This article was inspired justjohns post about a girl who went missing in Jamaica-
http://justjohn.joeuser.com/index.asp?AID=77658
When two people get together and have a child, whether it is planned or not, they undertake the biggest challenge of their life. They become responsible for a human being. That child will forever be their little boy or little girl. A 6 foot 40 year old man will still be his mothers little boy. I know that my mother will be forever wanting to know everything that goes on in my life and I respect her for that.
In justjohn’s article its all too easy for us to set the blame… just say lets blame the parents, lets blame the girl, lets blame society for lowering standards, but in the face of reality we need to understand that our view of how our children should be brought up is unique. No two people will agree on how to raise a child. Hell, even me and my partner disagree on issues.
What everybody will agree on however is that we should do our very best.
Do our best to provide a safe and comfortable home. Do our best to provide our children with a good moral standing. Do our best to guide our children through the minefields of modern life.
Let us not be so quick to judge the actions of others in circumstances that are alien to us. Of course hindsight is possibly the most wonderful tool, but none of us will ever be able to raise our hands and honestly say "Yes, I raised my children perfectly"
The biggest reward in life must be the knowledge that you have raised a healthy, law abiding, educated family of good moral standing and that you are proud of every individual in that family.