But, Dave O, we all fail them. There are no do-overs, the best we can hope for sometimes is understanding and forgiveness.

A friend of mine has two sons. The older one, now 30, is fine. The younger one, 28, is in terrible shape, mentally and in prospects. He is currently hooked on meth but he started out as a 'problem child' filled with inexplicable hate and rebellions and lack of . His parents cajoled, punished, sought therapy and intervention from the authorities. He still ended up on the street and in frequent trouble with the law.

Now, my friend says, they know they failed the boy in so many ways; they simply did not know what he was going through.

My parents were 48 and 50 when they adopted two little girls, 17 and 6 months respectively. It is true that the girls' parents were significantly older than those of their peers but they also had numerous older brothers and sisters who rallied 'round.

I do agree with you, Dave O, that life today for the young'uns is immeasureably more difficult than it used to be.

On the other hand, that is the identical thing my parents told me when I was young.