Teresa, thank you for your eloquent post!  And thanks to everyone who
chimed in on the discussion so respectfully and tactfully...this is a
loaded topic.  There are numerous tragedies interwoven in the issues
Teresa, and all of us, have addressed here.  How sad that NO ONE ever
questioned the teen mother about her living situation, and that the
teen herself felt unable to open up and speak out about the hardships
she was facing.  How sad that to ask for help is so often thought of as
weakness or a character flaw (I am thinking of one pop-psych radio
personality who regularly reams people who call her honestly searching
for help).  How sad that many people seem to believe that working hard
somehow detracts from what is achieved, and that an effortless life is
the ultimate goal (when in fact it is a complete myth).

There are no easy solutions to the epidemic of turning away from
individual responsibility.  I do feel that, from taking responsibility
for ourselves, we learn how to be responsible for our culture, our
countries, and our world.  Where is the chain being weakened?  Working
in lactation has brought a lot of issues into sharp focus for me; this
is one of them.

Thanks again to all who joined in...I think all of you are amazing!
Carole
who is now going to set aside her angst and enjoy her daughter's 6th
birthday at the beach!


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