Posts belonging to Category 'Drug Counseling'

it may even be too late

Question:

As an adolescent, I was harboring a sense of not fitting in. I knew I was different, but I didn’t know how or why. I couldn’t form attachments or friendships, I didn’t know how to relate to others. I couldn’t articulate my feelings to myself or anyone else. I had always felt I was all alone. There was a girl, she was pretty, smart, talented, and 3 yrs older than me. I liked to watch her, to wonder what it would be like to be invited to visit her at home, shop with her, dine with her. I daydreamed of being her friend. She taught dance lessons, both group and private, I took all the lessons I could, for years, just because she was there. When she got a boyfriend, I wondered what she was like around him, what she was like on a date, I thought he was the luckiest guy around. The secret thoughts I had about her lasted for over ten years. I had similar feelings for 2 other girls during my school days, but I never once attributed it to being sexual. I was an outcast with secret obsessions. The girls became aware of my obsessive nature, and sensed the danger, because this was not normal. As a teen, I worked very hard to be like everyone else. I dated the boy next-door, but he quickly became my compulsive obsession too. I duplicated the same kind of behavior to my next boyfriend, and he too sensed the unhealthiness of my needy obsessive behavior. After the 2nd devastation, I ran away to join the Navy. Now nobody knew me, I could be the cool one. But I didn’t have the social skills necessary, didn’t know how to relate to people, and was still the outcast. Eventually I met a girl. We actually became best friends. I wanted to stay close to her, so I mimicked her behavior, partying, picking up guys, and drinking a lot. I picked up two guys, took them to my room to continue the party, and was raped by both of them. I was so hurt, ashamed, horrified.  I hated myself and never wanted anyone to know because I put myself there, I had brought them there, I had asked for it.  It was all my fault. So no more drinking for me, I got a new group of friends, everynight we hid in their room getting high on cocaine. I just wanted to hide out and get high. Then I met Tony, he was tall,  strong, and gorgeous. We only knew each other a week and then we were married, we had a lot in common, we both liked cocaine! I was so scared of myself, I didn’t want to ever be alone, I hated myself, I hated my life. I got pregnant, Tony went to the Brig for a dirty drug test, and I was sent to Japan. Now I was married to someone I hardly knew, pregnant, and alone again. I became depressed and sick too. I didn’t know what was wrong with me.  After a few months I got a pregnancy discharge and returned home to be a mommy. Tony was in jail, drunk driving this time, I had the baby, and soon after, got divorced. All I could do was hate myself and wonder what kind of life I could give my baby. Then I met Pancho, he wanted to save me from the drugs, to marry me, give me a home, and my son a family. He taught me to cook. But I had problems with sex. I didn’t ever want it. But  then I got pregnant again, and had my 2nd son. But I was unhappy because I didn’t want to be touched by Pancho. I went away with the babies to my girlfriends house, got really high for a couple days, and then came home. Pancho thought I was cheating on him, so he beat me up, once, then again, then all the time. While I was asleep, he would come in to find me and start punching me in the head, back, anywhere he could really hurt me. I asked my family to help me, but they wanted to stay out of it. I called the police, but Pancho convinced the police it was my fault because of my drinking and drug habit. But one time, he broke my ribs and my collarbone. When I returned from the hospital, I took the boys and left. Divorce again. All I wanted was to be left alone. I got an apartment, rented the basement to my two bestfriends, a gay couple, my drug dealers. I admired them. They had no problem with being gay. But then came the undercover sting operation, they went into hiding, I took the kids, and went to Mike’s house. I didn’t want anything to do with him, but I had to do something fast.  He convinced me the only way not to lose my kids was to marry him, so I did. (It turns out the whole undercover sting thing was all lies he was filling my head with and I believed him. And I never saw my two best friends again either.) Now we were married, and sex was the issue. I didn’t want him to touch me. I didn’t love him. He would force himself on me and say I was going to be a wife to him, it was nothing but rape. I told him no, and he wouldn’t take no for an answer. I would close my eyes tight, hold my breath, and hold back the tears til it was over. This went on for months before I got the courage to make him leave. I never saw him again. Then a really close friend, Cindy, later tried to help me. She said she knew I loved women, and just once she would make love to me. She is not lesbian nor bi. I cried, I loved her more than ever that night. But then, she left town, and I never saw her again. Now I was cutting myself, breaking my fingers, hurting me anyway I could, I hated myself. I got strung out on crack, and psychologically withdrawn. They put me into a hospital until I stopped hurting myself, and put me in drug counseling. They gave me behavioral medications. I would never commit suicide because I could never leave the boys, I love them so much. I hid the rapes and drug abuse from them, but they knew I wasn’t well and I was in a psychiatric hospital for treatment. When I came home from the hospital, and finished my outpatient drug counseling, my neighbor, the concerned guy that he is, thinks it would be best if he moved in. He confesses how he has always loved me. He asks me if I had been with women, I told him yes. He asked if I was Lesbian or Bi, I didn’t know. Then we had sex, twice, both times I cried and trembled.  I told him I didn’t want anyone to ever touch me again. That was 2 yrs ago. He slept in my bed, no sex, for 2 yrs before I told him I couldn’t take it any longer. I couldn’t stand sleeping with someone I had absolutely no desires for. I finally accepted the fact that I am a lesbian, and I want to be with a woman someday. And I am happy knowing that. But… with my emotional, psychological, and sexual past, I don’t know if I can ever have a healthy relationship with a woman, and it would not be fair to any woman to become involved with me. Nobody deserves someone as messed up as I have been. Does all the pain, hurt, and fear go away because I can finally be with a woman, and because I don’t have to let a man touch me anymore? Do I forget all the bad, and never tell her about it?

Response:

it’s late here, too. I don’t really have time to reply, need to pack so I can leave for a few days. But I’ll give you a quick reply: I’m a lesbian myself, and I know sex with men can feel wrong. You don’thave tosleep with men. you don’t have to accept anyone because they love you. It matters how you feel about them, as well. At least as much. The way you would be with a woman can be very different from the way you were with men. Try, and see how it goes. it does sound like you’ve been hurt in the past, and relationships might take some practice. But there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be with a woman and why you shouldn’t find one who suits you. I’m glad you posted here. When i first truly realized I was attracted to women, I was very scared everything in life would become more difficult because of it. Discrimination was the only thing that became more difficult. But *everything* else became easier. i had a chance at relationships at last, and wanted them for right reasons (rather than trying to love a man just because that’s what all my female friends were doing). I understood better why i felt different, I started worrying less about sex with men and there are fewer lies in my life. That, particularly, has made life easier for me. hope that helps a little, janneke

Response:

My Weekend..:-(

Question:

Carol wrote……. Today Im being very brave and stating what will happen tomorrow..Lets just hope that I still feel the same tomorrow..:-)

Dear Carol, I wish you the best tomorrow when confronting your sister, I do understand how hard it can be to be assertive, especially with a family member. The end result of being assertive will far out weigh the initial discomfort and anxiety. I will be thinking of you tomorrow and hoping that you can do this, I`m sure you can :) )) Imagine that you have a cheerleading section at ASAP!! Go Carol, Go!!!! Jackie ~*~Sooner or later we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is

Response:

Carol, She may be your sister but that is your son…  Confront her and set the rules…  She may be unhappy for a short period of time but she will get over it.  You can’t worry about her feelings so much when you have to worry about your son’s future and life. smiles, elise

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Carol wrote……. Today Im being very brave and stating what will happen tomorrow..Lets just hope that I still feel the same tomorrow..:-) Dear Carol, I wish you the best tomorrow when confronting your sister, I do understand how hard it can be to be assertive, especially with a family member. The end result of being assertive will far out weigh the initial discomfort and anxiety. I will be thinking of you tomorrow and hoping that you can do this, I`m sure you can :) )) Imagine that you have a cheerleading section at ASAP!! Go Carol, Go!!!! Jackie ~*~Sooner or later we must realize there is no station, no one place to arrive at once and for all. The true joy of life is

Response:

  Dear Carol,         I’m so sorry you had a bad weekend. I’m truly shocked by what your sister did, so I can imagine how you are feeling. Please don’t think you messed up as a mom. It happens and all we can do is try our best to get them back on the right track. I think having your sis around is not going to help sweetie. I understand you not wanting to call the police on your son, but do you have any other options like a drug rehab? I don’t know your laws, but here we can force the kids in whether they want it or not. Praise God Alice is ok. I do hope you feel better soon! (((((((((( Carol ))))))))))) Debbie

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Response:

<snipped I tried this a while ago with my son..I literally told the police that he was buying drugs from somebody..They went into my son like a bull in a china shop..They wanted the name of the dealer but Daniel wouldnt tell them..They offered no help at all for me on how to deal with it.. Having said that I have heard that there is an officer that strictly deals with juveniles that may be able to help me.. I will be getting in touch with him.. but it all depends if Daniel will listen..I have to say that I dont hold out much hope there!

If you check into some of the local places of incarceration, some of them have a program or can refer you to a program for youths *at risk* which Daniel sounds to be.  They get one on one with inmates and are actually face to face with where they could be headed.  I wish you lived here, I would tour the prison with him and ONLY have the very BEST intimidation team compiled for your son….if only….well.  Like I said, talk to the juvi guy and find out if there is a program like what we call "scared straight" in your area. Let me know what you find. One thing I learned through my own experience as a teen with a boyfriend involved with drugs etc…I have to say, if you push too much, especially with an adult relative obviously willing to corrupt, you will lose him emotionally for a time.  Just talk to him…not AT him.  Sit down and explain your fears…tell him what *YOU* believe will happen to him.  Give him opportunity to talk to you about WHY if he chooses to.  Yelling, and demanding will only push him farther.   Now as for your sister… <snipped I know that you are right here Robin..Im still shocked at what she did..She has a 7 yr old herself so I just cannot understand her doing this.. I havent seen or spoken to her since the incident but I will see her tomorrow as our 2 little ones attend the same school.. I am still very angry at what she did and now have the worry that Daniel sees an ally in her..I know for a fact that he went and spent the evening at her house after she had asked him to get the drugs.. I am trying to get up the courage to just threaten outright to her that if it happens again the police will be called in..!!

Don’t need courage for that dear.  Think about what she is encouraging in your child.  She is making it ok for him to be involved in something that literally could kill him in the long run.  She has no right to encourage that behaviour nor to even condone it in a CHILD. I don’t care if she is twice your size and a varitable amazon.  There shouldn’t be a threat…you tell her plain and simple that if she EVER solicits drugs from your 15 year old son again, she will be arrested, you will see to it.  What she does on her time, that’s her business….but if you find out she is contributing to the damage, then she is the bigger problem.  Don’t be afraid to protect your child…that is your RIGHT! As for Alice….I am so glad she is ok :) R

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Elise.. Thanks for the advice here.. You are so right that I must make the rules very clear to Daniel and more to the point anybody else who comes into this house.. It isnt easy for me to face up to my sister..It would take a long while to try and explain why to myself let alone anybody else..:-(  but I think when she does something as bad as she has then its time I became braver and stood up to her.. I have the eternal hope that Daniel will turn out to be a better man than he is a lad at the moment but I can see him heading for one huge fall if things dont change.. I do feel responsible in the sense that I have been soft with him.. I have become "harder" with him just lately..I certainly do not give him any money at all and havent for quite a few weeks now.. I am sure this is not all going to be solved easily and thats not looking on the bleak side its facing reality.. Thanks for the advice Elise.. Take care Carol..

