Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/parents-the-second-time-around/5016338/
The twin boys, now 5, have never known their mother; she died shortly after their birth. Since then, the boys have lived with their father and his mother. Suddenly, their dad committed suicide, leaving the boys’ grandmother withsole responsibility for their care.
At The Right Place, a Salvation Army operated school readiness center in Hartford, Connecticut, the teachers know right away that something is wrong. The boys seem resentful of everyone, even other children. At naptime, one of the twins says, “Nobody likes me. I hate this world, and I want to die.”
Talhaht Mannan, director of The Right Place, knows that this is a tough situation, but, she says, “I already have a plan for this grandmother.” Mannan knows a great deal about her: she doesn’t have a job, a high school diploma, or a family support system. And she’s overwhelmed by her new responsibility.
Before he died, the woman’s son wasn’t a very reliable parent; he was often out of the picture. But when his mother needed a break, she could call on him and say, “Take your sons and go.” No more.
“Now she has nobody to turn to,” Mannan says. But she’s not ready to give her grandchildren up to ...