I don’t really like fights, I’m not into them cause I play basketball and those things.” Part of the goal of the Progress Ranch program has been to help the boys talk through their anger and develop better coping strategies.
Aside from helping the boys deal with emotional issues stemming from their particular backgrounds, a lot of effort is made to ensure that the boys get to be normal kids, which includes not missing out on exciting things like James’ upcoming 11th birthday: “I probably want to go to Disneyland or Toys R’ Us,” he says. And what does he want from Toys R’ Us? “Probably a farm set, I like that kind of stuff,” he replies. James beams when he talks about farming: “My favorite place is my aunt’s,” he says. “She lives on a ranch in Copperopolis, east of Stockton and right by Jamestown. I practice roping and then I go riding. I love it.”
Although there were no questions asked about James’ family, he brings them up on his own. When asked about the best day of his life, he remembers a past birthday: “My best day was when my mom and my dad came to my birthday, when I turned seven. I blew out a candle, they gave me presents, and my brother came home from football. It was fun!” James says all this without a hint of sadness, although right now his brother is in Iraq and there is no mention of when he will see his father again.
And as for his mother? She is his absolute favorite person. James explains: “It’s like when I need her she’s not there, but it’s sort of cause kids,