I HAD to post this piece that my son wrote last night!

[MarianJack]

As many of you know, my family and I have been homeless since the end of May. We have it better than most in our situation. We're living in a nice transitional apartment now (albeit in a truly crappy neighborhood), I still have my job and my wife started her new job this week and we're likely to get into a place of our own soon, after we work out a few kinks.

I will be writing about all of the wonderful things that have happened and are happening when a few more details are worked out. The DU community has been WAY too supportive for me to not let everyone know when and how the next chapter begins. I MUST post this however.

I have, on many occasions, written here about what a great kid we have. Although we kept many of the ugly things from him, he's a smart boy (according to his 3rd grade standardized testing, VERY smart). He knows we've been in a rough patch from his own observations and from statements made to him by people who should have known better than to speak to or in front of him.

Last night when I got home from work, I found this on the table. He wrote it with no help. I give you my word that the thoughts and feelings are ENTIRELY HIS. The only thing I've changed is the correction of a very few mis-spellings.

"Family is someone we care about. Someone that doesn't care about our race. We the children love our parents and respect them. We are rich because of food, shelter, entertainment and don't forget love. We the children are going to make a difference when we become grown men and ladies. We will respect our husbands and wives. We will protect them with our lives and comfort them in hard times.

Signed, Jonathan. Make a difference"

No matter how much my wife and I see in this little 9 year old boy, he continues to AMAZE us.

Thanks for reading. I'll answer any who share their thoughts tonight or tomorrow. Right now I have to wipe the tears off of my keyboard and go to work.

PEACE!

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Just having a wonderful, insightful son by itself makes you "rich".

[Hepburn]

2. KNR....n/t

[PassingFair]

3. With all the home-buying shows on TV...we need a "Foreclosure" show that documents the trials ....

of real Americans going through bankruptcy and
foreclosure, how they got there and where they're
going.

Especially stories like yours, that show what
REAL values are.

I hope your ship gets righted quickly.

:hug:

You sound like great parents and you've
raised a great kid.

[FirstLight]

6. +1000!

we should start a campaign to email HGTV and get them to change their angle...

fewer people are "House Hunters" looking at $500K properties or retirement homes in maui,
it may not be as glamorous...but it would be REAL. and personally, continuting with the programming as if everything is still okay for the rest of us is starting to get on the nerves...

[badgerpup]

4. K & R

Something in my eyes here...

:kick:

[MindandSoul]

5. Lucky parents,

Thank you for sharing this awesome writing with us! You son is obviously exceptional, both intellectually for his age and morally for ANY age!!!
He is the type of child that will lead the way to heal this country and this world.
But, although I give him a lot of credit for being so smart, sensitive, and deep for his age, I credit you, his parents, for supporting him in becoming such a special boy.
Thank you for doing a great job being a parent.
And good luck in your "come back" from the tough time you had to go through! It sounds like, in spite of the difficulties, your family was able to hang on to what is really important: your love, integrity, and hope for the future.
Job well done!

[FirstLight]

7. Beautiful

I tell ya, these kids! (mine are 6 & 7 and 17 and every day surprise me like that too!)

May your hardships be soon behind you. No matter what, I have a feeling that your son will be a beacon to many in the years to come.
Awesome!
this is the stuff Hope is made of...

[Arugula Latte]

8. Awww. Give him a hug for us.

:hug:

(I've got a nine-year-old, too. She is something else!)

[felinetta]

9. What sweet kid. I see humanity in him. Really touching.