Do you know where your children are?

A friend was telling me about a story in the news of two 15 year old boys who were stabbed while walking around late at night. The first thing she said was, "Why were they allowed to walk around at night?" My thoughts exactly. Where were these boy's parents keeping them home and safe? Why were they allowed to roam the streets late at night (the attack happened around 10:30pm)? Why did their parents not know or care where they were?
The same thing happened to a cousin of mine. He was walking around late at night and was attacked by someone with a knife. Left him hospitalised and fighting for his life. Where was his mum when this happened? She was too busy being an alcoholic, dating a drug user, and didn't much care for making sure her son was home safe. Hell! He was a drug user by the time he was in his teens, has since been in and out of jail with a string of felonies under his belt. His alcohol and drug abuse has been so bad that he's left with a speech impediment and permanent brain damage.

All because his mum had an abusive and traumatic upbringing and couldn't bring herself to be firm with her son or be a good roll model. Too busy trying to drown out her sorrows in substance abuse.

Don't get me wrong. I understand traumatic upbringings. I understand the damage they do. I understand the damage cuts deep and is a hard wound to heal. I just wish those who had that type of upbringing would think twice before bringing children into the world they're not capable of caring for. My cousin's life is ruined now because his mum failed to discipline him, control him and teach him right from wrong. As a child he was both spoiled and neglected. A tragic combination with tragic consequences.

It's even more tragic that there was no body to step in and help my cousin or his mum. Even more tragic that had there been an offer for others to take him under their wing he'd have said no because children love their parents and don't want to be apart from them even when they're bad parents. She'd have said no for the same reasons.

Are you one of those parents? Do you know where your children are? Are they at home safe in your care or are they out on the streets because you either don't care enough about them to enforce curfew, or are such a rotten parent they need to escape you?