children of the corn

LINK: children of the corn

I’d like to preface, I’ve never seen the movie, but sometimes kids can be real assholes.

I’m in dire need of advice and hoping that the internet will do its thing. I’d really appreciate suggestions or recommendations.

Grant is 12 years old and a very big kid for his age. His mom is his only parent and she recently lost her job, making things even tougher at home.

Grant is on the spectrum (autism) and has ADHD. I’ve never met him myself, but Maggie told me that he already wears men’s sizes—2x or 3x in shirts and about size 40 in pants. On top of everything else, the kids at his school are incredibly diabolical. They whisper horrible things in his ears, telling him that he should unalive himself and call him the n-word and “retard”. The child is just a child and he has mental health issues as well and for them to do this to him is truly heartbreaking. He’s really trying not to react but it’s taking a toll on him. His mom has reached out to the school multiple times about the bullying but nothing has been done about this.

To make matters worse, someone at the school reported them to child welfare because Grant occasionally comes to school looking disheveled and smelly. His mom is terrified that someone is trying to have her child taken away from her because she’s been complaining to the school about her son’s treatment from his peers.

From what Maggie has told me, the mother is doing her best under these difficult times. Grant is neurodivergent and she lets him wash his own clothes otherwise sometimes that leads to him having meltdowns. She’s actively looking for employment but with inflation and the unemployment rate rising, she hasn’t been successful at the moment. At one point, Grant went to the Girls and Boys Club and they gave him a t-shirt, but it was so smol on him that it basically looked like a crop top. Every time he moved, the shirt would ride up and expose his stomach.

Even though I don’t know Grant or his mother, I want to help if I can. The tricky part is that his mom is very proud and doesn’t want to take charity. She won’t accept money. But Maggie said she would likely accept hand-me-downs or gently used clothes.

So I’m trying to figure out the best way to approach this. Would it be better to buy some new clothes or would thrift store items be okay? He’s only 12 so I know he’ll probably keep growing so I don’t want to overdo it in one size either.

I did think about getting them food but I don’t know what they like or if they have allergies. The most his mom will accept from Maggie right now are things like cup noodles that Maggie says she had “extra.”

So I guess I’m asking… what are some thoughtful things I could give this small fam that wouldn’t embarrass his mom or make her feel like it’s charity? And where is the best place to get these items?


Discover more from just rojie

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

36 responses to “children of the corn”

  1. Hazel Avatar

    I think clothes from thrift stores will do best, in my opinion. And just try some food. If she accepts, I think you can add it later on. Thanks for being so kind, Rojie. Prayers for Grant and his mom.

    1. justrojie Avatar

      thanks for your input, Hazel!

      1. Hazel Avatar

        My pleasure, Rojie

  2. CJ Antichow Avatar
    CJ Antichow

    I’m not sure about the food, that’s a bit more tricky especially if mom is very proud and won’t take donations but you could just have Maggie give them a bag of groceries and say that like you were going on vacation and needed to clean out stuff that needed to get eaten? As for clothes, again maybe a little white lie? Just get some together and say that a friend was cleaning out a closet and had them ready to give away and they just happen to fit him. Idk if this helps Rojie…it is tricky.

    1. justrojie Avatar

      thanks CJ, those are great ideas!!

  3. Jesse Pallante Avatar

    I think that would be nice of you to buy some clothes for the child, maybe thrift shop the clothes. I think it would be all right. As far as those children messing with him. I think the mother has to get involved and talk to the teacher and tell him/her what is going on. The teacher needs to put a stop to the bullying or else she will have to talk to the principal. There is no excuse for that kind of behavior. It is horrible. I think you can talk to the mom about what to do about talking to the teacher.

    1. justrojie Avatar

      i’ll have to hit up some shops and see what they’ve got! yeah i agree with you about the school situation

    2. mosckerr Avatar

      Approaching the climax of the US-Israel war against Shiite fanatics ruling Iran.

      Venezuelan compares to Kharg Island. Just as the Cuban house of cards collapsed with the US capture of the Venezuelan oil fields so too China’s house of cards will collapse after US marines capture and occupy Kharg Island. Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export terminal, critical for the country’s economy. It handles a significant portion of Iran’s oil exports, making it central to both domestic revenue and international trade partnerships. Approximately 90% of the oil refined and sold by Iran is exported to China through Kharg Island.

      This relationship underscores China’s role as a major player in the Iranian oil market, providing Iran with a vital economic lifeline amid sanctions and trade restrictions imposed by the West. Just as Communist Castro Cuba will most likely become a US protectorate territory like Puerto Rico. In similar fashion should US Marines capture Kharg Island, this will terminate the US/Israeli War against Iran.

      Iranians themselves must choose their own government. But loss of Kharg Island will cripple the Iranian economy like as Cubans experienced when Us Troops captured the President Maduro of Venezuela in one day. The collapse of Venezuela’s anti-US government directly impacted the economy of Cuba. Just as the collapse of the Shiite fanatic government of Iran will directly impact the economy of China.

      1. justrojie Avatar

        either way, it’s a shit show

        1. mosckerr Avatar

          why? Kennedy attempted to rule Cuba back in 1962.

