My heart ached for my daughter after I realized the impact abandonment had on her
life. She met a young man while volunteering at camp this summer. He was from a conservative family that believe
in courtship, not dating. After the summer camps were over they did a couple of group activities together. The
young man even arranged for us to attend a baseball game along with his family. All his younger siblings seem to
love my daughter. Then several weeks later he told her his parents did not approve of him calling her. Nevertheless he
continued calling her from the home of various friends.
I could sense that her mood had changed. She told him if his parents did not
want him to call, he should not call. I was proud that she was able to stand her ground for what was right.
During the time that we were at the couples retreat, she went to a camp.
The 'boy friend' was there also. She chose to hardly bid him the time of day and completely ignored him the entire weekend.
I asked her if she was ok with him being there. She said she was but that it was just very difficult
so she chose to have fun instead.
I told her she did the right thing but in my heart it bothered me that she could discard a friendship
so easily. A short time after I realized that who can abandon their feelings more easily than an abandon child?
It also confirm how important it is for me to be consistent. For me as her forever mother to say, I will always be here
for you.
