Lilibet
Southern Oregon
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2013
- Messages
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I have to disagree that they will likely live fairly normal lives. Especially the oldest victims. I’m the same age as the oldest, give or take, and I can’t fathom only being a free human for the first time at this age. The things I experienced in high school through my late 20s shaped me as a person, and I think this is true for many people. The 17 year old didn’t know how to pronounce Texas. They have had either very limited or zero socialization with peers their own age outside of family. I have a strong feeling this is going to be a long, uphill battle for them. Even the most resilient human in the world would have a very tough time living a “normal” life after what these victims have been through. Two of them can’t bear children due to the abuse they suffered.
I do agree that it is not safe or wise for them to be without guidance right now. While I really hope I am wrong, I just don’t know if some of them will ever live “normal” lives.
I agree that their experience will have stunted their development in many ways and their lives will not be “normal” in the sense we think of it. It will be a very long, uphill battle.
But the original question about a “normal life” had to do with whether being a ward of the state would prevent them from going out in public and living normal lives. Their normal is not our normal but being a Ward of the state will not hold them back from their goals and aspirations, so they will be helped to achieve whatever their individual level of normal is. They will be helped to experience normal life, whether it’s learning to do laundry, shop for groceries, make and keep appointments, order a meal in a restaurant, attend school, etc. Some will handle these things better than others.
Despite their living conditions, the oldest and the 17 year old wrote beautiful songs. The oldest son had the smarts to attend college. So there is hope for some of them, and being a Ward of the State will help them achieve whatever “normality” they can.