One Final Observation

Cave Dweller's input and insight have definitely struck a chord. Responses have been heartfelt and enthusiastic. Our contributing Grandmother added an addendum that both Melony and I thought was an important addition to her story and her point of view. I hope her words of encouragement reach the people who need it.
One thing. Yes. We will begin to include more recipes! There has been so much to discuss this summer, our cooking for teens segment has been inadvertently put on the back burner. (what a bad pun) If you have a good recipe to share, please do so! This site is open to input from you and we would love to have some great menu ideas, particularly as school gets ready to start and routines begin again.

Cave Dwellers Addendum

It has been bothering me that many, many Parents, Grandparents, Legal Guardians, Caregivers, are out there who have given of themselves tirelessly, and did everything they could and yet had a child that would not take the chance they had been given.
I don't want any of these people to ever feel they failed!

It is my firm belief that often times, there are children who have been so severely damaged, not only by mistreatment, but by lack of solid teaching, guidance, and supervision, ( known as neglect), that these kids simply can't handle any situation where they can't make their own decisions. They have been in control of their own lives for so long, and/ or so mistreated and neglected by the adults in their lives, they can no longer trust any adult enough to let them have "power" over them. And sometimes, kids simply just "go the wrong way", even when they have had the best Parents a kid could have. Often , there is simply nothing anyone can do but pray...

The simple truth is this,,, Many times, kids who have had every advantage in life one can have, fall and never get back up . And many times, a kid who has had nothing but rejection, has been in trouble throughout his or her teens, seemed to never care about any body or anything, grows up to be a wonderful wife, or husband, a great mother or father, and has learned that success is being thought of by your peers and family as an honest, trustworthy, loving human being, and not based on what kind of car you drive, how big your house is, and where you last vacationed......

For all those who have given it their all, and did everything they could to set a young one on a good path, only to have that child turn away from you, please remember this, you undoubtedly "planted a seed" in that child and it truly is up to him or her to cultivate it at some point in their life......It's called , "accountability".

CaveDweller