By Tim Collins

ItB次元官网网址檚 been said that the true character of a society is revealed in how it treats its children.

If itB次元官网网址檚 true that a natural extrapolation of that belief is that the true character of a person is revealed in how they love, respect and care for the children under their care, then the Youngers are truly remarkable human beings.

But letB次元官网网址檚 go back to the beginning.

Darlene and Calvin Younger moved to Langford from Manitoba in 1990. Then, some 30 years ago, Darlene learned that her nieces had been taken into care and decided that she would take over custody and raise the girls as her own.

B次元官网网址淭hinking back, a family placement is the hardest ever,B次元官网网址� Darlene Younger says. B次元官网网址淭here are a lot of family dynamics involved and things can get difficult.B次元官网网址�

After giving it some thought, the Youngers decided that they may be able to help other children as well and went on to take a host of other children into foster care over the years, always with the attitude that anyone in their care was part of their family.

In fact, they went on to adopt eight of their foster children which, when combined with their own five biological children, has made for a rather large family.

But the unique nature of that family has not always been viewed positively by some people in the community.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 tended to be two frames of mind,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淭here are some who are thankful (for what youB次元官网网址檙e doing) and put you on a pedestal, and others are suspicious and wonder if youB次元官网网址檙e doing it for the money.B次元官网网址�

Neither of those attitudes is helpful, Younger says.

There are also those who will look askance at all foster parents based upon some personal experiences or on news reports telling of tragic failures in the foster system.

But the Youngers have never allowed the attitudes of others to affect their family.

B次元官网网址淚 see every child as a beloved treasure and when I take a child in, they are family members. ItB次元官网网址檚 that simple.B次元官网网址�

Of course, as with any family, there are challenges.

One of their biological children was born with some neurological challenges and over the years the Youngers have also fostered other children with a variety of other challenges.

B次元官网网址淪ome children are just painfully searching for who they are, and others are born with disabilities and the world is a hard place for them,B次元官网网址� she says.

B次元官网网址淎nd sometimes we fight, like any family. We have disagreements but if something important requires family support, we always have each other. When the chips are down, we always have each other.B次元官网网址�

And, as one might expect, the logistics of this very large family can be daunting. That hasnB次元官网网址檛 deterred the Youngers, however, as the children have participated in activities that range from skiing and snowboarding, to hockey, and rugby. Then thereB次元官网网址檚 the figure skating, swimming, gymnastics and PACE theatrical performances.

B次元官网网址淲e have a big 15 passenger van to get everyone around, although we did buy a smaller hybrid vehicle as well,B次元官网网址� Younger says. B次元官网网址淲e buy equipment on Varage Sale, and the garage is packed with all this stuff.B次元官网网址�

Younger credits the support that sheB次元官网网址檚 received from the community for making life a little easier.

B次元官网网址淧rograms like PACE, for example, and the people involved in hockey B次元官网网址� and a lot of others. There have been and are great people who are always there to lend a hand if itB次元官网网址檚 needed,B次元官网网址� Darlene said.

Although some of the YoungersB次元官网网址� children are now grown with children of their own, the house is in no danger of becoming an empty nest. There are still eight children in the home, ranging from a three-year-old to one who is graduating this year. DarleneB次元官网网址檚 mother and her husband are also there and, since no home is complete without pets, thereB次元官网网址檚 a dog, four cats, a rabbit and a guinea pig.

And donB次元官网网址檛 think for a moment that a large family stands in the way of family vacations.

B次元官网网址淲e usually buy a pass for skiing at Mount Washington. This year we went to Mexico and in 2019, we all took a trip to Disney.B次元官网网址�

When asked if she would do it all again, Younger doesnB次元官网网址檛 hesitate.

B次元官网网址淥f course. If you see situations where kids are alone and isolated, itB次元官网网址檚 an opportunity to make a difference. ItB次元官网网址檚 important that we do not turn our backs on any child. IB次元官网网址檝e heard it said that a child that isnB次元官网网址檛 embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth. I think thatB次元官网网址檚 probably true.B次元官网网址�

And with those thoughtful words, Younger was off to some deliver some of her children to their next activities.