October 1, 2024

Sometimes when young people act out, we as adults are quick to label them as “problem children” or “bad kids.” But in my experience, that characterization isn’t fair. There is almost always a reason for a young person’s poor behavior. And often that reason is that they are coping with some kind of trauma. This is, sadly, the case with many of the boys and girls who come to Mercy Home—kids like Jordyn. 

Jordyn just couldn’t seem to get along with her mother. They barely agreed on anything. And though their relationship had always been difficult, as Jordyn got older, it only seemed to deteriorate more. 

Jordyn’s father was never a source of stability in her life either. Her parents split up when she was very young. Sometimes her dad was very interested in being a part of her life, and sometimes months would go by when she didn’t hear from him at all. Jordyn was desperate for her father’s approval and involvement in her life. She blamed her mom for her father’s absence in her life. As a result, she began to defy her mother in every way she could think of. 

Before long, she was hanging out with the wrong crowd of kids, skipping school, and staying out later than her mother allowed. Her mom tried to talk to her and guide her back to a better path, but Jordyn refused to listen. 

Things hit an all-time low when Jordyn’s father announced that he would be moving out of state and wasn’t sure when he would be back to see Jordyn. She was devastated. After years of doing everything she could think of to get his attention, it felt like it was all for nothing. She thought that if only her parents stayed together, she wouldn’t be in this position at all. 

Jordyn’s mother was at a loss with how to deal with her daughter’s defiant behavior and depression. She turned to her parish priest, who recommended Mercy Home. He told Jordyn’s mother that it would be a structured and therapeutic environment that would help Jordyn get back on track. 

At first, Jordyn didn’t like the idea of leaving her home and neighborhood. But as she thought more about it, she decided that it was worth a try. She agreed to visit our Home and learn more. After a tour of the campus and meeting some of the Mercy Home coworkers, Jordyn decided she wanted to move in. Of course, it was after she moved in that the real work started. 

It took a while for Jordyn to adjust to life at our Home. She hadn’t followed her mother’s rules in so long that she forgot what it was like to follow rules at all. She had to get used to a strict schedule with time allotted for chores and studying. It wasn’t easy, but she quickly adapted. 

Since moving in, Jordyn stopped skipping school and has been working diligently with her tutor to improve her grades. She also has been working hard with her therapist to address her anger with her parents—and her relationship with her mother has been steadily improving. We are incredibly proud of her progress and know we can expect great things from her in the future! 

I am truly grateful to Partners in Prayer like you for allowing us to help hurting young people like Jordyn. Your support is life changing. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your friendship to our kids. 

Please note: Because we care deeply about protecting our children’s privacy, the names and certain identifying details in this story have been changed.