Get a direction, focus your direction and get out there they say. But what if you are an adolescent who can not be responsible or channel a dream for one reason or another, then what? What if your life consisted of hunger, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, or physical abuse?
Instead of dreaming of tomorrow, the abused go to bed sometimes without enough to eat, adequate clothing, or just simply a safe bed to lay your weary head on.
Counting sheep is usually not an option when all you hear are your parents screaming, threatening each other and even possibly hearing bodies hitting the wall or floor. Pulling the covers over your head to drown out the noise; this is an everyday adventure and normality, so slumber eventually takes over.
The next day finally comes only to restart with an empty stomach, dirty clothes, and feeling that no one really wants you. Feeling stupid, and ugly, you face a room full of faces as you enter your classroom. Walking silently with eyes hidden and tears held back, you slide into your chair, hoping that you won't have to borrow a pencil or a sheet of paper.
Teacher inquires about activities over the weekend to the class, and all you can think of is, “I truly hope no one hears my hunger rumble in the pit of my stomach.” Cupping your head with your hand and the other one around their stomach, wishing lunch time was here. Even though peanut butter wasn't your favorite, a half of a sandwich sounded really great right now. Knowing it wouldn't fill the stomach it still was going to be better than nothing.
Recess time! Instead of grouping with other girls, sullenly you go to the swings and just sit there hoping to disappear. But instead the girls, who haven't experienced hunger before, came over to make fun of you. They comment on the clothing and the messy greasy hair. They even comment about odors that were surrounding you accusing you to smell of a farm yard. Then the girls would look at each other to confirm their conversations and plug their noses while walking away.
What those girls weren't aware of is that you came from a family of six children and only one single bed. When it wasn't your turn to sleep on it, then the floor had to do. In your house taking a shower had to be earned like an allowance and it wasn't always with a bar of soap. Clean clothes, well that would be a luxury; clothes in general if you had more than one outfit would be wonderful.
Being reminded of brushing your teeth wasn't a practice since you didn't own a tooth brush or visit with the dentist. Your breath wasn't the only thing smelling like a barn yard.
Now it is finally the end of another school day only to go home to the usual of lots of chores. No work no food or any sort as they say. When food was served there was no complaints no matter what it was, six kids it went quite rapidly. Then the dishes, for some reason you were the only one forced to do them. Stomach still growling, doing dishes wasn't so bad, since possibly there would be a crumb left over to uncover.
When all the chores would be done, especially to your parents liking, then maybe a shower could be earned. Facing the kids tomorrow smelling the same just didn't seem to be inviting. Try as you might, a shower yes but again without soap. Took too long sweeping the floor, no towel for the shower either.
Having friends over for dinner, the idea seems great because you want to have friends, but the reality is that if your friends comes over, they will not only see what you live like, but also they would be eating what ever was planned for you, providing your parents visited the food shelf and there was a dinner.
However tonight is your lucky night, you get the bed. Hopefully your brother didn't drink too much last night before going to bed. “Sheets on the bed, what is that?” Your sister was sent home last week for lice. The mere idea of creeping crawlies on the bed ran a shiver down your spine, but you were so tired, still wet from the shower, you had your torn blanket with you wearing your unwashed underclothing you fell into a slumber on a sheet less stained mattress that sat on the floor. But tonight it felt like you were in heaven.
Many of you are saying to yourself, I know there are poor people out there but there is so much help for them out there. If there really is that much help, why is it then that these children that live those kinds of homes still appear in our society? For most of them, school provides them with the necessities that most of our children take for granted. But what happens in the summer time?
Going to McDonald's or a restaurant is only a dream and in some cases these children tend to hang around these places for a hand out. You would think that they would be too embarrassed to do that but real life sacrifices need to take place even if it includes stealing it or begging and in some cases dumpster diving. For some begging becomes a natural way to live.
For the country of plenty we too have starving people who live in poverty, grief stricken homes. Children not having their basic needs met, some abused or neglected. What can we do as a society and what should we teach our children?
Instead of keeping up with the fast moving credit charging social nets, be thankful for our bounty and extend a hand towards those who need it. Teach our children to not make fun and terrorize those who we can't understand but to reach out and help them.
