I wish I could add some hope to this thread. But I'm with you Lil. What the hell happened to our youth? And it's nothing like what our parents used to say about us. Or even what their parents said about them! It's downright scary today. Kids (a lot, but not all) have no empathy for fellow man and no regard for rules or authority. Respect isn't even in their vocabulary.

Heres what I'm seeing. If the kids can get to the age of 17 and haven't gone wayward then they have a chance of coming up unscathed. But if they get one chance to challenge authority before that age, and they seemingly "win"...look out!

My baby sis's son went to bed one evening, a charming 15 y/o. Next day he woke as an asshole and to this day (he is 18 now) he is lost to us. This broke baby sis's heart but she granted him emmancipation when he was 16 because she was afraid of him. His latest escapade is crack. I'm awaiting a phone call from sis right now to let me know if he and his "partner in crime" (his childhood friend) have been arrested for stealing said friend's mother's bank card. They've stolen jewelery, coins, etc. and this bank card was the last straw. Nephew is so lost I don't know if we can get him back.

And that ^^^ is just the tip of the iceberg!

*sigh*

Sorry I couldn't contribute some sunshine!

__________________
Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~