Wasted lives and grim futures

It is pouring rain here, and we have flash flood warnings posted. I awoke to thunderstorms and several stressed dogs. Because doing anything outdoors is a wash (no pun intended) I am catching up on all kinds of indoor chores.

I sat down to blog this morning and decided to read this article posted in the comments section yesterday in response to my piece on foster care and homelessness and poverty. I read the article in its entirety, including the comments made by readers at the end. Now I find myself fighting back tears as I write… and I’m trying to figure out exactly why I am feeling this strong emotion.

The article describes the lives of two homeless kids, Christina and Jose. Both had been in foster care, and Jose was ultimately adopted at the age of 9. Christina and Jose are now a “couple” and the article descriptively detailed their lives. It isn’t pretty.

Are my welling tears because of their story specifically? Or is it because, as the article describes the sad realities for so many foster kids, I feel even more depressed or rejected or helpless or (dare I say it?) “cheated” because I know what my family offered Amy and what she refused to take? But then again, so did Jose’s parents. They had adopted Jose and his sister… she got into legal trouble and he is homeless. The article says they kicked him out when he turned 18… without a high school diploma, of course. They are strong Christians and believe in following rules. Jose occasionally earns a few bucks helping his adoptive dad mow lawns or walking the dog of a neighbor of his parents. This neighbor lady (who watched him grow up) still takes him in and recently nursed him through an illness. Wonder what his folks thought about that… were they glad he was cared for? Sad it wasn’t them? I don’t know how I’d feel, honestly.

I have to admit… when I read the stories of other kids who never had a chance and yet somehow, some way, they manage to make lemonade out of lemons… it just rubs salt in my wounds. It shouldn’t, I know. What other people do is not relevant to what Amy does… but it is so very hard to read stories like this and think about the kids who never had anyone advocate for them… and think about all that we did to try and help Amy build a life… with no happy ending. This sounds like a pity party for me… and I suppose it is to some extent. But it is more about a profound sadness for a life wasted thus far and countless opportunities rejected. I hate to think of her living like this… but I think it is a very strong possibility.

I’ll close with a comment made by John in response to my last post. Graduation only ensures a more educated homeless person. Wow. That is so true and so sad. I just repeated that comment to my husband and he said at least a person who finishes high school shows some degree of motivation… and theoretically that would bode better for the future. Theoretically….

Here’s a link to the shelter they mentioned… YEAH.

Thanks to the reader who posted this article…

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