Perhaps risk tolerance has remained the same, it's just that risk has gone high enough that it is outside of that risk tolerance. Taking on the task of raising a child when you can barely keep yourself fed is simply impossible from a risk assessment perspective. You are either not disclosing your full set of circumstances and they weren't as risky as you make them sound, or raised your child on the streets which most people would consider to be wildly irresponsible and bad for the child (I am assuming it is the former).