Sandy,

I am going to tell you about my little brother. I want you to understand it's just my family's experience and maybe won't apply to your son, but maybe it will.

He got locked up in juvi, just for weekends, when he was like 17 for failing to obey the rules of an agreement he made with a judge. My mom had told the courts that he wasn't attending school (that was part of the agreement he violated). She didn't know any other way to get him off the destructive path he was on, and she was worried sick about him. She went to see him at juvi and he was mad at her. He told her he was going to kill himself. She then made him even angrier. She told the officers at juvi that he was suicidal and they put him on a suicide watch. He didn't get to leave juvi when he was supposed to, and he was constantly monitored. He was so angry with my mom then. He cried and told her she hated him, and it broke her heart. Then he wouldn't speak to her. After he got out, he was still mad at her, but he spoke to her again.

It wasn't until like a year later that he broke down crying again and told her that he knew she did it because she loved him, and he was glad she saved his life.

He loves her so much and he appreciates her violating his confidence, because if she hadn't, he might not have lived to be angry with her. My brother is not angry anymore, and he's alive.

Angela