That's good to know. I suspect that despite JT's overconfident image, he would hate being in jail for any length of time. If it does happen again, he may be more likely to learn from his mistakes.
Your story about your adopted daughter is amazing. The childhood behavior you described conveys the unbelievably challenging attachment issues so many adoptive children exhibit. Her turnaround is remarkable, and as an adoptive mom, I will keep it close to my heart because it does give me hope.
Not judging, now that is a challenge. I think I'm judging JT like crazy. I am so disappointed in him! He has wasted so many opportunities, not to mention his abilities. I think he is too young to realize that these opportunities he throws away may never present themselves again. I also feel upset that he disrespects us every chance he gets.
My husband is completely fed up with JT and wants nothing at all to do with him unless and until he straightens out his life. husband finds JT to be the biggest jerk ever, and I can't argue with that because he is a jerk. Who wants to be around a jerk? I feel guilty for these thoughts about our own son. But after all of these years of going through this, trying so hard to be the parents he needed, we are depleted, beaten down, and weary. We have neglected caring for ourselves and our own needs.
Right now, I think I need a break from JT and his world. Maybe in a month or two I will feel up to setting up a short in-person visit somewhere. I have not really wanted to see him at all because every time I do, it takes me a long while to recover. He is really antagonistic and unlikeable, especially if he doesn't get what he wants. The comments here have led me to reconsider, but with mindfulness about boundaries. I think I can do that. I know my husband is not ready at this time, but he won't object to my wanting to see JT. We also need to be very careful about protecting Bubby, our younger boy, whom is doing pretty well overall with his Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