<snipped Go go go Carol Stand up to her, go on girlie do it as one day you will have to Im sure anyway. Im here to support you and you have good frinds here too. Love Ray

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi ASAP.. Sorry that I’ve not been around much this weekend..  First of all my back has not been too good so I’ve spent a lot of time resting.. Well ..resting when I could! My 15 yr old son is giving me a lot of heartache at the moment and has certainly not let up any over this weekend.. He is rebelling in a very big way..He is dabbling in drugs right under my nose and to top it all yesterday my younger sister (she is 35!) was here at OUR house asking my son to get some for her!!  I just stood there in absolute dumbfounded amazement and let it happen.. I just couldnt believe what was going on.. I have been in a kind of zombie mode all weekend.. Nothing feels very real to me at the moment.. It wasnt until Ray stepped in that my brain actually connected!   I just dont know what I am doing at the moment..  If Ray had his way he would call the police about it all but it is just so hard to do that to my son..Logic tells me that we should but how the hell do I actually admit that I am failing as a Mum here..This is hurting me so much!!  Regardless of what my son is doing I still love him so much and I am so scared of what he is getting into.. To top it all..my little girl (8 yrs) was out playing with her friends this afternoon when 2 of her friends knocked at the door and said Alice had been hit by a car.. Thankfully she is fine.. She escaped with a couple of grazed elbows but she was obviously very shocked by it..Needless to say so was I!! I just feel now as if my nerves are shot through.. I cant think straight and just dont know what Im doing..  Ray is suffering anxiety big time because of all of this and I just dont know where to turn at the moment.. I feel as if I could just sit and sob at the moment but I think if I start I will just never stop.. I have no counsellor that I can go to for help..Her advice was that I had chosen to take the sick road..I have been seeing her because of anxiety and depression and she has given me no help whatsoever.. If anything she has just made thing worse for me..I now have to wait ages before I can get another one.. Dear Carol, What a stressful weekend for you :( (( I am glad that your daughter is okay, that had to be terrifying when told she had been hit by a car. I know it can be tough to deal with teenagers, but when it comes to drugs, you need to deal a firm hand. One thing you should do is forbid your sister in your house, what she pulled is really bad.  Is there any help you can get your son? Drug counseling, perhaps at his school? I hope you have a much better week, I`ll be thinking of you!! {{{{{Carol}}}}} Jackie ~My lifetime friends I find,are as the pebbles I have collected from the beach.Each one beautiful in its own way,wonderful to hold and each unique. When viewed together in a crystal bowl, there are one or two that appear as pure gems in my collection

Hi Jackie.. I think that I am just about getting myself ok after the weekend.. Thanks for your advice on my son..You are right about being firm with him.. I have made a decision today that enough is enough and I am going to contact a juvenile officer tomorrow and try to get some help with all this.. As for my sister.. thats a tough one.. but again its something that I must deal with.. Today Im being very brave and stating what will happen tomorrow..Lets just hope that I still feel the same tomorrow..:-) Take care Jackie.. Carol..

Response:

Agrees Nancy True, true… I do wonder whether that is what Carol does in some ways?  keeps things smooth even though the sailing is rough, just in case there is room for improvement? Good bad and ugly was a great film btw, one of my favourites of all time :-) Just read your other post and didnt realise you were in Canada? Thank you Nancy for your good words. Ray

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Ray, It’s funny you know, men seem to find it much easier to let go of things in a no nonsense way.  Women on the other hand don’t have it so easy. My husband could go years without talking to his brothers (3).  I on the other hand (even though we aren’t close) still feel the need to have family (good, bad or ugly). I guess it is a hopefulness that someday things will get better and the relationship can improve. I also am the one that keeps in touch with at least one of his brothers. I know if it wasn’t for me he would probably never speak to any of them. I guess that’s way men are men and women are women.  We do things differently and that’s what makes the world go round. Nancy

Response:

Hi Elise.. Thanks for the advice here.. You are so right that I must make the rules very clear to Daniel and more to the point anybody else who comes into this house.. It isnt easy for me to face up to my sister..It would take a long while to try and explain why to myself let alone anybody else..:-(  but I think when she does something as bad as she has then its time I became braver and stood up to her.. I have the eternal hope that Daniel will turn out to be a better man than he is a lad at the moment but I can see him heading for one huge fall if things dont change.. I do feel responsible in the sense that I have been soft with him.. I have become "harder" with him just lately..I certainly do not give him any money at all and havent for quite a few weeks now.. I am sure this is not all going to be solved easily and thats not looking on the bleak side its facing reality.. Thanks for the advice Elise.. Take care Carol.. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Carol, My heart goes out to you.  First, I am happy that Alice is okay.  It is so frightening when anything happens to our children.  Life is difficult enough dealing with pd and anxiety let alone having problems with teenage kids. My son will be 18 on Tuesday and I  love him to death but just since he got his license he seems to have changed.  He’s not that adorable, fun-loving kid anymore.  He hangs around with kids that aren’t really bad but he has much better friends from his own school who come from nice families.  I have a hard time dealing with this.  His current friend graduated last year from high school and is not in school and does not work – mom gives him $ for everything (and they are not a wealthy family).  His biggest goal it seems is for my son to get out of school at 2:45 and make plans.  Luckily my son just got a job and that helps keep him more busy.  I am sure he drinks but I don’t think he uses drugs. Have you talked with your sister about her asking your son for drugs. This is one thing I would do first.  She is not being a good influence on him and at her age she knows better.  If she can’t comply with your rules then I would not allow her in my home. I know how you feel about feeling like a failure as a mother because I have felt this way for a long time also.  But, just recently I discovered that NO I haven’t failed as a mother, my son is making some wrong choices.  Doing things I know I didn’t promote nor teach him.  My husband and I have already decided that if he doesn’t shape up after graduation and has this "I am 18, I will do what I want to do attitude" we are packing his bags for him.  No ifs, ands or buts – the car stays here…  I don’t think he really wants to be kicked out but I am getting strong enough now to do "toughlove"  - because I love him so much. My niece went through this rebellion stage and she was 15 like your son. She was one little partier.  My sister just couldn’t handle it so I had her come live with my family.  She stayed here for about 4 months and then we had her put into a group home.  She stayed there for another 3 months or so. It did help some but the biggest difference for her was maturing (she is now 21).  She put her parents through hell – did the detention center thing several times but now the young lady would do anything in the world for anyone…  She has a true heart of gold. Don’t give up on your son but also don’t give in to your son. Make your rules and stand by them.  I wish you much success in dealing with him.  I am sure there is a great guy under all of this rebellion. ((((((CAROL & RAY))))) smiles, elise Hi ASAP.. Sorry that I’ve not been around much this weekend..  First of all my back has not been too good so I’ve spent a lot of time resting.. Well ..resting when I could! My 15 yr old son is giving me a lot of heartache at the moment and has certainly not let up any over this weekend.. He is rebelling in a very big way..He is dabbling in drugs right under my nose and to top it all yesterday my younger sister (she is 35!) was here at OUR house asking my son to get some for her!!  I just stood there in absolute dumbfounded amazement and let it happen.. I just couldnt believe what was going on.. I have been in a kind of zombie mode all weekend.. Nothing feels very real to me at the moment.. It wasnt until Ray stepped in that my brain actually connected!   I just dont know what I am doing at the moment..  If Ray had his way he would call the police about it all but it is just so hard to do that to my son..Logic tells me that we should but how the hell do I actually admit that I am failing as a Mum here..This is hurting me so much!!  Regardless of what my son is doing I still love him so much and I am so scared of what he is getting into.. To top it all..my little girl (8 yrs) was out playing with her friends this afternoon when 2 of her friends knocked at the door and said Alice had been hit by a car.. Thankfully she is fine.. She escaped with a couple of grazed elbows but she was obviously very shocked by it..Needless to say so was I!! I just feel now as if my nerves are shot through.. I cant think straight and just dont know what Im doing..  Ray is suffering anxiety big time because of all of this and I just dont know where to turn at the moment.. I feel as if I could just sit and sob at the moment but I think if I start I will just never stop.. I have no counsellor that I can go to for help..Her advice was that I had chosen to take the sick road..I have been seeing her because of anxiety and depression and she has given me no help whatsoever.. If anything she has just made thing worse for me..I now have to wait ages before I can get another one.. As you can see..not a good weekend at all..:-( Carol..

Response:

Hi Ray, It’s funny you know, men seem to find it much easier to let go of things in a no nonsense way.  Women on the other hand don’t have it so easy. My husband could go years without talking to his brothers (3).  I on the other hand (even though we aren’t close) still feel the need to have family (good, bad or ugly). I guess it is a hopefulness that someday things will get better and the relationship can improve. I also am the one that keeps in touch with at least one of his brothers.  I know if it wasn’t for me he would probably never speak to any of them. I guess that’s way men are men and women are women.  We do things differently and that’s what makes the world go round. Nancy

Response:

Groetjes Anna I need to sort it out Ann and soon. If I dont get cross I would not be caring I guess, I just need to use the energy constructively and wisely. I will ;-) Ray – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi ASAP.. Sorry that I’ve not been around much this weekend..  First of all my back has not been too good so I’ve spent a lot of time resting.. Well ..resting when I could! My 15 yr old son is giving me a lot of heartache at the moment and has certainly not let up any over this weekend.. He is rebelling in a very big way..He is dabbling in drugs right under my nose and to top it all yesterday my younger sister (she is 35!) was here at OUR house asking my son to get some for her!!  I just stood there in absolute dumbfounded amazement and let it happen.. I just couldnt believe what was going on.. I have been in a kind of zombie mode all weekend.. Nothing feels very real to me at the moment.. It wasnt until Ray stepped in that my brain actually connected!   I just dont know what I am doing at the moment..  If Ray had his way he would call the police about it all but it is just so hard to do that to my son..Logic tells me that we should but how the hell do I actually admit that I am failing as a Mum here..This is hurting me so much!!  Regardless of what my son is doing I still love him so much and I am so scared of what he is getting into.. To top it all..my little girl (8 yrs) was out playing with her friends this afternoon when 2 of her friends knocked at the door and said Alice had been hit by a car.. Thankfully she is fine.. She escaped with a couple of grazed elbows but she was obviously very shocked by it..Needless to say so was I!! I just feel now as if my nerves are shot through.. I cant think straight and just dont know what Im doing..  Ray is suffering anxiety big time because of all of this and I just dont know where to turn at the moment.. I feel as if I could just sit and sob at the moment but I think if I start I will just never stop.. I have no counsellor that I can go to for help..Her advice was that I had chosen to take the sick road..I have been seeing her because of anxiety and depression and she has given me no help whatsoever.. If anything she has just made thing worse for me..I now have to wait ages before I can get another one.. As you can see..not a good weekend at all..:-( Carol.. Dear Carol Do you know what the biggest problem is mate… There is not enough nice left in your life… No fun, no real ENJOYMENT of you being *YOU*, no real help apart from the little bits I try and do for you, no SUPPORT except for here with your friends at ASAP and I am so glad you have found here and have come back to it. Your sister who I have given such a big chance after all you told me about her and I have been kind to her has lost that chance now as she knows what we are going through with your son, she knows of our illnesses also and still has to put the knife in. She is the biggest *A HOLE* I have met for such a long time now. We have had so many debates about our families and fought through some trash to be together, it stops now. I cannot carry people like that and see what she does to you and what she has done in the past. Do not worry I will not tell ASAP about some of her finer points, but if our friends here knew half of it I think they would understand some of where the anxiety comes from. I think ASAP understand why we have both been so highly charged with anxiety for months now, you did the right thing venting Carol, well done. I will *NOT* let people hurt you no more and do this to you like your sister? has. Keep posting here Carol. Best and a hug Ray Cross but supportive and full of love for you Carol GO GO GO Ray You two have trouble enough,without the dealing with screwed-up family members Live together and find your own peace :-) And it is good for you to be angry !!!!!! Love and hugs Anna

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi ASAP.. Sorry that I’ve not been around much this weekend..  First of all my back has not been too good so I’ve spent a lot of time resting.. Well ..resting when I could! My 15 yr old son is giving me a lot of heartache at the moment and has certainly not let up any over this weekend.. He is rebelling in a very big way..He is dabbling in drugs right under my nose and to top it all yesterday my younger sister (she is 35!) was here at OUR house asking my son to get some for her!!  I just stood there in absolute dumbfounded amazement and let it happen.. I just couldnt believe what was going on.. I have been in a kind of zombie mode all weekend.. Nothing feels very real to me at the moment.. It wasnt until Ray stepped in that my brain actually connected!   I just dont know what I am doing at the moment..  If Ray had his way he would call the police about it all but it is just so hard to do that to my son..Logic tells me that we should but how the hell do I actually admit that I am failing as a Mum here..This is hurting me so much!!  Regardless of what my son is doing I still love him so much and I am so scared of what he is getting into.. To top it all..my little girl (8 yrs) was out playing with her friends this afternoon when 2 of her friends knocked at the door and said Alice had been hit by a car.. Thankfully she is fine.. She escaped with a couple of grazed elbows but she was obviously very shocked by it..Needless to say so was I!! I just feel now as if my nerves are shot through.. I cant think straight and just dont know what Im doing..  Ray is suffering anxiety big time because of all of this and I just dont know where to turn at the moment.. I feel as if I could just sit and sob at the moment but I think if I start I will just never stop.. I have no counsellor that I can go to for help..Her advice was that I had chosen to take the sick road..I have been seeing her because of anxiety and depression and she has given me no help whatsoever.. If anything she has just made thing worse for me..I now have to wait ages before I can get another one.. As you can see..not a good weekend at all..:-( Carol.. Dear Carol Do you know what the biggest problem is mate… There is not enough nice left in your life… No fun, no real ENJOYMENT of you being *YOU*, no real help apart from the little bits I try and do for you, no SUPPORT except for here with your friends at ASAP and I am so glad you have found here and have come back to it. Your sister who I have given such a big chance after all you told me about her and I have been kind to her has lost that chance now as she knows what we are going through with your son, she knows of our illnesses also and still has to put the knife in. She is the biggest *A HOLE* I have met for such a long time now. We have had so many debates about our families and fought through some trash to be together, it stops now. I cannot carry people like that and see what she does to you and what she has done in the past. Do not worry I will not tell ASAP about some of her finer points, but if our friends here knew half of it I think they would understand some of where the anxiety comes from. I think ASAP understand why we have both been so highly charged with anxiety for months now, you did the right thing venting Carol, well done. I will *NOT* let people hurt you no more and do this to you like your sister? has. Keep posting here Carol. Best and a hug Ray Cross but supportive and full of love for you Carol

