While I was working with DCFS, I thought about the kids that were on my caseload and wondered if they would ever learn or accept the help that was offered to them. I felt a sense of pride when some of them would accomplish something, participate in a recital, or do something that might seem simple to us but is a huge feat for them. I would also feel a sense of sorrow or anger for the mistakes and choices that they made. In a sense I had a sliver of what their parent might feel.
Since I no longer work for the state, I still wonder about the 30+ kids that I worked with over 5 years.
Well, this evening as I was turning on the news, the first story that I heard shocked me once I realized that it was one of my previous kids that I had worked with for 3 years. It did not shock me that he was on the news, but that they aired it. This kid use to go awol/run from his placements ALL THE TIME! And he was constantly in trouble with the law when he was still a minor.
The thing that makes me sad is realizing that this kid is not going to learn from his mistakes for the time being. In fact, he will more than likely add it as "another notch on his belt" because he made the news.
I truly hope that eventually he will start learning to make better choices. I hope that I will hear success stories from my "kids" later when I am in heaven.
4 comments:
I had a conversation with someone who talks about things that would shock the "rest" of us, but are simply a fact of life for him. For example, his felonies, drug court, or running from the cops. He has also had his name splashed across the news.
However, he said some profound things in the conversation. The kind of things that had a former bishop stopping in his tracks and saying "Did YOU just say that?"
Long story short, they are listening, even if you can't tell right away.
I am curious to know who the kid was...especially since I heard nothing on the news about him! Can you put his name on my blog, or send me an email to let me know?
thanks
That would be a very difficult occupation, I am glad there are people like you who could handle it. I too hope that you hear of some success stories, or that you at least made a difference at some point in thier lives!
That would be a very difficult occupation, I am glad there are people like you who could handle it. I too hope that you hear of some success stories, or that you at least made a difference at some point in thier lives!
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