Yesterday I took the day off and took my kids to watch some movies - a bigger town 150km away. We had movies and clothes shopping for summer for them, ice creams and waffles and after a long day came home. Wonderful stuff. Today I get to go work on some month end financial reports, I have a deadline of 3 days so my boss allowed me to swop yesterday for today because it suited the family yesterday. Very kind of him, but soon I will get my ass in gear and head over to do some work!
But that's not the reason I am feeling sad, though it's a glorious Spring Day - still no rains in sight. The weatherman did predict early to mid-October for our first rains so I'm still holding my breath...
I'm sad because there are parents who can kick kids out of their homes and leave them to fend for themselves. And I'm not sure what to do about such seeing as I only want to do the best for the child.
N my youngest has a very soft heart, just like me. But I have never doubted her ability to be correct with this soft heart. She has a friend at school, they are early high school and I've met the boy a few times, quite pleasant with good manners. He is 'staying over at friends' as it were as she found out he has been sleeing on the streets the last 2 nights. Now the mother of another friend of hers, has said he can stay there by them permanently. It always amazes me how poor people share what little they have 'cos they are poor bu are willing o share what they have. I have no problem with this, I am just worried will they really be able to look after him and for how long?
So I am thinking of phoning the school counsellor on MOnday - actually 2 lovely young adults, early to mid 20's who have wonderful rapport with the kids in this smallish town (40 000+ people) and see if they can just find out the true story and see if they can officially help him. I'm not too keen on social welfare and such stuff, but I do agree poor C must get help if his mother has kicked him out of the house. He is only grade 8 - he needs to have a safe home to really live in peace and concentrate on studies, not worry about his next meal or shelter.
But of course I'm not sure - is this the right thing for me to do - speak to these counsellors - as I said they have a wonderful rapport with the kids and the kids like them, or I am barking up the wrong tree, interfering where I shouldn't and just leave all alone? I wouldn't like to contact the social welfare department, maybe he and his mom just had a fight blah blah, so I would rather like to get the 2 likeable counsellors in and just chat to him and see what's giving?
What do you think? Do I do this or just leave my nose out of it?
LG
12 comments:
What a very touching story...I think you should follow your heart and do what feels right. You can never do anything wrong by trying to help a poor kid that is left to sleep on the streets.
I hope things can be sorted out for this poor child...
xoxo
Difficult one... If he has a place to stay, I suppose he may be best off with a chance to sort it out himself. Or not. I suppose you know the situation best, so I go with the previous comment: follow your gut.
Thanks for your advice on my blog! I will follow it, but if I do any less housework, this place may actually just collapse. :-)
I agree - follow your instincts. Poor kid. Something has to be done, and at least there are some people around like you, who care.
Hi Zu..yes, I just don't want to interfere but often I think people should do something and not always have the 'excuse' "do not want to interfere"....
Thanks Mwa - he is younger than 16, so yes, I'm not yet sure myself what to do...still thinking about it...thanks for the visit
Thanks Linds, I generally follow my heart in these things, for that reason I sometimes need to hear the opinions of 'others' so that I can try keep balanced..whatever that balanced view might be!
:)
I think the school counsellor idea is a good one. Just have a quiet word to them about your concerns and let them follow it through. I don't believe thats interfering but just showing concern.
Thanks for your wise words on my last post.
That is hard to comment on as we do not know the boys side of the story. I believe you should do what you feel is right.
Thank you stopping by and I wish you well.
LG I have a philosaphy that if I see and animal or child in harms way I MUST BE THEIR VOICE!!! Other wise you are just as guilty standing by and watching.
People MUST step forward and say something in their defense.
You may save his life and his future.
It saddens me to hear this.
I suppose we are not aware of how much of this does go on.
Be that young man's voice.
The Universe will reward you.
Karma remember.
hugs Anna
hmmm it seems you are on the right track. Your heart is open to him, that is really the first thing we can do, and to be there when they need us. I believe we all choose our own path in life, and recently i learned to honor that. His path, his parents path, our own.
:) good luck! your decision will be the right one!
You really do have a hard decision to make. Maybe you could explore exactly what steps the system would make before you make your final decision. God bless you for caring.
Thanks everyone, I spoke to the school counsellor(s), they really are a wonderful young couple who truly care for the kids, and it seems they had a word with him to determine how big the problem was. Currently he has moved 'back' in with his mom, so I guess all is as well as it could be at this stage...seems a teenage fight but I still don't like kids sleeping on the streets! Seems one day I'll have to have a shelter somewhere just for those nights hey! Take care all
Post a Comment