GO GO GO Ray You two have trouble enough,without the dealing with screwed-up family members Live together and find your own peace :-) And it is good for you to be angry !!!!!! Love and hugs Anna

Response:

Hi Nancy You and Carol sound so similiar, Carol being the placid nice one (like yourself :-) ) and the sister being the yaka yaka one with all the bad stuff bulit in that the other missed out at the factory where built and definetly no love was fitted as I can see it. I wonder if really our minds are like computers and we have the wrong software installed? Can someone reload my Windows please? Thank you Nancy you sound like a nice person Ray of Carol

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Carol, I have to say that Robin has given you the best advice possible.I have four kids the oldest is 21 and thank GOD he made it.  Now I am working on the 13 year old girl and she scares me to death.  She is strong willed and will do as she pleases.  The one thing that I did (and I did it from the time they were very small) was everytime I saw someone on drugs or read a horrible story involving drugs in the newspaper I would point it out to the kids and say "See that’s what drugs do to people!"  I only hope that I have scared them so badly from drugs that they don’t go down that road. My brother-in-law came by for a visit one day and pulled out a bag of weed and started rolling a joint right on my coffee table.  My husband kicked him out of the house!  I am so glad he did. I know that it is difficult with family as I have a strange relationship with my sister also.  My husband can’t stand her and I really don’t like her much myself but she is still family and for my mothers sake I put up with her (with us it is mostly a clash of personalities).  This has always been a sore spot for me and my husband.  I can’t say that we have learned to deal with it yet but he would never stop me from seeing her I know that.  It can get tricky and I hope Ray understands that family is still family and you have to decide whether you want a relationship with her. I wish you the best and sorry for rambling. Love to both of you, Nancy — Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm. Well, I wish I could come over and just clear it all up for you….but ahhhh, not possible (although weren’t you guys shipping groceries to me? LOL) As for your son.  Yes, I see the points both you AND Ray make. Perhaps a step just a little less drastic than actually calling the police on him might be to call them FOR him.  See if there is any way an officer could come by and talk to your son.  You can love him all you want, but you haven’t failed as a mom just because he makes bad choices.  An officer would be able to put in the reality of the weight of the decisions he is making at such a young age…they usually are pretty good at scaring the kids that they think really listen.  It has worked before I know. Now as for your sister….THAT you have control over.  You tell her in no uncertain terms that she is NEVER to pull a stunt like that again. You could definitely scare her (if that were your intentions) because there are laws here (I am sure similar ones there) against contributing to minors….tell her you love her, but quite plainly you have no desire to have her be any kind of influence on your children if she doesn’t straighten herself up~ As for Alice….YIKES!  I can’t even imagine that one.  Wouldn’t have a clue…would probably have passed right out! UGH!  Thank God she is ok. Just remember…giving birth to them, loving them, and giving them every opportunity YOU humanly can is ALL a parent can do.  Beyond that, the choices they make are made without you.  You couldn’t fail these kids as a mother because you love them.  Do you honestly think you could change your son?  No, and that is how it should be.  Give him the best advice you have….don’t go down that road kind of advice, let him know you don’t approve and you feel it is beyond a normal request to keep such things away from your home.  If he insists on doing things outside your home, there is little you can do that won’t just push him farther.  It has to be his choice and if you make him realize the consequences of these actions won’t be in your control…like if he is caught with drugs, you can’t save him from jail etc.  you can’t save him from overdose, you can’t ‘fix’ what problems he will end up with.  So show him you care, and simply tell him if he wishes to ruin his life, to have enough respect not to ruin yours in the process. I dont’ know how else to put it….wish I did.  I’d take him into the prison I worked at and let him see where that goes.  They all think they are invincible at that age, but when he looks into the eyes of someone only 3 years older that is in for life, it seems to make a small dent. R Hi ASAP.. Sorry that I’ve not been around much this weekend..  First of all my back has not been too good so I’ve spent a lot of time resting.. Well ..resting when I could! My 15 yr old son is giving me a lot of heartache at the moment and has certainly not let up any over this weekend.. He is rebelling in a very big way..He is dabbling in drugs right under my nose and to top it all yesterday my younger sister (she is 35!) was here at OUR house asking my son to get some for her!!  I just stood there in absolute dumbfounded amazement and let it happen.. I just couldnt believe what was going on.. I have been in a kind of zombie mode all weekend.. Nothing feels very real to me at the moment.. It wasnt until Ray stepped in that my brain actually connected!   I just dont know what I am doing at the moment..  If Ray had his way he would call the police about it all but it is just so hard to do that to my son..Logic tells me that we should but how the hell do I actually admit that I am failing as a Mum here..This is hurting me so much!!  Regardless of what my son is doing I still love him so much and I am so scared of what he is getting into.. To top it all..my little girl (8 yrs) was out playing with her friends this afternoon when 2 of her friends knocked at the door and said Alice had been hit by a car.. Thankfully she is fine.. She escaped with a couple of grazed elbows but she was obviously very shocked by it..Needless to say so was I!! I just feel now as if my nerves are shot through.. I cant think straight and just dont know what Im doing..  Ray is suffering anxiety big time because of all of this and I just dont know where to turn at the moment.. I feel as if I could just sit and sob at the moment but I think if I start I will just never stop.. I have no counsellor that I can go to for help..Her advice was that I had chosen to take the sick road..I have been seeing her because of anxiety and depression and she has given me no help whatsoever.. If anything she has just made thing worse for me..I now have to wait ages before I can get another one.. As you can see..not a good weekend at all..:-( Carol..

Response:

Hi Carol, I have to say that Robin has given you the best advice possible.I have four kids the oldest is 21 and thank GOD he made it.  Now I am working on the 13 year old girl and she scares me to death.  She is strong willed and will do as she pleases.  The one thing that I did (and I did it from the time they were very small) was everytime I saw someone on drugs or read a horrible story involving drugs in the newspaper I would point it out to the kids and say "See that’s what drugs do to people!"  I only hope that I have scared them so badly from drugs that they don’t go down that road. My brother-in-law came by for a visit one day and pulled out a bag of weed and started rolling a joint right on my coffee table.  My husband kicked him out of the house!  I am so glad he did. I know that it is difficult with family as I have a strange relationship with my sister also.  My husband can’t stand her and I really don’t like her much myself but she is still family and for my mothers sake I put up with her (with us it is mostly a clash of personalities).  This has always been a sore spot for me and my husband.  I can’t say that we have learned to deal with it yet but he would never stop me from seeing her I know that.  It can get tricky and I hope Ray understands that family is still family and you have to decide whether you want a relationship with her. I wish you the best and sorry for rambling. Love to both of you, Nancy — Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, I wish I could come over and just clear it all up for you….but ahhhh, not possible (although weren’t you guys shipping groceries to me? LOL) As for your son.  Yes, I see the points both you AND Ray make. Perhaps a step just a little less drastic than actually calling the police on him might be to call them FOR him.  See if there is any way an officer could come by and talk to your son.  You can love him all you want, but you haven’t failed as a mom just because he makes bad choices.  An officer would be able to put in the reality of the weight of the decisions he is making at such a young age…they usually are pretty good at scaring the kids that they think really listen.  It has worked before I know. Now as for your sister….THAT you have control over.  You tell her in no uncertain terms that she is NEVER to pull a stunt like that again. You could definitely scare her (if that were your intentions) because there are laws here (I am sure similar ones there) against contributing to minors….tell her you love her, but quite plainly you have no desire to have her be any kind of influence on your children if she doesn’t straighten herself up~ As for Alice….YIKES!  I can’t even imagine that one.  Wouldn’t have a clue…would probably have passed right out! UGH!  Thank God she is ok. Just remember…giving birth to them, loving them, and giving them every opportunity YOU humanly can is ALL a parent can do.  Beyond that, the choices they make are made without you.  You couldn’t fail these kids as a mother because you love them.  Do you honestly think you could change your son?  No, and that is how it should be.  Give him the best advice you have….don’t go down that road kind of advice, let him know you don’t approve and you feel it is beyond a normal request to keep such things away from your home.  If he insists on doing things outside your home, there is little you can do that won’t just push him farther.  It has to be his choice and if you make him realize the consequences of these actions won’t be in your control…like if he is caught with drugs, you can’t save him from jail etc.  you can’t save him from overdose, you can’t ‘fix’ what problems he will end up with.  So show him you care, and simply tell him if he wishes to ruin his life, to have enough respect not to ruin yours in the process. I dont’ know how else to put it….wish I did.  I’d take him into the prison I worked at and let him see where that goes.  They all think they are invincible at that age, but when he looks into the eyes of someone only 3 years older that is in for life, it seems to make a small dent. R Hi ASAP.. Sorry that I’ve not been around much this weekend..  First of all my back has not been too good so I’ve spent a lot of time resting.. Well ..resting when I could! My 15 yr old son is giving me a lot of heartache at the moment and has certainly not let up any over this weekend.. He is rebelling in a very big way..He is dabbling in drugs right under my nose and to top it all yesterday my younger sister (she is 35!) was here at OUR house asking my son to get some for her!!  I just stood there in absolute dumbfounded amazement and let it happen.. I just couldnt believe what was going on.. I have been in a kind of zombie mode all weekend.. Nothing feels very real to me at the moment.. It wasnt until Ray stepped in that my brain actually connected!   I just dont know what I am doing at the moment..  If Ray had his way he would call the police about it all but it is just so hard to do that to my son..Logic tells me that we should but how the hell do I actually admit that I am failing as a Mum here..This is hurting me so much!!  Regardless of what my son is doing I still love him so much and I am so scared of what he is getting into.. To top it all..my little girl (8 yrs) was out playing with her friends this afternoon when 2 of her friends knocked at the door and said Alice had been hit by a car.. Thankfully she is fine.. She escaped with a couple of grazed elbows but she was obviously very shocked by it..Needless to say so was I!! I just feel now as if my nerves are shot through.. I cant think straight and just dont know what Im doing..  Ray is suffering anxiety big time because of all of this and I just dont know where to turn at the moment.. I feel as if I could just sit and sob at the moment but I think if I start I will just never stop.. I have no counsellor that I can go to for help..Her advice was that I had chosen to take the sick road..I have been seeing her because of anxiety and depression and she has given me no help whatsoever.. If anything she has just made thing worse for me..I now have to wait ages before I can get another one.. As you can see..not a good weekend at all..:-( Carol..

Response:

<Snipped Dear Robin.. message

Robin said: Well, I wish I could come over and just clear it all up for you….but ahhhh, not possible (although weren’t you guys shipping groceries to me? LOL)

Ray says: Sorry we have been delayed in getting the boat out and I think you can see why??? <snip Carol said: I tried this a while ago with my son..I literally told the police that he was buying drugs from somebody..They went into my son like a bull in a china shop..They wanted the name of the dealer but Daniel wouldnt tell them..They offered no help at all for me on how to deal with it.. Having said that I have heard that there is an officer that strictly deals with juveniles that may be able to help me.. I will be getting in touch with him.. but it all depends if Daniel will listen..I have to say that I dont hold out much hope there!

