[imcarthur]

In 1990, I inherited a 6 yr old boy, which complimented the 2 that I had (which were only occasional visitors).

The inherited one was labeled a ‘difficult’ child. He trashed a principal’s office at 7. He was thrown out of public school shortly thereafter for biting a teacher. A ‘lock down' type of school & shrinks & psychologists followed. And many, many incidents with family & friends.

He turned into the classic ‘teenager from hell’ between 13 & 19. Tossed from a high school, & arrested for drugs & stuff etc. Another school for rebellious kids & finally, a high school that he barely attended & barely passed. He cut all ties to his natural father at 15.

He got through school eventually & he went through college with a minimum of effort expended on his part in a very basic course. He could still be called a ‘difficult child’ but we all learned to cope. He is also very intelligent.

He is now 22, working diligently & he just married a great girl in China. He hasn’t left home yet & probably won’t until he imports her & they set up home together in the coming months.

It is actually a long sordid story, of course, but best not detailed here. PM me if you need more of the blow-by-blow. All in all, it tested me as a parent & as an adult & it was the biggest challenge I have ever faced in my life. We never gave up on him & he is turning out OK.

Ian