Cole comments that Nobody else cared about him, so why should he care about him self? Is it true that nobody cares about him? Should cole care about himself?

Cole comes from a dysfunctional family. His father was abusive and his mother was incapable of protecting him. He felt very little love so he cared little for himself. It takes Cole awhile to understand how much Edwin and Garvey care about him. He also must realize that his mother also loves him but was too emotionally wounded to care about him.