There was a lady freaking the fuck and SCREANMING outside. so i called my neighbor and she was just coming home it was Lawn Kid, I ean everything is just terrible. I gave him stuff like clothes and shoes instead of money.I need to get this kid safe.
I mean I want to harbor him… But what are we going to do with This child.?
Hi Tamara. I know you have not been feeling well. I know as women, we always have the desire to try and fix the situation and save the person. I would encourage you to take the much needed time for yourself and to help from afar. Wishing you wellness and help. Your website has always been there to provide humor, but sometimes we need to take the time to heal ourselves.
Lisa,
Beautifully well said. Tamara provides us so much fun, I hope she will feel that herself.
On no, lawn kid? ??
Can you call the police to do a welfare check? It’s anonymous.
Is there a Covenant House in Atlanta? They would take him and keep him safe.
Why are we investigated and grilled by the FBI and CIA before adopting a rescue fur lover but any idiot can have kids? TT, as above… take care of you.
Wait! Was Lawn Kid the “screaming lady” Lawn Kid or your neighbor lady? I feel for Lawn Kid, but please be careful.
You’ve tried to help him, but he might need some intervention by professionals. This quarantine has been tough on most of us, but considering his home (or homeless?) life, it must be devastating for him. January 20 can’t come soon enough.
I Googled. There is a Covenant House in Atlanta.
T – I was lucky enough to go to the Oprah tour 5 years ago (6?) Elizabeth Gilbert spoke. Someone asked a question about how the religions usually have a common thread about loving one another; and what do you do when being with that person does you harm, etc.
Liz said that she asked a similar question to a religious person (I can’t remember if she said Buddhist or Hindu or what – but think Buddhist monk).
We are compelled to love one another; but some people are meant for us to love them from a distance.
That really struck home for me at the time, and I started crying.
I’m also going to say, we have to also love ourselves a bit too. A wise professor used the comparison of rechargeable batteries. (remember when you couldn’t let them drain completely because it would be bad for them and eventually ruin them? In the early 90s? Necessary for this analogy.
I should also mention I didn’t follow his advice and why I am not teaching.
He said that a teacher that gave “110%” all the time was doomed to fail. (He asked us the question of how much we should give to our classroom, and someone said “110%!”) Even if you gave of yourself 100% of the time, eventually, quickly, you would be one of those rechargeable batteries that were burned out. One must leave a bit for yourself, so that you have SOMETHING to recharge.
You have given a boost to Lawn Boy. If he was the one screaming, etc. then it is time to step back as clearly it is not within your bandwidth to solve his issues. There is NO SHAME in that.
Sometimes people are given opportunities, and they don’t take them for whatever reasons. My folks have helped young people over the years – the last one? Got pissy when they had boundaries (he’s lucky I wasn’t in the room when he essentially told my mom to fuck off. He would have had a middle aged fat lady taking his ass out.)
Hugs, friend.
Excellent, Erica!
Erica, what an awesome post. Sometimes you want to help, but it can be best to step away. Tamara gave a lot of help and love to lawn boy, and he then took and took from her. I was happy that he had one person looking after him, but reality is different.
Well said Erica !
There comes a time when you (and me, have been in similar situations) to realize that this may be beyond your scope, and this may be something for another person, a professional to handle this situation. We, as individuals, and helpers, do not have the capacity to fix everything. You have a big heart, this is a huge undertaking, please understand that.
TT I’ve been struggling too. Very dark. I’m headed to the pool tho’ today. (I believe in bleach/chlorine lol). I signed up for the lane that’s cut in half cuz it’s less pressure on me to be “perfect”, if that makes sense. 45 minutes of movement is all I can take anyway, lol.
Hope I’ve inspired you into even taking a short swim or walk arounnd your yard or neighborhood. When I can force myself to do these things, it’s amazing the mental change in me. Forget the Lawn Kid for now. You. Do. You!
So to be a bit clearer, it was pretty frightening. A woman was screaming bloody murder right outside my house so I called my neighbor to check on her. She was just pulling into the driveway. She told me it was lawn kid and some “older woman.” The woman was the one screaming. I didn’t see any of it but it sounded AWFUL. I had not seen Lawn Kid and weeks and thought maybe he had moved to another neighborhood where he has family. I was shocked that he was involved in whatever the hell that was. It’s a good way to get shot in this neighborhood.
Tamara, be very careful. My father took to helping a young homeless man.Long story short, my left town to visit his brother out of state. While my father was visiting his brother the young man broke in my father house and robbed my father of several belongings. It really hurt my father deeply that he was betrayed on that level. Please be safe and careful.
I get it. It has gotten out of hand. But he is just a kid and I still have a fucking $60 pair of Levis for him. I don’t even have a pair of Levis like that. So I hope I can make it a farewell Christmas present…. but No if he has women screaming at him.
Not screaming like they were having a fight screaming. Screaming like she was being murdered screaming. Though the neighbor says they were never in close contact.
A person I know has been struggling very hard with issues. Getting the help that they need has been impossible for them to do on their own. I had to take matters into my own hands yesterday. Invited the sick person on an adventure. I packed like I was going on a trip. And then I drove straight to the therapist’s office. Well maybe not straight as I stopped for snacks.
It did not stop there. They would not go in. So I did. I had to spend an hour with a very good therapist named Natasha discussing whether or not I am homicidal or not and why I don’t feel safe. It turns out “not.” Then a small miracle happened. The person who needed help more than I do went in and had their own appointment.
I declined a “medication” appointment. But I am going to see Natasha again next Tuesday. My insurance covers 4 sessions and then more if needed. I will keep you guys updated. Natasha told me that she has seen it all but I really want to impress her a little and not make our sessions boring. We both agreed that “homicidal” was a little over-the-top, but it was a good opener.
My point? There is help guys. It may seem impossible to get there, but please do not give up. Especially YOU TAMARA. (sorry for yelling). I may be a “B” and a troll, but I am worth it we ALL are.
This post crushed me – I read it & read again.
In the last 2 yrs, lost my BF to cancer, mother in law, grandma & husband. A wave of grief, that suffocates me every day.
My cousin, dropped dead of a heat attack 4 weeks ago, much like my husband. I do not have a sister – but his wife and I for 30 yrs have treated as such. She was unable to burry him in NC – so cremated. Last night we both talked about wishing COVID/cancer….something to bring us back to our husbands. It’s not healthy, me 51 – her 59 – but I know better.
But that’s a reality of grief…..go say it, go accept help.
You have humor, ‘good opener’ – I wish you well..xo,
Sorry for blogging TT!