Quote:
Originally Posted by afc wimbledon
As previously mentioned, I'm a foster parent, I take what are considered high risk kids, down town east side street youth, kids the system pretty well considers a write off.
Last night I had a pre Christmas drink with two off my old kids, now in their mid twenties, ones a kitchen manager, the other halfway through his B.A at UBC, I got a call from another lad today, radar operator in the navy.
I'm not a miracle worker, given half a chance these kids do fine, unfortunately they are rarely given a chance.
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I did a ton of legal aid work as a defence lawyer to kids around Northern Manitoba reserves for years. I couldnt agree more with the above post. Many of these kids don't have a chance. If I was raised in their place, I would be no different.
My wife is from a reserve. She had a mother who was the exception. Didn't drink, do drugs, worked, made her kids work hard. My wife is a lawyer. Her brother is in the film production industry. Her cousins who were raised by parents who were disasters? In jail.
I had a longtime probation officer for one community once tell me that when he started out 25 years ago he thought he could make a difference and save kids, but he quickly realized that it was impossible. Meeting someone a few times a week can't overcome a disasterous home life.