Ray says: I didnt know this Carol? My plan was more severe I must admit but was more aimed at your sister as she now if she hasnt done this before has herself a local dealer who she knows and the neighbours wont suspect when he delivers, (plus she has the risk of getting caught cut out totally) he will also probably get a large cut of it himself as I cant see the stupid woman being able to make that kind of special ciggarette that easily… Robin said: Now as for your sister….THAT you have control over.  You tell her in no uncertain terms that she is NEVER to pull a stunt like that again. You could definitely scare her (if that were your intentions) because there are laws here (I am sure similar ones there) against contributing to minors….tell her you love her, but quite plainly you have no desire to have her be any kind of influence on your children if she doesn’t straighten herself up~

Ray says: She wants frightening Robin, she really does, shes a manipulator and evil, but I am *NOT* scared of her. She wants the frighteners put on her Im afraid as this I can see is going to be the start of a wonderful friendship between auntie and nephew… Carol said: I know that you are right here Robin..Im still shocked at what she did..She has a 7 yr old herself so I just cannot understand her doing this.. I havent seen or spoken to her since the incident but I will see her tomorrow as our 2 little ones attend the same school.. I am still very angry at what she did and now have the worry that Daniel sees an ally in her..I know for a fact that he went and spent the evening at her house after she had asked him to get the drugs.. I am trying to get up the courage to just threaten outright to her that if it happens again the police will be called in..!!

Ray says: Make sure you do Carol, amek sure you do, I will even come along with you as I want to see results right now as enough is enough. Let me do the dirty work if you like. Better to threaten your sister with police than have them at the door saying your son is in hospital as he has undercut some *bigger* and more serious dealer than he is turning into? She has no sruples or morals, time to get yours out though babe, that young man’s life is worth so much… So darned much. As for Alice….YIKES!  I can’t even imagine that one.  Wouldn’t have a clue…would probably have passed right out! UGH!  Thank God she is ok.

Ray says: Scared the heck out of both of us Robin, first were told shes run over then we see her standing by the gate with two men shaking like a leaf. Carol said: I think that Im just about oveer the shock of that now. Its really weird but until something like that happens you just dont know how you will react..I was actually very calm at the time but felt shock set in after I knew she was ok..

<snipped Robin said: I dont’ know how else to put it….wish I did.  I’d take him into the prison I worked at and let him see where that goes.  They all think they are invincible at that age, but when he looks into the eyes of someone only 3 years older that is in for life, it seems to make a small dent.

Ray says: I wish you could Robin and I wish some of you fine ladies off here werent so far from us as Carol could do with some excellent friends like you guys right now. This is something that I will bring up with the juvenile officer when I manage to get hold of him..Maybe short sharp shock treatement might work but he just seems to have this attitude that nothing matters..

Ray says: Good thinking Carol I do feel a bit better today and I know that I cant just sit on my backside and let it happen..

Ray says: Thank goodness You can pull it off Carol Nice backside btw… Ray says thank you Robin for coming to Carol’s emotional rescue last night or is today? Dont know where I am right now. Ray says: Best regards – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thank for the advice Robin.. Take care Carol.. R Hi ASAP.. Sorry that I’ve not been around much this weekend..  First of all my back has not been too good so I’ve spent a lot of time resting.. Well ..resting when I could! My 15 yr old son is giving me a lot of heartache at the moment and has certainly not let up any over this weekend.. He is rebelling in a very big way..He is dabbling in drugs right under my nose and to top it all yesterday my younger sister (she is 35!) was here at OUR house asking my son to get some for her!!  I just stood there in absolute dumbfounded amazement and let it happen.. I just couldnt believe what was going on.. I have been in a kind of zombie mode all weekend.. Nothing feels very real to me at the moment.. It wasnt until Ray stepped in that my brain actually connected!   I just dont know what I am doing at the moment..  If Ray had his way he would call the police about it all but it is just so hard to do that to my son..Logic tells me that we should but how the hell do I actually admit that I am failing as a Mum here..This is hurting me so much!!  Regardless of what my son is doing I still love him so much and I am so scared of what he is getting into.. To top it all..my little girl (8 yrs) was out playing with her friends this afternoon when 2 of her friends knocked at the door and said Alice had been hit by a car.. Thankfully she is fine.. She escaped with a couple of grazed elbows but she was obviously very shocked by it..Needless to say so was I!! I just feel now as if my nerves are shot through.. I cant think straight and just dont know what Im doing..  Ray is suffering anxiety big time because of all of this and I just dont know where to turn at the moment.. I feel as if I could just sit and sob at the moment but I think if I start I will just never stop.. I have no counsellor that I can go to for help..Her advice was that I had chosen to take the sick road..I have been seeing her because of anxiety and depression and she has given me no help whatsoever.. If anything she has just made thing worse for me..I now have to wait ages before I can get another one.. As you can see..not a good weekend at all..:-( Carol..

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi ASAP.. Sorry that I’ve not been around much this weekend..  First of all my back has not been too good so I’ve spent a lot of time resting.. Well ..resting when I could! My 15 yr old son is giving me a lot of heartache at the moment and has certainly not let up any over this weekend.. He is rebelling in a very big way..He is dabbling in drugs right under my nose and to top it all yesterday my younger sister (she is 35!) was here at OUR house asking my son to get some for her!!  I just stood there in absolute dumbfounded amazement and let it happen.. I just couldnt believe what was going on.. I have been in a kind of zombie mode all weekend.. Nothing feels very real to me at the moment.. It wasnt until Ray stepped in that my brain actually connected!   I just dont know what I am doing at the moment..  If Ray had his way he would call the police about it all but it is just so hard to do that to my son..Logic tells me that we should but how the hell do I actually admit that I am failing as a Mum here..This is hurting me so much!!  Regardless of what my son is doing I still love him so much and I am so scared of what he is getting into.. To top it all..my little girl (8 yrs) was out playing with her friends this afternoon when 2 of her friends knocked at the door and said Alice had been hit by a car.. Thankfully she is fine.. She escaped with a couple of grazed elbows but she was obviously very shocked by it..Needless to say so was I!! I just feel now as if my nerves are shot through.. I cant think straight and just dont know what Im doing..  Ray is suffering anxiety big time because of all of this and I just dont know where to turn at the moment.. I feel as if I could just sit and sob at the moment but I think if I start I will just never stop.. I have no counsellor that I can go to for help..Her advice was that I had chosen to take the sick road..I have been seeing her because of anxiety and depression and she has given me no help whatsoever.. If anything she has just made thing worse for me..I now have to wait ages before I can get another one.. As you can see..not a good weekend at all..:-( Carol..

Dear Carol Do you know what the biggest problem is mate… There is not enough nice left in your life… No fun, no real ENJOYMENT of you being *YOU*, no real help apart from the little bits I try and do for you, no SUPPORT except for here with your friends at ASAP and I am so glad you have found here and have come back to it. Your sister who I have given such a big chance after all you told me about her and I have been kind to her has lost that chance now as she knows what we are going through with your son, she knows of our illnesses also and still has to put the knife in. She is the biggest *A HOLE* I have met for such a long time now. We have had so many debates about our families and fought through some trash to be together, it stops now. I cannot carry people like that and see what she does to you and what she has done in the past. Do not worry I will not tell ASAP about some of her finer points, but if our friends here knew half of it I think they would understand some of where the anxiety comes from. I think ASAP understand why we have both been so highly charged with anxiety for months now, you did the right thing venting Carol, well done. I will *NOT* let people hurt you no more and do this to you like your sister? has. Keep posting here Carol. Best and a hug Ray Cross but supportive and full of love for you Carol

Response:

(((((((((((((((((((CAROL))))))))))))))))))) You must have been scared to death!  Thank God she is alright.  You have been through so much! I wish you and your family healing and peace. Love, Nancy — Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi ASAP.. Sorry that I’ve not been around much this weekend..  First of all my back has not been too good so I’ve spent a lot of time resting.. Well ..resting when I could! My 15 yr old son is giving me a lot of heartache at the moment and has certainly not let up any over this weekend.. He is rebelling in a very big way..He is dabbling in drugs right under my nose and to top it all yesterday my younger sister (she is 35!) was here at OUR house asking my son to get some for her!!  I just stood there in absolute dumbfounded amazement and let it happen.. I just couldnt believe what was going on.. I have been in a kind of zombie mode all weekend.. Nothing feels very real to me at the moment.. It wasnt until Ray stepped in that my brain actually connected!   I just dont know what I am doing at the moment..  If Ray had his way he would call the police about it all but it is just so hard to do that to my son..Logic tells me that we should but how the hell do I actually admit that I am failing as a Mum here..This is hurting me so much!!  Regardless of what my son is doing I still love him so much and I am so scared of what he is getting into.. To top it all..my little girl (8 yrs) was out playing with her friends this afternoon when 2 of her friends knocked at the door and said Alice had been hit by a car.. Thankfully she is fine.. She escaped with a couple of grazed elbows but she was obviously very shocked by it..Needless to say so was I!! I just feel now as if my nerves are shot through.. I cant think straight and just dont know what Im doing..  Ray is suffering anxiety big time because of all of this and I just dont know where to turn at the moment.. I feel as if I could just sit and sob at the moment but I think if I start I will just never stop.. I have no counsellor that I can go to for help..Her advice was that I had chosen to take the sick road..I have been seeing her because of anxiety and depression and she has given me no help whatsoever.. If anything she has just made thing worse for me..I now have to wait ages before I can get another one.. As you can see..not a good weekend at all..:-( Carol..

Response:

Carol, My heart goes out to you.  First, I am happy that Alice is okay.  It is so frightening when anything happens to our children.  Life is difficult enough dealing with pd and anxiety let alone having problems with teenage kids.  My son will be 18 on Tuesday and I  love him to death but just since he got his license he seems to have changed.  He’s not that adorable, fun-loving kid anymore.  He hangs around with kids that aren’t really bad but he has much better friends from his own school who come from nice families.  I have a hard time dealing with this.  His current friend graduated last year from high school and is not in school and does not work – mom gives him $ for everything (and they are not a wealthy family).  His biggest goal it seems is for my son to get out of school at 2:45 and make plans.  Luckily my son just got a job and that helps keep him more busy.  I am sure he drinks but I don’t think he uses drugs. Have you talked with your sister about her asking your son for drugs.  This is one thing I would do first.  She is not being a good influence on him and at her age she knows better.  If she can’t comply with your rules then I would not allow her in my home. I know how you feel about feeling like a failure as a mother because I have felt this way for a long time also.  But, just recently I discovered that NO I haven’t failed as a mother, my son is making some wrong choices.  Doing things I know I didn’t promote nor teach him.  My husband and I have already decided that if he doesn’t shape up after graduation and has this "I am 18, I will do what I want to do attitude" we are packing his bags for him.  No ifs, ands or buts – the car stays here…  I don’t think he really wants to be kicked out but I am getting strong enough now to do "toughlove"  - because I love him so much. My niece went through this rebellion stage and she was 15 like your son. She was one little partier.  My sister just couldn’t handle it so I had her come live with my family.  She stayed here for about 4 months and then we had her put into a group home.  She stayed there for another 3 months or so. It did help some but the biggest difference for her was maturing (she is now 21).  She put her parents through hell – did the detention center thing several times but now the young lady would do anything in the world for anyone…  She has a true heart of gold. Don’t give up on your son but also don’t give in to your son. Make your rules and stand by them.  I wish you much success in dealing with him.  I am sure there is a great guy under all of this rebellion. ((((((CAROL & RAY))))) smiles, elise

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi ASAP.. Sorry that I’ve not been around much this weekend..  First of all my back has not been too good so I’ve spent a lot of time resting.. Well ..resting when I could! My 15 yr old son is giving me a lot of heartache at the moment and has certainly not let up any over this weekend.. He is rebelling in a very big way..He is dabbling in drugs right under my nose and to top it all yesterday my younger sister (she is 35!) was here at OUR house asking my son to get some for her!!  I just stood there in absolute dumbfounded amazement and let it happen.. I just couldnt believe what was going on.. I have been in a kind of zombie mode all weekend.. Nothing feels very real to me at the moment.. It wasnt until Ray stepped in that my brain actually connected!   I just dont know what I am doing at the moment..  If Ray had his way he would call the police about it all but it is just so hard to do that to my son..Logic tells me that we should but how the hell do I actually admit that I am failing as a Mum here..This is hurting me so much!!  Regardless of what my son is doing I still love him so much and I am so scared of what he is getting into.. To top it all..my little girl (8 yrs) was out playing with her friends this afternoon when 2 of her friends knocked at the door and said Alice had been hit by a car.. Thankfully she is fine.. She escaped with a couple of grazed elbows but she was obviously very shocked by it..Needless to say so was I!! I just feel now as if my nerves are shot through.. I cant think straight and just dont know what Im doing..  Ray is suffering anxiety big time because of all of this and I just dont know where to turn at the moment.. I feel as if I could just sit and sob at the moment but I think if I start I will just never stop.. I have no counsellor that I can go to for help..Her advice was that I had chosen to take the sick road..I have been seeing her because of anxiety and depression and she has given me no help whatsoever.. If anything she has just made thing worse for me..I now have to wait ages before I can get another one.. As you can see..not a good weekend at all..:-( Carol..

