Homeless youths out on the street wonder: 'Why is my life like this?'

The Des Moines Register ^ | 07/13/2003 | BILL REITER, Register Staff Writer

[newgeezer]

RODNEY WHITE/Protector: Matt Witt, a 19-year-old with a penchant for violence, rolls a cigarette with butts from bus kiosk ashtrays. He is always ready to come to the defense of his homeless friends. "We're a family," he says.

This girl, this woman of 20 years, had wanted better things. With a shining smile and hazel eyes filled with determination, she was not supposed to end up like this. Her child was not supposed to be born on the streets. Her life was not supposed to disintegrate in warehouses, abandoned buildings and shelter after shelter.

[newgeezer]

A closer look at the human condition.

[Support Free Republic]

Any way I can talk you into making a donation?? Thanks if you will!

[newgeezer]

FWIW, same source:

 Related stories: Homeless Series
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[aimhigh]

Why, because you bought the liberal lies that:
-freedom has no consequences.
-the government will bail you out of every problem in life.
-freedom has no consequences.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

A better question for the title would be, "Is it fault that my life is like this?" I am not assigning blame, I just think they should look for a way to change their lives, not just vent emotion.

[annyokie]

This is tragic. I once worked with a homeless boy, he bussed tables at the restaurant I worked at. He slept in the alley behind the store and took showers at the Y. He eventually saved enough to rent a very small apartment.

I hope he has made a life for himself.

[Paul Atreides]

Now 19, Michelle can distinguish between fairy tale and the truth: It isn't the freedom, fun and parties she'd expected.

The Des Moines native says that running away was the worst mistake of her life. She doesn't think her family will take her back after what she's done and who she's become. She blames herself for being homeless.

How could anyone have a romanticized view of living on the streets? Also, she won't be any worse off if she asks her parents if she can come back. The worst they can say is no.

[Shenandoah]

We all have choices.

I've been on my own since I was 17 with no one to turn to. Being a bum on the street would have been unnaceptable to me. I chose to be successful.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Regarding my own youthful misadventures... if I had just told my parents the truth, things would have been easier. The lying and hiding of the truth always made things worse. I think many children believe that angering their parents is much worse than owning up to their responsibilities. I would hope that in most families, the anger subsides and then the parents help the child to fix the problem. I know that my parents would have helped me, no matter how far I had fallen. I would imagine Michelle's parents probably could find enough love in their hearts to help their daughter. The fear of not knowing what happened to her would have to be worse than anything else I can imagine.

[annyokie]

Ditto.

[Stick a Fork in Me - I am Done]

I was a street kid. I left highschool and home at age 15 and thumbed around a while. I was raped three times and tortured once for three days. There are a lot of freaks out there. There were two monymaking choices for kids on the streets, sell your body or sell drugs. The stupid sell their bodies and the smart sell drugs. I was smart. I lived in doorways and slept on porches or crashed on stranger's floors or the local flophouse. I worked when I could find it. I made friends with other street kids, dealers, numbers men, low end mobsters, criminals and pimps. I was a fifteen year old girl, I looked about 12.

Subsequently, I finished some of my highschool work at one of the most prestigous universitiies in in the country, married, have received an advanced degree, and have a wonderful family. But it has been hard work because the issues that were in my life and that drove me to the streets took years master.

You know me here by another log in.

[PleaseNoMore]

When I read the comment that Michelle's mother made it sickened me. She said that "Michelle made her choice". Now this girl was 15 years old. Who is the parent. The mother or Michelle?

I realize that we do have some kids who are thrown away by their own parents. But we also have kids making "bad choices" because of "parents" who don't have the wisdom or desire to discipline, love and nurture their kids. A lot of so called "parents" just don't have a backbone when it comes to telling their kids NO and setting boundaries.

[annyokie]

What a success story! Good for you! I counseled "troubled yoots" for some time and, sadly, most don't make it. It's just too easy to fall in with people, places, and things.

Again, congratulations on your success.

Anny

[RicocheT]

Youths on the street wonder: 'Why is my life like this?'

Dude, it's 'cause of your drug habit and 'cause you're farkin' crazy. Take your legal meds!

[annyokie]

Some children are very, very difficult. If the parent is limited, lack of education or emotionally immature or lacks the resources or support to deal with the child, many think the only option is to bar the child from the home.

My aunt and uncle adopted a difficult child who grew to be a very tall and heavy young woman with a terrible temper. She threw my tiny (5 foot) aunt across the kitchen and broke her arm in three places when she was 16. She tried to set fire to the house and stole their cars many times as well.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I would hope that a frank discussion between the mother and daughter could clear up misconceptions on both sides.

Our children should never be viewed as unredeemable, in my opinion. Yes, the relationship can cool, and perhaps become less intimate... but children always need their parents, no matter how old they become.

[PleaseNoMore]

I agree, some kids are difficult. But why? Could instability, lack of nurturing, lack of boundaries, etc be the cause.

And when they become difficult, what is the answer? Letting them make their own "choices" as the mother mentioned above did?

[freeforall]

I have a store close to a homeless yute shelter...most are shiftless and not interested in working but they will beg for spare change... and will sell drugs. Sorry, no sympathy from me.

[annyokie]

It's my belief that a lot of is chemical. Regardless of the all drugs are bad crew here, some people need medication to lead a normal life.

[MonroeDNA]

Socialist liberals took down the guardrails of society. Now our kids are running off the tracks, into the bushes.