If I Only Knew Then What I Know Now, I Wouldn't Have Shoplifted.

I've been reading the comments from "If I Only Knew Then What I Know Now, I Wouldn't Have Shoplifted," on shoplifting and I've been disappointed to see that many of them are negative and hurtful.<br><br>As many of you know, I have been in a situation where someone I love has been charged with felony retail fraud. I am talking to the attorney tomorrow to see if I can hire services. I will post about that when I do. It's been a long week and a half, and an emotional roller-coaster.<br><br>When you are accused, there are so many things you can do. But when you have to go through the court process, you don't have many choices. I've explained this over and over but you have to play nice.<br><br>I am not defending Amy and Krysten, but they are the reason why I am here. And they are the reason why so many other people get to share their stories. And now, I am telling my mother's story.<br><br>She's not defending herself either. She is just telling her story because she wants to. She wants to share her experience with you, and with the world. She is not defending her case, but she wants to fight. She wants to fight for her life and her freedom. She wants to fight to show that she is not a criminal, but a person who made a mistake. She wants to show that she is not a thief, but a person who got caught.<br><br>Her case is in the early stages, so it's hard to say how it will end. But I am very proud of how well she is doing. She is very brave, and she is strong. <br><br>My mom is very lucky. She has a big support system, but she has me. She has people that love her unconditionally, and who support her. She has people who want her to be happy. <br><br>I am not here to defend my mom, but to share her story. I am not here to explain why she did it, but to show you what she's going through. <br><br>To all the people who have said negative things; thank you. Thank you for being negative and horrible. Thank you for making my mom feel worse. Thank you for being hurtful. <br><br>My mom knows she made a mistake, but she also knows that she is not a criminal. She knows that she is a person, and she is not a thief. She knows that she made a choice, and she took a chance. She knows that she did wrong, but she is not a bad person. <br><br>So to everyone who has commented, and to everyone who has supported my mom and me; thank you. Thank you for being kind. And to all of you who have said horrible things, you don't know how hard it is to go through this. You don't know what it feels like to be judged and to be hated. <br><br>So to everyone who has commented on her story, thank you. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your opinions. And to everyone who has supported my mom and me; thank you. Thank you for being positive. <br><br>My mom knows that everyone has an opinion, and they have a right to have that opinion. She knows that she made a mistake, but she also knows that she is not a criminal. She knows that she is a person, and she is not a thief. She knows that she made a choice, and she took a chance. <br><br>So to everyone who has commented on her story, thank you. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and your opinions. And to everyone who has supported my mom and me; thank you. Thank you for being positive. <br><br>&#x200B;