Response:

Dear Robin..

Well, I wish I could come over and just clear it all up for you….but ahhhh, not possible (although weren’t you guys shipping groceries to me? LOL) As for your son.  Yes, I see the points both you AND Ray make. Perhaps a step just a little less drastic than actually calling the police on him might be to call them FOR him.  See if there is any way an officer could come by and talk to your son.  You can love him all you want, but you haven’t failed as a mom just because he makes bad choices.  An officer would be able to put in the reality of the weight of the decisions he is making at such a young age…they usually are pretty good at scaring the kids that they think really listen.  It has worked before I know.

I tried this a while ago with my son..I literally told the police that he was buying drugs from somebody..They went into my son like a bull in a china shop..They wanted the name of the dealer but Daniel wouldnt tell them..They offered no help at all for me on how to deal with it.. Having said that I have heard that there is an officer that strictly deals with juveniles that may be able to help me.. I will be getting in touch with him.. but it all depends if Daniel will listen..I have to say that I dont hold out much hope there! Now as for your sister….THAT you have control over.  You tell her in no uncertain terms that she is NEVER to pull a stunt like that again. You could definitely scare her (if that were your intentions) because there are laws here (I am sure similar ones there) against contributing to minors….tell her you love her, but quite plainly you have no desire to have her be any kind of influence on your children if she doesn’t straighten herself up~

I know that you are right here Robin..Im still shocked at what she did..She has a 7 yr old herself so I just cannot understand her doing this.. I havent seen or spoken to her since the incident but I will see her tomorrow as our 2 little ones attend the same school.. I am still very angry at what she did and now have the worry that Daniel sees an ally in her..I know for a fact that he went and spent the evening at her house after she had asked him to get the drugs.. I am trying to get up the courage to just threaten outright to her that if it happens again the police will be called in..!! As for Alice….YIKES!  I can’t even imagine that one.  Wouldn’t have a clue…would probably have passed right out! UGH!  Thank God she is ok.

I think that Im just about oveer the shock of that now. Its really weird but until something like that happens you just dont know how you will react..I was actually very calm at the time but felt shock set in after I knew she was ok.. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just remember…giving birth to them, loving them, and giving them every opportunity YOU humanly can is ALL a parent can do.  Beyond that, the choices they make are made without you.  You couldn’t fail these kids as a mother because you love them.  Do you honestly think you could change your son?  No, and that is how it should be.  Give him the best advice you have….don’t go down that road kind of advice, let him know you don’t approve and you feel it is beyond a normal request to keep such things away from your home.  If he insists on doing things outside your home, there is little you can do that won’t just push him farther.  It has to be his choice and if you make him realize the consequences of these actions won’t be in your control…like if he is caught with drugs, you can’t save him from jail etc.  you can’t save him from overdose, you can’t ‘fix’ what problems he will end up with.  So show him you care, and simply tell him if he wishes to ruin his life, to have enough respect not to ruin yours in the process. I dont’ know how else to put it….wish I did.  I’d take him into the prison I worked at and let him see where that goes.  They all think they are invincible at that age, but when he looks into the eyes of someone only 3 years older that is in for life, it seems to make a small dent.

This is something that I will bring up with the juvenile officer when I manage to get hold of him..Maybe short sharp shock treatement might work but he just seems to have this attitude that nothing matters.. I do feel a bit better today and I know that I cant just sit on my backside and let it happen.. Thank for the advice Robin.. Take care Carol.. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – R Hi ASAP.. Sorry that I’ve not been around much this weekend..  First of all my back has not been too good so I’ve spent a lot of time resting.. Well ..resting when I could! My 15 yr old son is giving me a lot of heartache at the moment and has certainly not let up any over this weekend.. He is rebelling in a very big way..He is dabbling in drugs right under my nose and to top it all yesterday my younger sister (she is 35!) was here at OUR house asking my son to get some for her!!  I just stood there in absolute dumbfounded amazement and let it happen.. I just couldnt believe what was going on.. I have been in a kind of zombie mode all weekend.. Nothing feels very real to me at the moment.. It wasnt until Ray stepped in that my brain actually connected!   I just dont know what I am doing at the moment..  If Ray had his way he would call the police about it all but it is just so hard to do that to my son..Logic tells me that we should but how the hell do I actually admit that I am failing as a Mum here..This is hurting me so much!!  Regardless of what my son is doing I still love him so much and I am so scared of what he is getting into.. To top it all..my little girl (8 yrs) was out playing with her friends this afternoon when 2 of her friends knocked at the door and said Alice had been hit by a car.. Thankfully she is fine.. She escaped with a couple of grazed elbows but she was obviously very shocked by it..Needless to say so was I!! I just feel now as if my nerves are shot through.. I cant think straight and just dont know what Im doing..  Ray is suffering anxiety big time because of all of this and I just dont know where to turn at the moment.. I feel as if I could just sit and sob at the moment but I think if I start I will just never stop.. I have no counsellor that I can go to for help..Her advice was that I had chosen to take the sick road..I have been seeing her because of anxiety and depression and she has given me no help whatsoever.. If anything she has just made thing worse for me..I now have to wait ages before I can get another one.. As you can see..not a good weekend at all..:-( Carol..

Response:

(((((((Carol)))))) first of all let me say you are not failing as a mother. Kids will do what kids do best and that is push the limits. i dont think i am gonna agree with ray on this one about calling the cops. I think what your son needs is some structure which is hard to set up when you feel like you do. If he is doing marajuna i wouldnt freak out too bad, i am not saying let him do it just saying dont freak out.  It sounds like your son needs some counseling he is going through a lot also. but he isnt some odd kid because he is acting out. Kids do that. I did it my friends did it and my brothers and sister did it. He is at that age. The age i wouldnt go back to no matter how much you paid me. And its not your fault . I had a fairly "normal " childhood with my mom and my dad married for 22 years. And i still did my dabbling in drugs. Just try and talk to him or get him a counslor. you are a good mom. I know this because i feel the hurt in your post. One thing i have learned over the past couple years is if you have to wonder if you are a good mom it usually means its cause you are!!! hang in there luckily the teen years end eventually. =) God Bless John 16:33 " I have told you these things,so that in me you will have peace.In this world you will have trouble.But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Response:

Hi Pete..

Hi Carol, Sorry to hear you’ve had such a bad weekend…thank God your little girl is ok…I’m a father of three, and your account sent a chill through me..

Thanks Pete..Yes it was a frightening moment but all is well now thank God.. I would be looking for a new therapist if I were you. I could be wrong, but I don’t think it’s really helpful for her to be psycho-analysing you to this degree, and suggesting how it’s your "choice" to be ill…. IMO, the therapy time would be better spent looking at more practical issues….such as coping strategies, etc. Why do you have to wait ages before you can get a different therapist ?

Here in UK I need to be referred for a therapist by my GP and it took 6 months to get me the one that I have now..I will not be going to see her again..I have asked my GP to refer me to a different one..I will keep hassling my GP until she comes up with something better.. take care, Pete

Carol.. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi ASAP.. Sorry that I’ve not been around much this weekend..  First of all my back has not been too good so I’ve spent a lot of time resting.. Well ..resting when I could! My 15 yr old son is giving me a lot of heartache at the moment and has certainly not let up any over this weekend.. He is rebelling in a very big way..He is dabbling in drugs right under my nose and to top it all yesterday my younger sister (she is 35!) was here at OUR house asking my son to get some for her!!  I just stood there in absolute dumbfounded amazement and let it happen.. I just couldnt believe what was going on.. I have been in a kind of zombie mode all weekend.. Nothing feels very real to me at the moment.. It wasnt until Ray stepped in that my brain actually connected!   I just dont know what I am doing at the moment..  If Ray had his way he would call the police about it all but it is just so hard to do that to my son..Logic tells me that we should but how the hell do I actually admit that I am failing as a Mum here..This is hurting me so much!!  Regardless of what my son is doing I still love him so much and I am so scared of what he is getting into.. To top it all..my little girl (8 yrs) was out playing with her friends this afternoon when 2 of her friends knocked at the door and said Alice had been hit by a car.. Thankfully she is fine.. She escaped with a couple of grazed elbows but she was obviously very shocked by it..Needless to say so was I!! I just feel now as if my nerves are shot through.. I cant think straight and just dont know what Im doing..  Ray is suffering anxiety big time because of all of this and I just dont know where to turn at the moment.. I feel as if I could just sit and sob at the moment but I think if I start I will just never stop.. I have no counsellor that I can go to for help..Her advice was that I had chosen to take the sick road..I have been seeing her because of anxiety and depression and she has given me no help whatsoever.. If anything she has just made thing worse for me..I now have to wait ages before I can get another one.. As you can see..not a good weekend at all..:-( Carol..

Response:

Hi ASAP.. Sorry that I’ve not been around much this weekend..  First of all my back has not been too good so I’ve spent a lot of time resting.. Well ..resting when I could!

Good for you !!!! My 15 yr old son is giving me a lot of heartache at the moment and has certainly not let up any over this weekend.. He is rebelling in a very big way..He is dabbling in drugs right under my nose and to top it all yesterday my younger sister (she is 35!) was here at OUR house asking my son to get some for her!!  I just stood there in absolute dumbfounded amazement and let it happen.. I just couldnt believe what was going on.. I have been in a kind of zombie mode all weekend.. Nothing feels very real to me at the moment.. It wasnt until Ray stepped in that my brain actually connected!   I just dont know what I am doing at the moment..  If Ray had his way he would call the police about it all but it is just so hard to do that to my son..Logic tells me that we should but how the hell do I actually admit that I am failing as a Mum here..This is hurting me so much!!  Regardless of what my son is doing I still love him so much and I am so scared of what he is getting into..

Carol,we will allways love our children regardless…… Mark is a heroinaddict for 8 years now and it did not change my feelings towards him. But sometimes loving your child means to act very fermly. I did not do this with Mark,but you have an opportunity Your son is still young and can be corrected !!!! I think ( I know this sounds cruel to you ) that Ray is right. Let the police step in,set your boundaries ASAP You can talk to him first,but if things go as usual he really should be corrected in a ferm fashion. Maybe you can ask someone from the police to talk with you first. So you have an idea what will happen before you call. If this is beyond you,you might want to look in some other possibillities. When mark was denying and terrorising our family,in the end I picked him up at his work Drove him to the Drugcounseling,let him pee there. he was possitive on everything. After that we had a much better understanding I think cause of the fact I stood up to him. I actually think your son is yelling "Look at me,stop me" To top it all..my little girl (8 yrs) was out playing with her friends this afternoon when 2 of her friends knocked at the door and said Alice had been hit by a car.. Thankfully she is fine.. She escaped with a couple of grazed elbows but she was obviously very shocked by it..Needless to say so was I!!

Glad she is allright :-) I just feel now as if my nerves are shot through.. I cant think straight and just dont know what Im doing..  Ray is suffering anxiety big time because of all of this and I just dont know where to turn at the moment..

To us and you did :-) See ?  You are making progress here In the past you would go under instead of telling us your worries. I feel as if I could just sit and sob at the moment but I think if I start I will just never stop.. I have no counsellor that I can go to for help..Her advice was that I had chosen to take the sick road..I have been seeing her because of anxiety and depression and she has given me no help whatsoever.. If anything she has just made thing worse for me..I now have to wait ages before I can get another one..

You know what I think of your counselor (shithead-bigtime) I found my counselot through a friend that told me there was a foundation against sexual abuse. Maybe you can search in that direction My experience is very uplifting and ther was no waitinglist :) Take this in your own hands Hun and dunnot wait untill someone is kind enough to *help* you You need a person to talk to,you really do !!!! As you can see..not a good weekend at all..:-(

I hope your week will be better,let me know :-) Carol..