          1. justrojie Avatar

            And then he died

  4. Jesse Pallante Avatar

    Cool I hope it all works out. That is a sad situation.

    1. justrojie Avatar

      yeah, it’s pretty devastating i imagine for that fam :<

  5. Not all who wander are lost Avatar
    Not all who wander are lost

    Goodwill has do much good stuff. Bless you flor trying to help

    1. justrojie Avatar

      thank you!!

  6. Violet Lentz Avatar

    Try gift cards. One for groceries and maybe one to a local thrift shop?

    1. justrojie Avatar

      i thought about that but i wasn’t sure how i would give it to her without her being embarrassed. not sure how what i would say…

  7. utahan15 Avatar

    get him the fuck outta there now. cos it s kill or be killed and the fuzz dont do nothin til ya dead. i dont like the term nuero divergent. that s incredible caca.. he s a freak . so am i do it now!

    1. justrojie Avatar

      well, i don’t want people to die just because they’re different.

      1. utahan15 Avatar

        that s not the point. a freak is never welcomed and today s youth is cruel beyond belief. they were mean in my time too but we just fought with fists now they fucking waste your ass. truth that

      2. utahan15 Avatar

        joe friday loves hot dogs and good hockey teams! roger one nine pffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffft!

  8. ibarynt Avatar

    I think clothes are a great idea, especially non branded ones. What about gift cards so she can pick out whatever they need herself. She might lose her son, I hope she rethinks that pride and accept genuine help from well meaning people. Hopefully the school also does something about her complaints and bullying.

    1. justrojie Avatar

      idk if the schools will do anything, they don’t have many minorities at this school. also, idk how i would present the gift cards to someone who doesn’t want charity…

      1. ibarynt Avatar

        The schools will never learn from all the tragedies either. Ooh gift card is seen as charity.

        1. justrojie Avatar

          Yeah, I can see why a lot of people homeschool their children

  9. Sambuca (✿◠‿◠) Avatar

    Be careful when buying thrift store stuff. Stick the clothes in the dryer to kill any bedbugs, cos that’s the last thing you need. I second both Hazel and CJ’s opinions. Buy food, and clothes, but …. idk, tbh? It is, like CJ said, very tricky!!! Good luck!!!

    1. justrojie Avatar

      yeah idk what the kid likes to eat so idk about food? also thanks for the tip, i’ll def wash the clothes beforehand.

  10. Michael Williams Avatar

    oh no, what a tough situation. i remember when I was in a similar financial spot the most helpful things were always simple t-shirts in different colors and socks. nowadays, they even have elastic waistband joggers tapered and textured in denim and khaki so that’s a consideration. other than that, perhaps gift cards can help to alleviate the understandable social pressure associated with charity. good luck with this. Mike

    1. justrojie Avatar

      thanks Mike! i’m def gonna try to go for the t-shirts in different colors and socks. i may have to ask maggie for a pic of the child to see if the elastic joggers would look okay. as for the giftcard, not sure how i would present it without it feeling like it is due to her situation.

  11. Nicholas K F Matte Avatar

    Ya, may I suggest you buy Grant a couple bags of clothes, some gluten free noodles and bottles of “gravy”, and maybe some ginger ale? I think he’d love that, myself.
    All the best to Grant and his mother!

    1. justrojie Avatar

      thanks Nico! i’ll have to see what types of foods he likes and i’m def gonna try to get him a bag of clothes

  12. ianmdudley Avatar

    One of the reasons we pulled the Kiddos out of the public school system is that one was being bullied and the teacher and school would do nothing about it. “Let’s talk it out” doesn’t work with 3rd graders and assumed some culpability lay with the Kiddo. But I’m guessing that’s not an option here.

    As for the too proud to accept help thing, I’m gonna take a hard line here. She has a kid, she needs to get over it.

    I speak from experience. I was laid off while the Missus was pregnant. I was unemployed for over a year. I took my unemployment (hey, we pay into that with every paycheck) and I took the food assistance.

    Did I feel shame and humiliation? You bet I did. Especially with how the assistance was accepted at grocery stores, tripling the checkout time while literally getting dirty looks from the people behind you AND the clerks, who it turns out get severely penalized if there are any mistakes so they HATED dealing with it.

    But I had a pregnant wife to feed and then a family to feed. So I sucked it up and got over my embarrassment.

    It’s not just her. It’s her son.

    That said, I do hope the best for them. If this is in California, there should be systems to help them. Not necessarily easy to obtain, but there nonetheless. And churches and non-profits often have outreach to assist in getting those benefits.

    1. justrojie Avatar

      wow thanks for sharing. i wish she would just get over it, but i can’t force anyone to do anything they don’t wanna do. i’ll see what other community resources are available but yes, this is california.

      1. ianmdudley Avatar

        I hope you’re able to help in ways she’ll accept.

  13. Info-Man Avatar

    You are so nice Rojie, tell her that you were cleaning closet or something like that and btw giving fruits would be a good maybe too…..and I am not sure about the other things….tbh .

    1. justrojie Avatar

      yeah i was thinking of saying cleaning a closet or my friends gave them to me but they’re too big or something to that effect? i’ll have to ask what kinda foods they like. thank you!

Leave a Reply to Violet LentzCancel reply