Don't let the smile fool you: " It feels as though I have lost the fight"

Don't let the smile fool you: " It feels as though I have lost the fight": "Watching someone you love dearly change over the years,is very hard to bear witness.For many years I have watch my Mentor go through many ob..."

" It feels as though I have lost the fight"

Watching someone you love dearly change over the years,is very hard to bear witness.For many years I have watch my Mentor go through many obstacles and trials in her life,thanking God each day that its not me.Wondering "when is enough already enough!" A life filled with disappointment and betrayal from the ones she love has to be disheartening.Watching this woman grow into a remarkable human being has been amazing journey.Although many people look up to her including myself,she really looks down on herself.Going their separate ways ,making very clear they have only love for her when they want something or need something from her.The level of disrespect is outrageous ,the tone of voice is always in a inappropriate manner,once I heard her daughter tell her to shut the F--- up.Now the person that I have known for years would have backed handed this child,not this time;simply walking away,not even responding to what the young girl said.I asked " Girl what in the world is wrong with you" She looked at me with tears in her eyes " I feel I have lost the fight,friend I am fighting a losing battle and I have no more fight in me".That statement was heart wrenching and seem so out of context coming from the mouth of strongest woman I know. As a parent myself I didn't know how to respond.

What would be your response or advice to a parent that deals with a child who displays willful disobedience ?