoys. A family with a secure older teen brother who is emotionally secure and wants to be a mentor, as would parents who want to focus on him as the only child, would be great options for this active boy. A parent who provides strong boundaries and clear rules will reap the benefits of having this young man in their home.

Kallen deals with emotional challenges by keeping his pain inside. He's likely to be successful with parents who tap into community resources, including medication management and counseling. Familiarity with the effects of abuse and neglect will ensure that his adoptive parent(s) will be patient as he learns and grows. Kallen receives support though an educational program that assists him in dealing with his need for perfection and with other challenges.

If you have access to continued educational supports and the safe and stable home environment Kallen needs, you may be ready to share his emotional growth and the humor he could bring to your home. Allowing contact between Kallen and his older brother, Kolton, is important, as the boys are very bonded. If you have a dedicated and loving family with room for one more, Kallen would be a great addition.

To find out more about Kallen, call the Idaho CareLine number, 1-800-926-2588. In Idaho you can dial 2-1-1. You may be asked to provide this reference number: 30204.

Portrait by Cazier Photography

Wednesday's Child Archives...