Ferm hug for Carol (and family)

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi ASAP.. Sorry that I’ve not been around much this weekend..  First of all my back has not been too good so I’ve spent a lot of time resting.. Well ..resting when I could! My 15 yr old son is giving me a lot of heartache at the moment and has certainly not let up any over this weekend.. He is rebelling in a very big way..He is dabbling in drugs right under my nose and to top it all yesterday my younger sister (she is 35!) was here at OUR house asking my son to get some for her!!  I just stood there in absolute dumbfounded amazement and let it happen.. I just couldnt believe what was going on.. I have been in a kind of zombie mode all weekend.. Nothing feels very real to me at the moment.. It wasnt until Ray stepped in that my brain actually connected!   I just dont know what I am doing at the moment..  If Ray had his way he would call the police about it all but it is just so hard to do that to my son..Logic tells me that we should but how the hell do I actually admit that I am failing as a Mum here..This is hurting me so much!!  Regardless of what my son is doing I still love him so much and I am so scared of what he is getting into.. To top it all..my little girl (8 yrs) was out playing with her friends this afternoon when 2 of her friends knocked at the door and said Alice had been hit by a car.. Thankfully she is fine.. She escaped with a couple of grazed elbows but she was obviously very shocked by it..Needless to say so was I!! I just feel now as if my nerves are shot through.. I cant think straight and just dont know what Im doing..  Ray is suffering anxiety big time because of all of this and I just dont know where to turn at the moment.. I feel as if I could just sit and sob at the moment but I think if I start I will just never stop.. I have no counsellor that I can go to for help..Her advice was that I had chosen to take the sick road..I have been seeing her because of anxiety and depression and she has given me no help whatsoever.. If anything she has just made thing worse for me..I now have to wait ages before I can get another one..

Dear Carol, What a stressful weekend for you :( (( I am glad that your daughter is okay, that had to be terrifying when told she had been hit by a car. I know it can be tough to deal with teenagers, but when it comes to drugs, you need to deal a firm hand. One thing you should do is forbid your sister in your house, what she pulled is really bad.  Is there any help you can get your son? Drug counseling, perhaps at his school? I hope you have a much better week, I`ll be thinking of you!! {{{{{Carol}}}}} Jackie ~My lifetime friends I find,are as the pebbles I have collected from the beach.Each one beautiful in its own way,wonderful to hold and each unique. When viewed together in a crystal bowl, there are one or two that appear as pure gems in my collection

Response:

Well, I wish I could come over and just clear it all up for you….but ahhhh, not possible (although weren’t you guys shipping groceries to me? LOL) As for your son.  Yes, I see the points both you AND Ray make. Perhaps a step just a little less drastic than actually calling the police on him might be to call them FOR him.  See if there is any way an officer could come by and talk to your son.  You can love him all you want, but you haven’t failed as a mom just because he makes bad choices.  An officer would be able to put in the reality of the weight of the decisions he is making at such a young age…they usually are pretty good at scaring the kids that they think really listen.  It has worked before I know. Now as for your sister….THAT you have control over.  You tell her in no uncertain terms that she is NEVER to pull a stunt like that again. You could definitely scare her (if that were your intentions) because there are laws here (I am sure similar ones there) against contributing to minors….tell her you love her, but quite plainly you have no desire to have her be any kind of influence on your children if she doesn’t straighten herself up~ As for Alice….YIKES!  I can’t even imagine that one.  Wouldn’t have a clue…would probably have passed right out! UGH!  Thank God she is ok. Just remember…giving birth to them, loving them, and giving them every opportunity YOU humanly can is ALL a parent can do.  Beyond that, the choices they make are made without you.  You couldn’t fail these kids as a mother because you love them.  Do you honestly think you could change your son?  No, and that is how it should be.  Give him the best advice you have….don’t go down that road kind of advice, let him know you don’t approve and you feel it is beyond a normal request to keep such things away from your home.  If he insists on doing things outside your home, there is little you can do that won’t just push him farther.  It has to be his choice and if you make him realize the consequences of these actions won’t be in your control…like if he is caught with drugs, you can’t save him from jail etc.  you can’t save him from overdose, you can’t ‘fix’ what problems he will end up with.  So show him you care, and simply tell him if he wishes to ruin his life, to have enough respect not to ruin yours in the process. I dont’ know how else to put it….wish I did.  I’d take him into the prison I worked at and let him see where that goes.  They all think they are invincible at that age, but when he looks into the eyes of someone only 3 years older that is in for life, it seems to make a small dent. R – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hi ASAP.. Sorry that I’ve not been around much this weekend..  First of all my back has not been too good so I’ve spent a lot of time resting.. Well ..resting when I could! My 15 yr old son is giving me a lot of heartache at the moment and has certainly not let up any over this weekend.. He is rebelling in a very big way..He is dabbling in drugs right under my nose and to top it all yesterday my younger sister (she is 35!) was here at OUR house asking my son to get some for her!!  I just stood there in absolute dumbfounded amazement and let it happen.. I just couldnt believe what was going on.. I have been in a kind of zombie mode all weekend.. Nothing feels very real to me at the moment.. It wasnt until Ray stepped in that my brain actually connected!   I just dont know what I am doing at the moment..  If Ray had his way he would call the police about it all but it is just so hard to do that to my son..Logic tells me that we should but how the hell do I actually admit that I am failing as a Mum here..This is hurting me so much!!  Regardless of what my son is doing I still love him so much and I am so scared of what he is getting into.. To top it all..my little girl (8 yrs) was out playing with her friends this afternoon when 2 of her friends knocked at the door and said Alice had been hit by a car.. Thankfully she is fine.. She escaped with a couple of grazed elbows but she was obviously very shocked by it..Needless to say so was I!! I just feel now as if my nerves are shot through.. I cant think straight and just dont know what Im doing..  Ray is suffering anxiety big time because of all of this and I just dont know where to turn at the moment.. I feel as if I could just sit and sob at the moment but I think if I start I will just never stop.. I have no counsellor that I can go to for help..Her advice was that I had chosen to take the sick road..I have been seeing her because of anxiety and depression and she has given me no help whatsoever.. If anything she has just made thing worse for me..I now have to wait ages before I can get another one.. As you can see..not a good weekend at all..:-( Carol..

Response:

Hi ASAP.. Sorry that I’ve not been around much this weekend..  First of all my back has not been too good so I’ve spent a lot of time resting.. Well ..resting when I could! My 15 yr old son is giving me a lot of heartache at the moment and has certainly not let up any over this weekend.. He is rebelling in a very big way..He is dabbling in drugs right under my nose and to top it all yesterday my younger sister (she is 35!) was here at OUR house asking my son to get some for her!!  I just stood there in absolute dumbfounded amazement and let it happen.. I just couldnt believe what was going on.. I have been in a kind of zombie mode all weekend.. Nothing feels very real to me at the moment.. It wasnt until Ray stepped in that my brain actually connected!   I just dont know what I am doing at the moment..  If Ray had his way he would call the police about it all but it is just so hard to do that to my son..Logic tells me that we should but how the hell do I actually admit that I am failing as a Mum here..This is hurting me so much!!  Regardless of what my son is doing I still love him so much and I am so scared of what he is getting into.. To top it all..my little girl (8 yrs) was out playing with her friends this afternoon when 2 of her friends knocked at the door and said Alice had been hit by a car.. Thankfully she is fine.. She escaped with a couple of grazed elbows but she was obviously very shocked by it..Needless to say so was I!! I just feel now as if my nerves are shot through.. I cant think straight and just dont know what Im doing..  Ray is suffering anxiety big time because of all of this and I just dont know where to turn at the moment.. I feel as if I could just sit and sob at the moment but I think if I start I will just never stop.. I have no counsellor that I can go to for help..Her advice was that I had chosen to take the sick road..I have been seeing her because of anxiety and depression and she has given me no help whatsoever.. If anything she has just made thing worse for me..I now have to wait ages before I can get another one.. As you can see..not a good weekend at all..:-( Carol..

Response:

Hi Carol, Sorry to hear you’ve had such a bad weekend…thank God your little girl is ok…I’m a father of three, and your account sent a chill through me.. I would be looking for a new therapist if I were you. I could be wrong, but I don’t think it’s really helpful for her to be psycho-analysing you to this degree, and suggesting how it’s your "choice" to be ill…. IMO, the therapy time would be better spent looking at more practical issues….such as coping strategies, etc. Why do you have to wait ages before you can get a different therapist ? take care, Pete

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi ASAP.. Sorry that I’ve not been around much this weekend..  First of all my back has not been too good so I’ve spent a lot of time resting.. Well ..resting when I could! My 15 yr old son is giving me a lot of heartache at the moment and has certainly not let up any over this weekend.. He is rebelling in a very big way..He is dabbling in drugs right under my nose and to top it all yesterday my younger sister (she is 35!) was here at OUR house asking my son to get some for her!!  I just stood there in absolute dumbfounded amazement and let it happen.. I just couldnt believe what was going on.. I have been in a kind of zombie mode all weekend.. Nothing feels very real to me at the moment.. It wasnt until Ray stepped in that my brain actually connected!   I just dont know what I am doing at the moment..  If Ray had his way he would call the police about it all but it is just so hard to do that to my son..Logic tells me that we should but how the hell do I actually admit that I am failing as a Mum here..This is hurting me so much!!  Regardless of what my son is doing I still love him so much and I am so scared of what he is getting into.. To top it all..my little girl (8 yrs) was out playing with her friends this afternoon when 2 of her friends knocked at the door and said Alice had been hit by a car.. Thankfully she is fine.. She escaped with a couple of grazed elbows but she was obviously very shocked by it..Needless to say so was I!! I just feel now as if my nerves are shot through.. I cant think straight and just dont know what Im doing..  Ray is suffering anxiety big time because of all of this and I just dont know where to turn at the moment.. I feel as if I could just sit and sob at the moment but I think if I start I will just never stop.. I have no counsellor that I can go to for help..Her advice was that I had chosen to take the sick road..I have been seeing her because of anxiety and depression and she has given me no help whatsoever.. If anything she has just made thing worse for me..I now have to wait ages before I can get another one.. As you can see..not a good weekend at all..:-( Carol..

Response:

PLEASE HELP ME

Question:

Hey how would I look at  this if  I happened NOT to be CHRISTIAN? Not everybody is.

Response:

Hi I am a theological student and I am trying to identify how I can be more helpful and a better servant of my community. I need your input. If you could answer a couple of questions for me I would appreciate it greatly. You 1. What do you think are the reasons most people do not attend church.

Actually, I think a majority of Americans *do* attend church, although perhaps not *every* week. Maybe you’re barking up the wrong tree… — Be well, Barbara (Julian [7/22/97] and Aurora’s [7/19/99] mom) Visit us at http://dreamwater.net/guavaln

Response:

Hi I am a theological student and I am trying to identify how I can be more helpful and a better servant of my community. I need your input. If you could answer a couple of questions for me I would appreciate it greatly. You 1. What do you think are the reasons most people do not attend church. Actually, I think a majority of Americans *do* attend church, although perhaps not *every* week. Maybe you’re barking up the wrong tree… —

I read his question to mean:  "Of those who do not attend church…."

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi I am a theological student and I am trying to identify how I can be more helpful and a better servant of my community. I need your input. If you could answer a couple of questions for me I would appreciate it greatly. You 1. What do you think are the reasons most people do not attend church. Actually, I think a majority of Americans *do* attend church, although perhaps not *every* week. Maybe you’re barking up the wrong tree… — I read his question to mean:  "Of those who do not attend church…."

Yes, that’s probably what he meant. I was being a bit facetious. But the fact is, *most* Americans do go to church. America is the most religious of all Western nations, far ahead of European countries even though many of them still have state-sponsored churches. We don’t really need more church-going in this country and we don’t need churches getting more involved in charity and community service. They’re doing, I think, a pretty good job. What we need is more secular organizations to serve the needs of those who are not religious and would like to get help without being proselytized. Wish someone would tell this to our current president… — Be well, Barbara (Julian [7/22/97] and Aurora’s [7/19/99, BCH] mom) Visit us at http://dreamwater.net/guavaln

Response:

America is the most religious of all Western nations, far ahead of European countries even though many of them still have state-sponsored churches.

