>>>Dragan,
>>>
>>>Sorry for your loss. But I am wondering, would you write the same message if the two kids were white? Would you stop giving to white charities if the kids were white? You see what I am saying?
>>
>>It's that I feel betrayed, I guess. We wanted to be part of the neighborhood, not just a family of foreigners, and this is putting a barricade between us in a way. This is probably my bubble bursting.
>
>Welcome to the real world. I hate to write it, but I have seen neighbors steal from neighbors and still treat them as friends (the youth, not the adults). The youth have little respect these days. I am not referring to all youth of course, but it is more common than ever before.
>
>A year or so ago, one of my daughter's friends spent the weekend with us and after she left, about 5 of my daughter's shirts and numerous jewelry items were missing, including some of mine. I went to the parent's house and suggested thatwhen she packed up, she accidentally grabbed some of Haley's and my stuff. Her mother found the items and returned them and laughed it off. Her daughter is known for stealing so it was not a surprise. I think her mother has given up.

I guess so if she laughed it off. I am not what would be called a law and order parent but there are some things no responsible parent should let go. It sounds like the mom has essentially given her daughter permission to steal, because it's too much trouble to stop her. There is always a way. Some aren't pleasant for anyone but there is always a way.