Dateline Dayton – You may tire of me being on a soapbox about the need for licensing to have children. All you need do is stop reading this essay.

I have been thinking about the kinds of licenses  already required:  Attorney, accountant, boating,  to drive, a car itself, carrying a concealed weapon,  for your dog – but not for having a child. Doesn’t that speak well of us?

Continuing, we need a license to fish, to hunt, to marry, a sales tax license and more.

My interest in the subject was renewed when I heard of an Arizona child was left in a car while his father went to check on how busy the kitchen was at the restaurant where he worked.

After checking on the kitchen, he smoked a joint before remembering that he had left his child in the car. By the time he returned, the child was dead. Another life lost due to parents or caregivers not having the child’s welfare foremost in their minds.

Why isn’t drug testing required to get licenses presently needed? I am not talking about dog licenses, although it wouldn’t be a bad idea to require a drug test for the owners.

Once we were required, here in Ohio, to get an “E” check for our car to get a license. Why not a drug test prior to getting your car license, or any license? Drug testing came to mind after reading about the lamebrain above, then hearing about a child shot in his stroller. Add the children born to drug-using parents.

I realize a drug test would not mean the recipient is drug-free when driving, getting married or hunting. Unfortunately, we don’t renew marriage licenses, thus the need for a license to have children, along with a drug test, is a must.

Now My Sunny Side Is up

Allow me, finally, to share positive news. A member of our Learning Tree Farm Board just adopted a child. So? His wife has battled cancer, they have three children of their own and this was a foster child. One of the child’s parents was the nephew of the Board member. They had the child early-on, then he was returned his mother. She decided later she could not care for him.

The uncle’s family welcomed the child back and started adoption proceedings. Although the adoption procedures have been finali8zed, finalized, the story does not end here. The family has applied to adopt another child. This one would not be related in any way, but will be loved, just the same.

Happy Love Day, 10-10!

Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net