FAMILY DYSFUNCTION

I cannot even wrap my mind around a family that does not inform about the passing away of family members.

Those hurtful family members are victims of terrible abuse, emotional or physical/sexual, and they have not healed. They are still in the anger and rage and grieving. And worse, they are creating new pain for others.

The cycle is horrendous.

People who have been thru these kinds of emotional alienation often end up behaving in ways that violate societies behavioral standards.... so we have jails filled with, basically, children who were tortured, deprived of help and love, who then attempted to fend for themselves as "adults" though they were deprived of life as a child. They hurt people. They break rules. They learned what they were taught. It didn't work.

They end up in our prisons, where we can shake our head and think, "What freaks! I'm glad they are in there and I am out here!" But there is a bigger picture.

I hope that in 50 years, we will regard childhood and formative years as much more sacred and worthy of protection, and truly a "birthright" of all people.

Adults may claim it is THEIR birthright to have a child. I'm not concerned about that. It is the children who are innocent. Any child can be made into a loveless, angry, hurtful being.

For you to be smiling despite all of the family chaos and pain is a beautiful thing.

In fact, congratulations....You are a TEACHER!!