What does the future hold?

I just came back from my one-hour-a-week commitment to my little sister who is in the fifth grade in the Big Brother Big Sister program.  Today was especially eye opening.  The school that I'm at is in need of a lot, and the girls that are in our group make my heart hurt. 

They are so beautiful.  Half of them come to our group with hair that looks like a blind person did it for them.  It's worse than a normal bad-hair day.  Their clothes are either too big, too small, really dirty, have holes in them and definately rarely match, making them seem like they're welfare children, which just might be the case.  Sad.

I just think about who these girls will grow up to be.  Will they grow up wanting everything they can get out of life? or will they grow up not expecting much and getting just what they expect?  Will they know they are beautiful, even though they fit the description above?  Will they realize they are smart and worthy of respect and love?

These girls have major issues at fifth grade.  They don't want to do their work, simply because they're not in the mood - at fifth grade.  They bully and manipulate their 'friends' and act like their the victim.  They're in fifth grade. 

It seems like too much is being put on them, but not enough love, tough love, boundaries, quality time, talking to and training. 

I want kids in the future.  I just pray that when I have kids, that from the moment of conception, I realize and know to my core that my life, my time, my wants will have to be put on the back burner, because a life depends on me to not only protect, but to help the tiny person succeed in this world.

Currently Listening The Long Road By Nickelback Should've listened see related

A weird occurance just occurred here in my office.  I gave a female co-worker a compliment, saying that her skin looked really pretty today.  She then said, "So that means that you think I look like crap every other day right?  Thanks for the compliment." 

I was taken back.  I realize that all people aren't used to getting compliments, and let's face it, a lot of people have a low self-esteem, but to come back with that just made me feel weird and/or attacked for being positive.  I told her that if my compliments make her feel uncomfortable, then I will stop giving them to her. 

Isn't it just like the enemy to turn a compliment into a put down?  No wonder some things and some people are how they are.