What Would You Do? Be Hard or Be Kind?

Poppy9

My OH dealt with an elderly gentleman of no fixed abode one winter. It was absolutely freezing and they couldn't get him to go to a shelter. OH noticed that the sole was flapping on his boot so asked him what size shoes he was. When OH finished work he came home and dug out a pair of decent shoes. I made a flask of coffee and some sandwiches for him. OH took them down to him and he inspected the shoes closely (they were immaculate leather shoes with leather soles that OH had worn about a dozen times) before accepting them A local resident then appeared with fish and chips for him so he kept the sarnies & coffee till later. Apparently he was being very spoilt by local residents as they were concerned for him given his age and the weather so he had no inclination to move on. Eventually he agreed to let Social Services find him a place near his home town.

tesuhoha

Poppy9 wrote: »

My OH dealt with an elderly gentleman of no fixed abode one winter. It was absolutely freezing and they couldn't get him to go to a shelter. OH noticed that the sole was flapping on his boot so asked him what size shoes he was. When OH finished work he came home and dug out a pair of decent shoes. I made a flask of coffee and some sandwiches for him. OH took them down to him and he inspected the shoes closely (they were immaculate leather shoes with leather soles that OH had worn about a dozen times) before accepting them A local resident then appeared with fish and chips for him so he kept the sarnies & coffee till later. Apparently he was being very spoilt by local residents as they were concerned for him given his age and the weather so he had no inclination to move on. Eventually he agreed to let Social Services find him a place near his home town.

That was reallly nice of your OH. Sometimes though it is hard to give. Not because you dont want to but because you dont want people to feel as if you think they are charity cases. I think that I could have given more to this lad but I have held back as I dont want him to feel awkward.

In_Search_Of_Me

tesuhoha wrote: »

I think Snaggles just meant that it was funny that I said everyone was caring and then that very uncaring insensitive reply came just before as I had posted just after them.

I realised just after I posted & edited my post accordingly!

In_Search_Of_Me

Snaggles wrote: »

Yes, sorry In Search Of Me, I certainly didn't mean the post itself was funny.....sorry if it sounded that way.

I know, I realised after & edited my post! Sorry didnt mean to go off on one but I deal with these kids daily & they have to cope with so much that it makes my blood boil when people just make out that they are all drug taking layabouts...

consultant31

Perhaps a way of giving more (if you can afford it) would be to buy decent bits and bobs from charity shops and pass them on as though they were your son's outgrown/unwanted things.

As everyone else has said, you sound like a loving, caring family :A

tesuhoha

In_Search_Of_Me wrote: »

I know, I realised after & edited my post! Sorry didnt mean to go off on one but I deal with these kids daily & they have to cope with so much that it makes my blood boil when people just make out that they are all drug taking layabouts...

I dont think there are many things sadder than a young person without a family.

Sola

tesuhoha wrote: »

I dont think there are many things sadder than a young person without a family.

An old person without anyone is right up there for me.

bringmeshoes

I was made homeless when i was 19 by my then stepdad (chucked me out because i didnt want to leave uni, ironic being as i had to leave uni after this anyway) there's nothing worse than feeling that there is nobody out there that cares about you, especially your own family. It sounds as though this lad has a good friend in your son and you should be proud of how you have brought your son up, especially in an age where young people seem to get such a bad press in the news