<p>Kirmum: Maybe not, but maybe there is hope when the kid sees that they are…</p>
<p>For example, last year, a then-junior in high school friend of my D’s realized he had to get out of his home…one of his parents was a substance-abuser, his other was an “enabler” and refused to see the problem. The abuse turned physical and he left. Up to that time, this kid had struggled terribly with school…was in real danger of not graduating HS. We offered him a home a little over a year ago and he is now on schedule to graduate, has auditioned at a local college theater program (affiliated with an excellent school and with a two-year community college which he can get into to “catch up”), and has generally done the proverbial “turn your life around” thing. </p>
<p>Unfortunately (for them AND for him), his parents are still blind. They pretty much have nothing to do with him and it still breaks his heart. But he keeps on going!!!</p>
<p>BTW, I have 3 “other” kids, and my youngest is a senior also this year. All three have been very accepting and supportive of their new “brother”. And (with their good grades and relatively “easy” family life), I think they are in many ways in awe of him.</p>
<p>So, there is hope. We all just need to extend a hand when we can…</p>