Peabody couple devotes lives to children
By ROWENA PLETT
Reporter / photographer
Leon and Mary Johnson of Peabody have been married for 42 years and they have yet to experience the "empty nest" syndrome.
In addition to raising five children of their own, they have four adopted children, two grown and two in the home.
However, that's not the full story. The Johnsons also are foster parents. In the past 28 years, they have provided foster care to 20 to 25 children. Their stays have been as short as six months and as long as two and one-half years.
The energetic couple currently have six children living under their roof, four foster children and two adopted.
When this reporter visited the family, the children gathered around Leon and Mary in their living room to share experiences, feelings, and thoughts. The children displayed cheerful dispositions and had an obvious respect and appreciation for Leon and Mary.
They attend Peabody-Burns school district.
Christina, 18, is a senior and has been with the Johnsons for two years. She comes from Lawrence, where she had an unsettled home life and was involved in a gang.
After graduating this spring, she plans to get an apartment in Newton and go to beauty school. When she turns 21, she wants to become a police woman "to help kids who are victims of sexual abuse and rape."
Heather, 18, also is a senior and will graduate this spring. She has been in SRS custody for five years, including time spent in group homes. She has lived with the Johnsons for two and one-half years. She plans to return to her hometown of Ottawa, find a job, and live on her own.
Both girls occasionally visit their birth families. They call Leon and Mary "Grandpa" and "Grandma." Others sometimes call them "Uncle" and "Aunt."
David, 11, a fifth grader, has lived with the Johnsons about two years. The dark-haired, dark-eyed boy is up for adoption. He first entered a foster home on his sixth birthday. Since then, he has lived in a total of nine homes.
The pleasant child said he has three sisters and three brothers. He is in touch with one sister. He said he likes living with the Johnsons. He is looking forward to having a mom and dad of his own.
"We've all gotten fond of David," Mary said. "If he gets adopted, it will have to be with our approval."
Another foster child, a 14-year-old, was not present. She had gone home on a pass and is in the process of being re-integrated with her family.
The Johnsons' two adopted children living at home are: Ethan, 12, a sixth grader, adopted in January 2000, and Cindy, 13, a seventh grader, adopted the following June. Cindy was the Johnsons' foster child for almost a year.
The family lives in a new modular four-bedroom home. Leon, who is a construction worker with Middle Creek Mining Corp., is adding four bedrooms in the basement.
In October 2000, fire destroyed their former home. Fortunately, they were able to locate another suitable house and could maintain their foster care services.
Why do they do it?
"We love kids," Mary said, "and we want them to feel good about themselves. They are just like our kids."
"We love being there for them," Leon said.
"Even though we get in trouble sometimes," Heather added.
Through the years, they have come to focus on teenagers. They have discovered that they work well with them. They see their purpose as teaching basic living skills and responsibility.
According to Rose Vinduska, supervisor for KVC Family Services, a child-placement agency in El Dorado, Leon and Mary are good at that.
"In order to be effective, you have to be non-reactive, consistent, and firm," she said. "Leon and Mary have high standards and expect the youngsters to achieve them."
She said sometimes teenagers "just can't make it" at home and sometimes they arrive in an angry state of mind.
"You've got to show them that you care," Leon said. "You've got to win their trust."
"It's hard to do, though, when you didn't get it from your parents," Heather interjected.
Mary is willing to go the extra mile to be a good parent. She confers with teachers if any of the kids have a problem at school. She's not hesitant to ground them if they disobey the rules.
"If we want to know what they are doing, then they know we care," she emphasized.
She monitors what they watch on TV and limits viewing time.
Mary praised school staff and the First Baptist Church congregation for their support and acceptance of the foster children.
"They treat them like they are our own," she said.
Leon's job often takes him away from home during the week. Mary said the children love having him around. David helps with the downstairs project. Occasionally, the family does things together, such as taking trips to museums or other attractions.
When Leon mentioned possibly going fishing this summer, David and Ethan got excited. They wanted to go camping, too, but Leon said that wouldn't be possible.
The family attends picnics and other activities sponsored for foster families by KVC. (KVC stands for Kaw Valley Center.)
Once a year, the family attends a KVC foster parent conference in Kansas City. The all-expense-paid event provides required continuing education for foster parents while children enjoy structured activities. Each family receives a family photograph.
Leon and Mary have a sense of accomplishment in the fact that they are helping Christina and Heather to graduate from high school and go on to be successful citizens. Mary said the girls have worked hard to earn their diplomas.
Both girls have jobs and are saving money for when they are on their own. Christina does custodial work after school. Heather works as a dietary aide at Legacy Park. At the same time, they are expected to keep up their grades.
The Johnsons are reimbursed for foster children's basic living expenses, but their financial outlay goes well beyond what the agency provides. The stipend does not include all the extras such as perms, band instruments, extra shoes and clothes, spending money, and lessons. These things come out of the couple's pockets.
Special senior year expenses associated with pictures, prom, and graduation are borne by them, as well.
Vinduska said couples must meet a certain income level in order to qualify as foster parents.
"You don't 'make money' by becoming a foster parent," she noted. "Basic needs of kids are reimbursed, but that's all."
Mary washes three to four loads of clothes a day, "including Sunday." She said the girls are good about helping her. Christina likes to prepare meals.
The Johnsons usually have a houseful, to put it mildly, when holidays roll around. In addition to their own children and grandchildren, Many of their former foster children keep in touch and come back to visit from time to time.
Scattered about the living room are pictures of former foster children's children.
"We get close," Mary said. "It's a normal home. Once you're our kid, you're always our kid. We tell them they always are welcome to come back when they leave."
Leon and Mary, at age 63 and 59 respectively, have only one regret. They are limited by law to having only six children living in their home at one time. They hear about all the children who are waiting to be placed in private homes and wish they could do more.
Is that selflessness, or what?
