<p><a href=“Invisible Child: Dasani’s Homeless Life - The New York Times”>Invisible Child: Dasani’s Homeless Life - The New York Times;
<p>I want to cry.</p>
<p>PLEASE don’t make this political. I KNOW her parents have made a lot of very bad choices, but that doesn’t change the fact that the KIDS suffer for them.</p>
<p>Hits hard to read that and know that so many kids live outside the reach of basic support and physical necessities. No politics here, just chagrin, empathy and frustration. And you have it right about who suffers. Lots of cracks to fall through…</p>
<p>I read the story. Truly hearbreakng. It’s sad that Dasani is paying the price of her parents’ mistakes. I hope she can overcome all the obstacles in her way and become successful.</p>
<p>Children sadly always are saddled with legacies of their parents, especially in poverty and with more mouths to feed than resources.</p>
<p>This serves as a reminder of how truly blessed I and many others are. </p>
<p>There are so many bright children who have untapped potential that live in poverty. It’s not enough to feel “bad” about her situation. We all must do something. Not just for her but any child shackled by poverty.</p>
<p>I want to post this article every time kids in poverty are discussed on CC. Every time someone talks about why poor schools fail, why kids should or shouldn’t be given a “free ride” when their parents are broke, etc. (NOT trying to be political, I absolutely agree with the headline- these children are invisible. Too many people in America, and it’s well represented on here, have NO idea that these children exist.)</p>
<p>Too sad, too common.</p>
<p>I welled up with tears reading this. While the reporting was generally good documenting the young girl’s life, I felt there was some blaming the victim. I quote, “Dasani’s circumstances are largely the outcome of parental dysfunction.” This reflects a very poor understanding by the author of what life is like for the generationally poor, malnourished and impoverished people of America. </p>
<p>Thank you for sharing this story.</p>
<p>Cried when I read that article too. Horrible. Also read an article the day before on the “Holiday Giving” page about a woman in need,survived the Holocaust. Heartbreaking.</p>
<p>It was too long for me to get emotional over! </p>
<p>However, I don’t think it was victim blaming. If you read the article, which you did, you would remember the parts where the parents said that while they know they should be responsible and prioritize, they don’t. And they’re drug addicts (or at least recovering). There’s a sense of awareness the parents have. </p>
<p>I am not underestimating the effects of poverty. I am simply not blinded by the actions that don’t help their situation.</p>
<p>Kids are suffering all over the world.</p>
<p>a billion people (give or take some) don’t have access to clean water.</p>
<p>soccerguy, this is the richest country in the world. If we as Americans don’t take care of our children…</p>
<p>Not victim blaming, but continuing to have more and more children when there are insufficient resources already compounds an already difficult situation for everyone, including anyone who wants and tries to help improve things. There are seven children and two unemployed adults in the family featured in the story.</p>
<p>Similarly, many of the families featured in stories in our local paper involve very large families with unemployed and/or underemployed parents, very upset that they have a hard time feeding and sheltering their growing families.</p>
<p>Many of us love large families and lots of children but consider our resources and how many we can provide for in making choices about how large of a family to have.</p>
<p>Generational poverty is a huge issue but having large families starting at young ages contributes to an exacerbates the problem.</p>
<p>This is a heartbreaking story. But the first thing that comes to my mind is all the dollars and volunteer hours that are sent overseas when we have such need in our own backyard.</p>
<p>wish we could host families or their children for periods of time or holidays to give them a support system they often don’t have, and a moment to catch their own breath and be with their children in the arms of someone else’s home</p>
<p>Honestly, this is not so much a money problem. This child’s parents are unemployed drug addicts with 7 kids. Calling this situation dysfunctional is not victim-blaming. It was not a random act of God that caused this suffering.,</p>
<p>That story is beyond sad.</p>
<p>I am saddened by the responses here. Having multiple children, drug addiction, and many other problems are the result of ignorance, lack of education/services, and many many other causes. The young girl in this story will sadly likely end up much like her parents did. She needs to fight to survive in school and to hide her embarrassment from her peers. She doesn’t have food and is living in disgusting conditions. My guess is her mom was as bright as a young girl as her daughter is. The teachers and principal in this story are doing all they can to help this young girl with limited resources and significant cutbacks. </p>
<p>While many of us on CC feel we have overcome obstacles, I cannot imagine that the majority of us have needed to overcome what this young girl faces. Unlike our children, she will hardly have a fighting chance. One cannot be strong enough to will themselves out of this situation.</p>
<p>I am thankful for my multiple degreed Harvard educated best friend who has devoted her life (over 30 years) to these children (alternative Middle School Principal) while having to accept that she cannot make any longterm impact on many of her students lives or have a stable financial future herself. Alternative education of the so-called, “bad kids” is very low paying and extremely exhausting. The stories are heart wrenching: murder, abuse, torture, mental illness and on and on. Lucky for her students, she is living her values and devoting her life to the poor and underserved. </p>
<p>I do think there is a lot of victim blaming here. Think of the young girl. If she turns out like her mother with seven children living in a shelter, would we think that she too was a bad mom? It is obvious she is bright, intelligent and exceptional. It is her life circumstances that will determine her future.</p>
<p>Oh, and IMHO, I feel it is in large part very much a money problem. With more money and services, such as housing, food stamps, smaller class sizes and quality early education and after school programs, the children would be better off. The parents are already damaged, but the kids would benefit from more costly services and improved education.</p>
<p>I’m sure all of us know heart-wrenching stories in our own communities as well. Some of us do what we can to provide various services and resources to needy people such as the child in the story with varying degrees of success.</p>
<p>It can indeed feel pretty thankless and resources for our programs are woefully under resourced and constantly threatened. Burnout is also high amongst those of us providing what help we can and there is compassion fatigue as well when there appear to be never-ending appeals and little gratitude and progress.</p>
<p>I don’t know why you’re saddened by the posts here on this thread, peacefulmom. I don’t believe anyone is victim blaming. If acknowledging the problems and feedback loops within this girl’s dysfunctional family dynamic sadden you, then it is not our doing. I have not seen one person call the parents “bad”. Bad? No. Drug addicts? Yes. Incapable of fully raising and providing for their kids. Yes. It’s unfortunate, but the parents are not “fault free” in their situation. They have played a part in where they are now.</p>
<p>Really, if the problems can’t even be acknowledged they certainly can’t be solved.</p>