tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12633241.post6842164518961915307..comments2023-10-26T06:51:22.372-04:00Comments on FranciscanMom: The Lost BoysBarb Szyszkiewiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00329184613713551475noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12633241.post-17768481687752253432012-06-18T17:33:15.418-04:002012-06-18T17:33:15.418-04:00Those boys are lucky to have you Barb! They are p...Those boys are lucky to have you Barb! They are probably lost and struggling which is hard to bear but there can still be rules, boundaries and limitations. Joining you in prayer.noreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11512311149461187879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12633241.post-83195834526602531392012-06-09T21:48:30.695-04:002012-06-09T21:48:30.695-04:00Nancy, some of my urchins have been known to lurk ...Nancy, some of my urchins have been known to lurk during meals too. I have invited them on occasions where I have enough extra, but that's not always the case. Mealtime lurking makes me CRAZY!Barb Szyszkiewiczhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00329184613713551475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12633241.post-15288247246577662792012-06-09T13:55:46.771-04:002012-06-09T13:55:46.771-04:00I've got a family of urchins right here in my ...I've got a family of urchins right here in my own neighborhood. They are here ALL THE TIME! Sometimes, I'm very resentful of the fact that my kids are not allowed in their house (because it's disgusting mess...child protective services has been there a number of times)...even though I don't want my kids in there anyway. Still, they tell me they don't eat dinner until 10 or 11 pm (????) so they get upset when we send them home at 5pm when our family eats. Sometimes, they don't go home...they just lurk outside the front door....knocking about every 3 minutes asking "are they done yet"? They drive me nuts!<br />Thank you, for this post...to help remind me that I need to show more charity and that their situations are NOT their fault. Off to confession I go!Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08703752271069054710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12633241.post-23078747115154574172012-06-06T22:10:57.309-04:002012-06-06T22:10:57.309-04:00Let's get one thing straight. I am not a hero...Let's get one thing straight. I am not a hero, a Marian ideal, or anything like that.<br /><br />I am the brother who first said "no" when his father asked him to work in the fields, and later changed his mind.<br /><br />Aimee mentioned being an introvert--I am as well, and maybe that's part of why this is tough for me. I crave quiet, and I don't like my boundaries being invaded when it's not on my terms. These kids have no boundaries, and when they're around and it's quiet--there's trouble.<br /><br />I'm also a "rule-follower" so I resent the adults in these kids' lives who aren't pulling their weight.<br /><br />No hero here, but Herculean effort is often required, sometimes just to keep my temper in check. Sometimes I fail. These kids have all heard me yell. They're a little afraid of me, but they keep knocking on the door.Barb Szyszkiewiczhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00329184613713551475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12633241.post-75259282628472766802012-06-06T21:59:42.406-04:002012-06-06T21:59:42.406-04:00I think you are absolutely spot-on about being pro...I think you are absolutely spot-on about being pro-life in watching over The Lost Boys. Don't take their disrespect or anything, but they are definitely lacking something at home that they find with you. As an introvert, I see it as heroic on your part. :)Aimeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16332125903937752882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12633241.post-25352857780516103722012-06-06T19:11:45.450-04:002012-06-06T19:11:45.450-04:00Barb as annoying as it is and you to have a right ...Barb as annoying as it is and you to have a right to be annoyed I am so glad you came to the conclusions you ended with. Thank the lord there are moms like you around to pick up the slack for the moms who aren't there tor their kids for whatever reasons. And being tough on them is all part of it how else will they learn. Thanks tor being one of those moms who get it!Diane's bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11053890382914928466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12633241.post-57003526852257633042012-06-05T15:04:33.392-04:002012-06-05T15:04:33.392-04:00We had a similar problem with the girl across the ...We had a similar problem with the girl across the street at our last address. My mom had to deal with this when I was a kid. One has to hope that your good influence will outshine the rest of their world's bad influences. It's a tough burden, barb. I'll be praying for you and for them.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14591234069872271083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12633241.post-28481143386902966202012-06-05T11:02:39.423-04:002012-06-05T11:02:39.423-04:00Barb, you are so right. It is hard to balance feel...Barb, you are so right. It is hard to balance feeling annoyed with the kids and sharing charity with them. They have no parents to guide them, or missing and absent parents. I have a feeling they crave a mom's presence and thus are coming to you. You have a gift in the making here and the ability to show these children what a family is really like with mother, father, healthy boundaries and more.Jeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18217797935437208044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12633241.post-44230441650493329302012-06-05T10:01:30.231-04:002012-06-05T10:01:30.231-04:00Yes, this! I tried to write about similar things b...Yes, this! I tried to write about similar things but you have done it so much better. None of our neighbor kids are in those kinds of situations, but we are definitely the only large, Catholic family around. I figure it is a good thing for across-the-street neighbor boy to have to see how my boys live with their younger siblings and learn to share and tolerate their presence. Loving who is right in front of us is the first, and perhaps most impactful, thing we can do to proclaim Christ's love to the world. <br /><br />(I would flip my lid at the cheese balls.)nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06605426195521274662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12633241.post-52210480608598512892012-06-05T09:56:57.342-04:002012-06-05T09:56:57.342-04:00Barb you are possibly the only person who will be ...Barb you are possibly the only person who will be a witness of Christ's love to these children. Keep up the good work :)And who knows, the seeds you are planting now may blossom and bloom in these kids.Beanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14484707482492844677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12633241.post-61071411545694054672012-06-05T09:24:45.515-04:002012-06-05T09:24:45.515-04:00Mother Teresa: "Let us make that one point - ...Mother Teresa: "Let us make that one point - that no child will be unwanted, unloved, uncared for, or killed and thrown away. And give until it hurts - with a smile."<br /><br />Every once in a while, I read this speech Mother Teresa gave on abortion -- you got the idea. It is tremendously pro-life just to care for one another.<br /><br />http://www.priestsforlife.org/brochures/mtspeech.html<br /><br />God will bless you.Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00747308009364094199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12633241.post-74018783397331912062012-06-05T08:11:59.724-04:002012-06-05T08:11:59.724-04:00I'll admit to wondering yesterday if one of th...I'll admit to wondering yesterday if one of the Street Urchins was yours, and you just called him that when he was acting like one. :-)<br /><br />I've been tolerating a couple of kids in my neighborhood for the past few years because their mother abandoned them. I figure it's safe here; there are some rules; they're not being ignored or abused (in a normal sibling way) by big brothers. It's not easy, but I think you're right---it's pro-life. Maybe you're the only opportunity for them to see a woman modeling the Marian ideal. They might grow up to remember you as the kind of mom they want their kids to have.Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12072984925282936743noreply@blogger.com