I would say that America is far behind, rather than far ahead of Europe since the trend is to move away from religion.  In both Europe and the US, you will see that it has become much more socially acceptable to proclaim one’s athiesm over time.  So the US is heading the way of Europe in this way and it’s progress. Chris

Response:

I’m assuming this is a troll or joke, but just in case… Hi I am a theological student and I am trying to identify how I can be more helpful and a better servant of my community.

What makes us experts on _your_ community? I need your input. If you could answer a couple of questions for me I would appreciate it greatly. You

I hope you’re reading the group. 1. What do you think are the reasons most people do not attend church [anymore].

Improved education over past times. 2. Do you attend any organization, club, or society on a regular basis? Why? Why not?

I am a LEGO hobbyist and attend our local LUG meetings. 3. What positive or negative experiences have you had with churches?

I was tormented as a child by zealous church goers because I was raised in a household that presented Atheism as the most likely accurate belief scheme. 4. What is the greatest need in your community?

Educational institutions that provide an atmosphere of liberty so that kids can spend time learning what they’re interested in instead of the garbage that society thinks is important. 5. What role do you think the church should play in meeting community needs?

Whatever role the members want.  I’m not a church member so I don’t get a say. 6. If you do/ or were to attend church regularly, what do or how would you expect the church to help you?

Get me psychiatric attention until I stopped attending. 7.  Is there anything else that you would like to share with me that you would like me to know.

Why would I? Chris

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi I am a theological student and I am trying to identify how I can be more helpful and a better servant of my community. I need your input. If you could answer a couple of questions for me I would appreciate it greatly. You 1. What do you think are the reasons most people do not attend church. Actually, I think a majority of Americans *do* attend church, although perhaps not *every* week. Maybe you’re barking up the wrong tree… — I read his question to mean:  "Of those who do not attend church…." Yes, that’s probably what he meant. I was being a bit facetious. But the fact is, *most* Americans do go to church. America is the most religious of all Western nations, far ahead of European countries even though many of them still have state-sponsored churches.

Well, I grew up in Oregon, with the smallest number of church goers in our 50 states. EIther way, his quesiton made sense to me. We don’t really need more church-going in this country and we don’t need churches getting more involved in charity and community service. They’re doing, I think, a pretty good job. What we need is more secular organizations to serve the needs of those who are not religious and would like to get help without being proselytized. Wish someone would tell this to our current president…

Don’t get us started on W and religion!

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Actually I am not meaning to be a troll, and I am very much accustom to insults about my faith. I actually somewhat enjoy the insults and humors responses. while some are a bit painful. most are creative and encourage me to think. My purpose here though is more social in nature than spiritual. I, like many, feel that the church has not and is not doing its social duty in the community , especially when it comes to helping single parents and children, and am seeking ideas on how I can best be a servant to people instead of an albatross, or the reminder of past abuses. I too spent most of my life angry at the church and in fact I still am. My frustration is the reasons for the questions, not as part of homework(other than I wrote out the questions at home), or out of a need for a challenge about faith, but out of a desire to be a better servant than many who have served in the church before me. I believe that some in the group found me invasive and wanting to express my views or to judge. This was not my intention. I thank you all for your comments.  As for the comment by the one writer, "so why don’t you haul your lazy butt out of the chair and go meet with some people in  your ‘community." Actually I felt that this would be a better way to find solutions than to ask people face to face. To me that would have been much more offensive. Again sorry for the intrusion. Francis

oh for heaven’s sake — someone who wants to be a ’servant’ to his community and is not able or willing to interact with community members is in the wrong line of work.

Response:

Hi I am a theological student and I am trying to identify how I can be more helpful and a better servant of my community. I need your input. If you could answer a couple of questions for me I would appreciate it greatly. You 1. What do you think are the reasons most people do not attend church.

For me, it was crammed down my throat all throughout my childhood.  Now, in adulthood, I have come to find that the VAST mahority of religious ("religious") people are nothing more than the hypocrites I was taught about IN church ‘lo those many years ago.  People with religion are the most judgmental beings you will ever come across in your life, the most non accepting people of anyone outside their "circle" of "religion."  ANd more and more people are realizing this and, thus, do not attend church. 2. Do you attend any organization, club, or society on a regular basis? Why? Why not?

I attent the YMCA to kick ass in the raquetball courts about three times a week.  Why?  Because I like it.  Why not anything else?  Nothing has presented itself yet and I’m a parent without much free time.  Raquetball is hard enough to get to with the kids and all. 3. What positive or negative experiences have you had with churches?

See response in No. 1. 4. What is the greatest need in your community?

Same as in any other community across this country lately.  A decent living income for families. 5. What role do you think the church should play in meeting community

needs? It wouldn’t matter.  Churches tend to only help those in their circles, and only the ones who run the churches are ever the ones with the fat pockets after all. 6. If you do/ or were to attend church regularly, what do or how would you expect the church to help you?

Isn’t the old adage God helps those who help themselves?  I think I heard that once from a fat pocketed minister during a sermon.  He then drove home in his Mercedes with a nice Rolex on his wrist. 7.  Is there anything else that you would like to share with me that you would like me to know.

Watch the movie "Stigmata."  Then watch "Dogma." AJPDLA

Response:

Actually I am not meaning to be a troll, and I am very much accustom to insults about my faith. I actually somewhat enjoy the insults and humors responses. while some are a bit painful. most are creative and encourage me to think. My purpose here though is more social in nature than spiritual.

ok – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I, like many, feel that the church has not and is not doing its social duty in the community , especially when it comes to helping single parents and children, and am seeking ideas on how I can best be a servant to people instead of an albatross, or the reminder of past abuses. I too spent most of my life angry at the church and in fact I still am.   My frustration is the reasons for the questions, not as part of homework(other than I wrote out the questions at home), or out of a need for a challenge about faith, but out of a desire to be a better servant than many who have served in the church before me. I believe that some in the group found me invasive and wanting to express my views or to judge. This was not my intention. I thank you all for your comments.  As for the comment by the one writer, "so why don’t you haul your lazy butt out of the chair and go meet with some people in  your ‘community." Actually I felt that this would be a better way to find solutions than to ask people face to face. To me that would have been much more offensive. Again sorry for the intrusion. Francis

It’s not so much that this is an intrusion, but that on a newsgroup you are speaking to people from all over the world.  aps has people posting from Canada, from the UK, from New Zealand and Australia as well as from various parts of the US.   You can’t tell the needs of *your* community by asking those here. Dorothy By the way, if you aren’t a troll and are sincere, be prepared to be insulted.

There is no sound, no cry in all the world that can be heard unless someone listens .. source unknown

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – America is the most religious of all Western nations, far ahead of European countries even though many of them still have state-sponsored churches. I would say that America is far behind, rather than far ahead of Europe since the trend is to move away from religion.  In both Europe and the US, you will see that it has become much more socially acceptable to proclaim one’s athiesm over time.  So the US is heading the way of Europe in this way and it’s progress. Are you saying that it should be socially *un*acceptable for people to proclaim their atheism? I think I must have written something unclearly because both of the responses that I see seem to have thought that I meant the opposite of what I did.  I meant that Europe is ahead of the US in religious (and lack thereof) tolerance.  I think that it _should_ be socially acceptable for people to be openly atheist.  But is isn’t even today in all places.

I think that you may find that it is rather socially unacceptable to declare any type of faith or agnosticism in most social contexts in the US, other than social events directly associated with a particular religious organization.  So many seem to be so quick to immediately judge one’s behavior as soon as they find out one has any sort of religious belief structure [or agnosticism], and often find the individual to be wanting in some area.  I have seen this in New England and in Florida.  I have seen this directed towards those who worship the Goddess, Druids, Catholics, Evangelical Christians, Pentecostal Christians, mainstream Christians, Jews, Buddhists, agnostics, and hari-krishnas.  People just seem to be too quick to judge those who are different in some way from themselves, or so it seems. -Aula

Response:

Hi I am a theological student and I am trying to identify how I can be more helpful and a better servant of my community. I need your input. If you could answer a couple of questions for me I would appreciate it greatly. You 1. What do you think are the reasons most people do not attend church. Actually, I think a majority of Americans *do* attend church, although perhaps not *every* week. Maybe you’re barking up the wrong tree…

A majority of Americans attend church A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR! Only a very small minority go more anywhere NEAR half the time. Steve

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – America is the most religious of all Western nations, far ahead of European countries even though many of them still have state-sponsored churches. I would say that America is far behind, rather than far ahead of Europe since the trend is to move away from religion.  In both Europe and the US, you will see that it has become much more socially acceptable to proclaim one’s athiesm over time.  So the US is heading the way of Europe in this way and it’s progress. Are you saying that it should be socially *un*acceptable for people to proclaim their atheism?

I think I must have written something unclearly because both of the responses that I see seem to have thought that I meant the opposite of what I did.  I meant that Europe is ahead of the US in religious (and lack thereof) tolerance.  I think that it _should_ be socially acceptable for people to be openly atheist.  But is isn’t even today in all places. Chris

Response:

Actually I am not meaning to be a troll, and I am very much accustom to insults about my faith. I actually somewhat enjoy the insults and humors responses. while some are a bit painful. most are creative and encourage me to think. My purpose here though is more social in nature than spiritual. I, like many, feel that the church has not and is not doing its social duty in the community , especially when it comes to helping single parents and children, and am seeking ideas on how I can best be a servant to people instead of an albatross, or the reminder of past abuses. I too spent most of my life angry at the church and in fact I still am. My frustration is the reasons for the questions, not as part of homework(other than I wrote out the questions at home), or out of a need for a challenge about faith, but out of a desire to be a better servant than many who have served in the church before me. I believe that some in the group found me invasive and wanting to express my views or to judge. This was not my intention. I thank you all for your comments.  As for the comment by the one writer, "so why don’t you haul your lazy butt out of the chair and go meet with some people in  your ‘community." Actually I felt that this would be a better way to find solutions than to ask people face to face. To me that would have been much more offensive. Again sorry for the intrusion. Francis

By the way, if you aren’t a troll and are sincere, be prepared to be

insulted.

Response:

America is the most religious of all Western nations, far ahead of European countries even though many of them still have state-sponsored churches. I would say that America is far behind, rather than far ahead of Europe since the trend is to move away from religion. Please see http://www.religioustolerance.org/rel_comp.htm. Americans are *way* ahead of the other countries surveyed when it comes to belief in God and other spiritual matter (ahead, in fact, of even Israel!).

I agree (and agreed in my response) that the US is Godlier than European nations.  What I was trying to point out, is that since the trend, in both locales, is a movement away from religion, it is more appropriate to say that we are behind Europe.  I now see that I quoted the wrong part of your note, and made my response non sequitor(sp?).  Sorry about that. In both Europe and the US, you will see that it has become much more socially acceptable to proclaim one’s athiesm over time.  So the US is heading the way of Europe in this way and it’s progress. I never said that there was intolerance of a-religious people in America (although you’d be amazed how many schoolkids who proclaim they are atheists are tormented by their schoolmates as a result–I’ve known a good half-dozen personally).

Right.  I was saying that there is this kind of intolerance, and that it is less now than thirty, sixty, and two hundred years ago. What I said was that Americans are by far the most religious of the Westernized nations, and I stand by that assertion.

Me too. Chris

Response:

America is the most religious of all Western nations, far ahead of European countries even though many of them still have state-sponsored churches. I would say that America is far behind, rather than far ahead of Europe since the trend is to move away from religion.

Please see http://www.religioustolerance.org/rel_comp.htm. Americans are *way* ahead of the other countries surveyed when it comes to belief in God and other spiritual matter (ahead, in fact, of even Israel!). In both Europe and the US, you will see that it has become much more socially acceptable to proclaim one’s athiesm over time.  So the US is heading the way of Europe in this way and it’s progress.

I never said that there was intolerance of a-religious people in America (although you’d be amazed how many schoolkids who proclaim they are atheists are tormented by their schoolmates as a result–I’ve known a good half-dozen personally). What I said was that Americans are by far the most religious of the Westernized nations, and I stand by that assertion. — Be well, Barbara (Julian [7/22/97] and Aurora’s [7/19/99] mom) Visit us at http://dreamwater.net/guavaln

Response:

America is the most religious of all Western nations, far ahead of European countries even though many of them still have state-sponsored churches. I would say that America is far behind, rather than far ahead of Europe since the trend is to move away from religion.  In both Europe and the US, you will see that it has become much more socially acceptable to proclaim one’s athiesm over time.  So the US is heading the way of Europe in this way and it’s progress.

