Back in Sunshine's program, where I started this line of work, I met a child who made me nervous.
This young man was a transfer student who showed up near the end of the school year.
Do go read that link, it explains what happened.
I saw this week that he'd been sentenced for his part in the murder. 20 years.
According to the news report he expressed regret and said that he wished he could undo it.
I don't doubt that, I'm sure if he hadn't done it, he would not be about to spend the next few years behind bars. And I hate to say that I don't think it will change him for the better.
It makes me sad that I knew he wasn't okay from the first.
There are two more boys I've worked with over the years who aren't okay.
One lacks a conscience like the guy who is on the news, the other may have once been okay but was molested for the first five years of his life by the teenage son of the illegally-operated family home day care he attended. And you can see the damage in him. He isn't right and it shows.
I don't get any happiness from being right about this kid, and I won't be pleased when the others end up on the local news.
::sigh::
One of the downsides of the job, I guess.
They say you are who you are by age 8 right? So I am not surprised you saw it. But it still makes me sad as hell. The 2nd one need intensive therapy and love but he won't get it. So another one bites the dust. I couldn't do what you do. Too much sadness and neglect and no parental guidance to help them. That is the saddest part.
ReplyDeleteThe VAST majority of the children I work with are valued, loved, supported and doing fine. Yeah, we all have our issues, and kids do, too. But most of them will grow up to be decent humans. It does make me sad to see the ones who aren't going to thrive as humans, but I like to hope that I don't make their lives more miserable.That I'm a bright spot instead of one more place that makes them feel bad. I do love my job.
DeletePainful to see it and not being able to do anything.
ReplyDeleteVery difficult. Hurts my heart. But that's why I'm good at this job,too. Wouldn't change it.
DeleteThat's pretty awful. I have a friend who had a child that even as a toddler, she called her soulless child. No amount of nurture or discipline could reach him. He's an adult now and she won't let him in her home. She says she did her best, and I believe her but nobody knew what to do for him.
ReplyDeleteWe have a relative whose daughter is one of those. It's so sad, she was like that before she got hooked on different illegal substances, too. Just... wrong. Nothing could be done, she doesn't stay in contact with family now.
DeleteAlso, thank you for stopping by. I am currently reading your blog in another tab. Sounds like your life is not boring. And you knit!! I admire knitters, they can start a project and not be bothered that it takes weeks or whatever. My attention deficit way of doing things requires me to finish things in one or two sittings. :)
DeleteOh wow, that's just scary.
ReplyDeleteIt *is* scary, but it's also just heart-wrenching. For the families of the kids themselves, but also for those they harm. And there doesn't seem to be fault, ya know?
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