June 28th, 2015: Amanda and her Cousin Amy

[Snakeadelic]

And people call me awful, selfish, and incomplete for not wanting to bring a kid into my own tumultuous past or severely anxious present. (Seriously, people have offered to LEND ME their kids so I can get better at being around them. Am I the only one thinking that's creepy, stupid, AND dangerous?) I'm guessing these gals did not have a lot of parental involvement in their lives...I did, and I know I could not do half the wonders my mother managed! Modern America seems to have a poorly-hidden bias along the lines of "If she ain't a breeder we don't need 'er", but the fate of these girls and thousands of other kids every day makes me glad I never had to screw up the life of a baby by having the poor bugger start out with me as a parent.

[Griff]

I had a long conversation with a parent whose own childhood, young adulthood, and early parenthood were horrifically violent. She somehow learned from all that to become a good parent and protect her child. I found her inspiring.

[xoxoxoBruce]

I agree, her head was twisted every which way but loose. Now with a prison record, she's dragging an anchor in life's marathon. She's done well to stay alive.