Yesterday, I had the "
joy
" of watching my 17 year old "foster" son Josh, from next door, led from and back to prison in shackles. He had been in jail for the past 2 months for breaking and entering.
I wanted to be there for the grandparents who, after all the horrendous stuff this kid has put them through, still wanted to give him yet another chance. They begged the judge to let them bring him home. These are the same folks who let this kid get away with so much. They rarely took my advice as to how to control him, although they would call and ask for my help when the kid was getting violent or verbally abusive. I had no choice but to wash my hands of the kid about 6 months ago. I knew he would end up dead, kill somebody else, or end up in jail.
This is the same kid who 3 months ago, while home from a relgious school down south, stole the grandparent's car, then under influence of drugs and/or alcohol, totaled it after running off the road through a fence (the next day the grandfather was off fixing the fence!), has failed numerous drug tests, got kicked out of 4 different school situations, arrested for shoplifting beer, steals from his grandparents, threatens the grandparents with physical harm, involved with gangs and drugs and fighting, etc., etc., etc. In essence a chav of all chav's eh?
I was hoping, for his sake and the grandparents, he would get another 6 months of jail time. After the judge refused his release, the grandparents pleaded that the court send him to a "nice" juvenile detention place they knew of. The judge refused and sent him down to Richmond to serve a minimum of 6 more months and maybe up to 3 more years!
Over the past 11 years, I'm the closest thing to a father he's had. I tried so many times to guide this kid in the right direction. He's exactly where he belongs and deserves every bit of it. However, I still like a death has occurred and am ripped up inside.
Anybody out there that has gone through this? How often does the kid turn themselves around? I feel worst for the grandparents. They have done so much to raise this kid an are quite devistated.
As always, thanks for listening and for any advice!
Brian