You are worthy of a better life!

Yesterday I sat in on a case conference with my son, probation officer, program director of detention centre, social worker and admissions director of Portage. This was one of the proudest moments of my life as a mother, and possibly the most life altering moments for my son. 

Yesterday my son heard, for the first time in years, others saying what I have been saying all along, things that he doesn't believe, or hasn't believed in many years; You ARE enough, you ARE intelligent, YOU are strong enough and you CAN do this, we are PROUD of the changes we see. These are words I say often, but because I am his mother, he doesn't really always believe them to be true. But.....when a probation officer who he hears saying " what you are doing and the changes you have made is what all of us hear today work for every day, you should be proud, this is a proud moment for all of us here." Those words hold power, they can hold the power to help someone believe that they are worthy of a better life, that they are capable of making change that will bring that better life and not only is it possible but others believe it WILL happen! 

Yesterday as I sat and heard these words, and the social worker tell him how intelligent he is, and why, I saw him smile, bow his head in slight embarrasment but I saw a glimmer of pride, and of hope. Maybe hearing these words he will start to believe it too!