My 19-year-old niece has been living with me since late September. Her parents did the "tough love" thing with her when she was living in Trenton, Missouri. She was living in a total "shit hole" with holes in the roof, a toilet that you couldn't do a #2 in, and the people she lived with had pets that they let shit and pee all over the house. It was disgusting. She lost her job. She was working at a long term care center as a CNA and was working toward getting her certification there. She got sick and missed more than 8 hours of class and was dropped from the CNA class. Because she was dropped from the class, she lost her job. So, this 18-year-old girl is living in an city that she is unfamilar with, without a job, and her parents decided "tough love" was what they needed to do.
She is in CNA class now, which I paid for, not mom and dad, and she finishes her last clinical this weekend. All I want for her is to get a job, maintain that job, stay with us until she can save enough money to get her own place and have some money in a bank account. Six months ago, I thought she might live with us a year or so, but I think I may have really underestimated that time frame. My daughters are sharing a room (and a bed) so that my niece could have her own room. Now, my oldest daughter just wants her own room back.
I can't blame her!
Jocelyn I wouldn't say you are pushing two hard but you still need to continue pushing. You have given her a year and it's been six months so for so I think you are probably ahead of schedule. Just keep encouraging her and telling her just because she comes from a bad situation does me she has to carry it with her where ever she goes. Sometimes bad things happy to go good people for a reason. So good people need hardships in their life to make them into the person God has called them to be. If she uses her past to stregthen her furture she can become an amazon woman. As for your daughters just tell them to hold out a little while longer she will be gone soon. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteJocelyn - you are an amazing woman! The fact you and your family were willing to take in your niece and support her financially and emotionally...that is a big deal! You are be credited for helping your niece at an important crossroad/milestone in her life. I hope that someday your niece recognizes the sacrifices you all endured for the betterment of her!
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