bhamstyle

I now have a beautiful family, a beautiful home, a successful business, a degree, nice cars, 4 big pit bulls, and a dirt bike which I ride with the kids as much as I can! I have a lot to be thankful for. I have worked very hard since I caught my case. I had to lose all my friends from the past and start all over as a new man. I’ve even had to grow up and put my childish behavior behind me. None of my friend can believe that I settled down. They always expect me to be the same dude I used to be. But I don’t want to put off like I’ve turned into the Golden Child, I still make mistakes everyday but I’ve come along way! Last year I received a phone call from my wife’s cousin. She was so upset and angry because her 15 year old son Jamonte’ was becoming more than she could handle. Skipping school and stealing from neighbors. She is single with 4 kids and 4 baby daddies and his father past away when he was 13 yrs old. He is her only child without a father. So I did what I thought was best and I offered that he come stay with me and allow me to teach him discipline and how to become a man. I didn’t know what I was in for. So now we have a baby boy, a 9 year old girl, and a 15 year old stinky boy in our home. And when summer time comes my 9 year old son from Florida comes down to visit. My wife and I are very young, but we act older than our ages. Well at least she does. We look like kids raising kids. But I can see a big change in Jamonte’s attitude from how he listens and follows directions. And he has yet to skip a day or miss a day of school this year. I’m proud of him even though I rarely show it because I don’t want him to feel comfortable where he is at. And it makes me feel good to know that he truly appreciates what I’m doing for him. I recently hurt my back at work and Jamonte’ took good care of me as if I were his real dad. While taking care of him I have ran across a lot of youth in the streets that I have been mentoring. The ones that are serious about life work with me on the weekends, selling clothes and other different jobs that I can find throughout the community to keep them off the streets. We also work out in my gym in my garage every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I’ve even found a few youngsters that enjoy going to church so we all pile up in my Expedition and go to church every Wednesday for bible study. Thursdays we attend quire rehearsal, and Sunday church. I try my best to keep them busy so that the devil won’t have young idle minds that he can use as his playground. The kids give me a lot of respect and they confide in me with there problems. I think they can relate to me in many ways as well as I can relate to them. Usually when you see a brother riding big rims and living in a nice crib at the age of 25 he gotta be selling drugs. That’s the stereotype I get on a daily basis. That’s why these young brothers can relate to me. I come where they come from but I’m one of the few brothers out there trying to promote good in out of our youth. They see that and they appreciate it. There is one young dude around the corner that has seemed to gravitate very close to my family and I. His name is Reggie. He goes to the same school as Jamonte. When I first met him he was selling drugs and hustling. I had him work with me one day and he sold over $300 worth of merchandise in 20 min. He has a very gifted tongue when it comes to business. But his mouth is also his biggest downfall. He kind of reminds me of me when I was younger. But he seems to have a better head on his shoulders. But I have notice that kids these days deal with more pressures in life than my generation had to deal with. Now one day I invited Reggie to go on another job with me at the church. He was excited to make money so he rolled out there with me. I didn’t tell him that I was taking him to the male chorus rehearsal but when he finally figured out what was going on as we waltzed into the choir stand full of men. He was cool with being there; I can tell he kind of enjoyed singing. He informed me that he already attends a church that his grandfather is the pastor of. But he said that he doesn’t like it do to the fact that there are only 10 members and they are all over the age of 40. Every since that one rehearsal he has been calling me every day to see if he can come to church with us again. Well I’m like sure, I’m not about to turn any kid down from receiving the word. Well last Sunday he went to church with us and he joined the church and gave his life to Christ. I was very proud of him. I have also noticed a change in his attitude and I also notice he has been off the block since he has been working and hanging out with me. But I just learned that his mom has a problem with him going to church with us. Not because we’re Baptist, but because she just wants him to attend the church they have been going to. Now my church isn’t huge but we have a nice body size with a ton of youth, some people he can relate to. I mean he is not my son so if mom says that he can’t go than he cant go. I’m from the old school and I believe in what ever mom says to a child that what goes. But I do see his point. I have talked to Reggie’s mother and I kind of understand where she is coming from, but I really don’t. My mom would have been happy to just see me on the church playground let along attending church. I would like to know what comment or suggestions on how to handle this situation with out making it worse and still remaining respectable ?????????////////////

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