Are you saying that it should be socially *un*acceptable for people to proclaim their atheism?

Response:

By the way, if you aren’t a troll and are sincere, be prepared to be insulted. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi I am a theological student and I am trying to identify how I can be more helpful and a better servant of my community. I need your input. If you could answer a couple of questions for me I would appreciate it greatly. You 1. What do you think are the reasons most people do not attend church. 2. Do you attend any organization, club, or society on a regular basis? Why? Why not? 3. What positive or negative experiences have you had with churches? 4. What is the greatest need in your community? 5. What role do you think the church should play in meeting community needs? 6. If you do/ or were to attend church regularly, what do or how would you expect the church to help you? 7.  Is there anything else that you would like to share with me that you would like me to know.

Response:

Hi I am a theological student and I am trying to identify how I can be more helpful and a better servant of my community. I need your input. If you could answer a couple of questions for me I would appreciate it greatly. You 1. What do you think are the reasons most people do not attend church.

All of our lives are very busy with few extra hours.  We do much better when we can attend church at varying times. 2. Do you attend any organization, club, or society on a regular basis? Why? Why not?

Only church activity – between family, work, and home, there isn’t time. 3. What positive or negative experiences have you had with churches?

I have had many positive and wonderful experiences in church – we love to "visit" many varied churches at least once a month.  The only negative aspect I have had with church are "dead" churches where there is no spirit……  you know, three songs, a sermon, let’s leave. 4. What is the greatest need in your community?

Drug counseling for kids.  Counseling for kids period. 5. What role do you think the church should play in meeting community needs?

I think they play many roles – our church has many many programs for all ages, and really has a great youth program.  Those roles are very important.  They now have a substance abuse center that is small but growing, a 4 month live-in program and also free support groups at night. 6. If you do/ or were to attend church regularly, what do or how would you expect the church to help you?

I hope I covered that above.  Counseling, time to help families with whatever. We do this a lot with our church. 7.  Is there anything else that you would like to share with me that you would like me to know.

Good luck in  your studies.

Response:

1. What do you think are the reasons most people do not attend church.

I think that most people don’t find it relevant enough to real life, or important enough, to justify the time in an increasingly busy life.   Others may not have anything but ‘cultural’ religion (went as a child, never bought into it emotionally).  It doesn’t seem to add enough to a life, to justify the time spent. 2. Do you attend any organization, club, or society on a regular basis? Why? Why not?

Yes.   I have a number of clubs, and one organization/charity to which I devote a lot of discretionary time, attention and a bit of cash.  I have friends in these groups, the structure provides me a sense of community, and the culture is humous, accepting, open minded and intelligent. 3. What positive or negative experiences have you had with churches?

I never felt anything but bored in church.  It was a chore.  The family eventually stopped  going out of a lack of personal relevance, interest and time.   As I have gotten older, what I see of organized religion is a desire to influence politics and childrearing in ways that support particular churches.  It leaves me very, very cold.   I have become increasingly anti-organized religion.  Particularly those that proselytize. 4. What is the greatest need in your community?

More small, independant shops (no more of that gap/starbucks crap), support for working families, and women with children, better education of our kids. 5. What role do you think the church should play in meeting community

needs?  I think the church should limit it’s activities to the individuals in it’s community, and stay the hell out of mine.   I’m not interested in the political/ethical efforts of a church to which I do not belong.   Stay the hell out of government, and focus your attention on helping the individual members of your congregation.  Surely that will provide enough work? 6. If you do/ or were to attend church regularly, what do or how would you expect the church to help you?

I don’t attend church, nor am I interested in any assistance from organized religion.   If I were a more devout type, I would look to the church to meet the needs that I, personally, get met elsewhere:  community, friendship, assistance, intellectual stimulation.   If my charity group can provide those things, why can’t a church?   Still, I don’t get the sense that that happens. 7.  Is there anything else that you would like to share with me that you would like me to know.

It is nice that you have a particular brand of faith.   It is not nice when you assume that you have the One True Answer, and inflict your beliefs on those of us who do not share them.  Stay the hell out of public schools, political debate, etc.   That isn’t your job.

Response:

Hi I am a theological student and I am trying to identify how I can be more helpful and a better servant of my community. I need your input. If you could answer a couple of questions for me I would appreciate it greatly. You 1. What do you think are the reasons most people do not attend church.

Because they can’t FUCK there. 2. Do you attend any organization, club, or society on a regular basis? Why? Why not?

Because there are too many insufferable religious pricks around those kind of places. 3. What positive or negative experiences have you had with churches?

All negative. 4. What is the greatest need in your community?

A good place for teens to have groupsex. 5. What role do you think the church should play in meeting community needs?

The distribution of free condoms. 6. If you do/ or were to attend church regularly, what do or how would you expect the church to help you?

As a dating service, which is what they’ve been for hundreds of years. 7.  Is there anything else that you would like to share with me that you would like me to know.

All God needs is a good fuck. Steve

Response:

1. What do you think are the reasons most people do not attend church.

Because many who claim to be "of a religion" do so only because that’s how they’ve been trained to believe and not because of any deep-seeded, personal belief. For others, it’s because they do not believe one must go to a church to find God. And for still others, there is no belief in God at all. 2. Do you attend any organization, club, or society on a regular basis? Why? Why not?

Yes. I go to a readers’ book club and am an active participant in a number of professional organizations. I participate because they provide intellectual "stimulation" so to speak. I may drop the book club tho if they don’t start choosing better books! The last one was thinly disguised Christian pablam written according to a romance novel formula. I was laughing when I was supposed to be crying and I threw the darned book in the trash when I got done with it. 3. What positive or negative experiences have you had with churches?

The nuns whacked my knuckles with a ruler and pulled my hair. I often became physically ill while breathing in all that incenses. I still can’t eat a balogna sandwich. And every time I cross the street, I still whisper, "I’m on my way to confession, God! Really, I am!" I was discriminated against by Baptists and Holy Rollllller types for being Catholic. Ross Bagley provided many hours of amusement while I was nursing my first born as did the 700 Club and that lady with the hair and mascara. I’m repulsed by the book banning attitudes of many so-called Christian types, those afraid of ideas and words. 4. What is the greatest need in your community?

Quaint, ecletic, neighborhood restaurants not connected in any way to a chain restaurant. 5. What role do you think the church should play in meeting community needs?

To help from the heart and not in an effort to gain more converts. 6. If you do/ or were to attend church regularly, what do or how would you expect the church to help you?

I will never attend church. 7.  Is there anything else that you would like to share with me that you would like me to know.

Please don’t come knocking at my door to ask me to sign anti-gay petitions. I’ll slam the door in your face.

Response:

Hi I am a theological student and I am trying to identify how I can be more helpful and a better servant of my community. I need your input. If you could answer a couple of questions for me I would appreciate it greatly. You

so why don’t you haul your lazy butt out of the chair and go meet with some people in  your ‘community’ — and get THEIR input.  If you hope to be a better servant — then the first step is actual interaction with people not shortcutting your homework assignments. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 1. What do you think are the reasons most people do not attend church. 2. Do you attend any organization, club, or society on a regular basis? Why? Why not? 3. What positive or negative experiences have you had with churches? 4. What is the greatest need in your community? 5. What role do you think the church should play in meeting community needs? 6. If you do/ or were to attend church regularly, what do or how would you expect the church to help you? 7.  Is there anything else that you would like to share with me that you would like me to know.

Response:

Hi I am a theological student and I am trying to identify how I can be more helpful and a better servant of my community. I need your input. If you could answer a couple of questions for me I would appreciate it greatly. You 1. What do you think are the reasons most people do not attend church. 2. Do you attend any organization, club, or society on a regular basis? Why? Why not? 3. What positive or negative experiences have you had with churches? 4. What is the greatest need in your community? 5. What role do you think the church should play in meeting community needs? 6. If you do/ or were to attend church regularly, what do or how would you expect the church to help you? 7.  Is there anything else that you would like to share with me that you would like me to know.

Response:

Hi I am a theological student and I am trying to identify how I can be more helpful and a better servant of my community. I need your input. If you could answer a couple of questions for me I would appreciate it greatly. You 1. What do you think are the reasons most people do not attend church.

Because God doesn’t exist. 2. Do you attend any organization, club, or society on a regular basis? Why? Why not?

If smoking and joking at the local working class bar is a club, then I’m a card carrying member. 3. What positive or negative experiences have you had with churches?

They try to tell me what music I can listen to, what video games I can play, what I can watch on TV, and whether or not I can own a gun.  They also try to make me believe fairy tales about people coming back from the dead. 4. What is the greatest need in your community?

Jobs, money, better Chinese. 5. What role do you think the church should play in meeting community needs?

Stop harassing people. 6. If you do/ or were to attend church regularly, what do or how would you expect the church to help you?

I could pick up girls there. 7.  Is there anything else that you would like to share with me that you would like me to know.

I recently purchased a kangaroo scrotum off eBay.

Response:

I`m desperatly seeking a manual of Ford Sierra 2,0. If someone have please let me know. I would be very gratefull  for scan or any kind of literature.

Response:

I`m desperatly seeking a manual of Ford Sierra 2,0. If someone have please let me know. I would be very gratefull  for scan or any kind of literature.

What year model? — * WARNING *   Reply address may contain anti spam. Kevin Mouton Automotive Instructor http://www.eatel.net/~kevinm/homepage.htm  "If women don’t find you handsome,   they should at least find you handy" Red Green

Response:

 Hi I need help in purchasing an amp. I wanted something that would be loud enough to play over drums. I have asked people what they thought but I end getting contrasting opinoins. So I was hoping someone could help me and tell me what a good kind would be to buy. I would be playing alternative rock on the amp if that helps anyone. Thanks a Lot     Could you email me all responses

Response:

 Hi I need help in purchasing an amp. I wanted something that would be loud enough to play over drums. I have asked people what they thought but I end getting contrasting opinoins. So I was hoping someone could help me and tell me what a good kind would be to buy. I would be playing alternative rock on the amp if that helps anyone.

 Dear ‘Senorfrog2′ (what happened to Senorfrog1?)  I’ve been playing a Marshall Valvestate 100 (model 8100) watt head  with matching cabs for around 18 months and I really recommend. It  offers a wide variety of tones, from clean to jazzy, bluesy, rock or  fingernails-down-a-blackboard metal – you name it. Anyway – my band  is alternative rock and it works for me.  It’s got two channels – one is either clean/crunch and two is boost,  which itself has two levels of gain – blues and rock, separate eq’s,  fx loop, reverb, all the usual stuff and lots of goodies out the  back – MIDI etc.  It’s light(ish) compared to most amps, and compared to other Marshalls  is affordable – I paid around 500/600 pounds sterlings for mine including  two 2 x 12 cabs – what’s that in US – around 800/900 bucks? OK, that’s  not exactly entry-level amplification, but there are other Valvestate  models which are even more affordable and offer pretty much the same  features. AND it’s got a tube in the pre-amp (boost channel) so your  valve amp purists pals won’t wet themselves laughing at you.  Of course, there are lots of other options amp-wise, I suggest you keep  an eye on this newsgroup for a few weeks and you’ll get more of an idea  what’s out there. Buying second-hand gear is an excellent way of  increasing the amp-for-bucks ratio, but I would suggest you take a  knowledgable friend with you. Good shopping!  Dan James  "Catch you on the circuit"

Response:

LOOK INTO A NATUAL HORMONE PRODUCT CALLED… ESTRATEST HS TABS. IT IS MADE FROM YAMS INSTEAD OF HORSE PEE-PEE, AND IT MOST CLOSELY RESEMBLES OUR NATURAL HORMONES PRIOR TO THE PROCESSES THAT BRING US INTO A STATE THAT WE NO LONGER PRODUCE THESE HORMONES NATURALLY. YOU MUST GET THEM BY PRESCRIPTION ONLY./ IT WILL CHANGE YOU LIFE, HOWEVER DOES NOTHING FOR THE ARTHRITIS. I DON’T KNOW OF ANYTHING YET THAT ELIMINATES THE PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH ARTHRITIS, HOWEVER THIS WILL HELP YOU IN THE AREAS THAT WE FEMALES FACE.

Response:

LOOK INTO A NATUAL HORMONE PRODUCT CALLED… ESTRATEST HS TABS. IT IS MADE FROM YAMS INSTEAD OF HORSE PEE-PEE, AND IT MOST CLOSELY RESEMBLES OUR NATURAL HORMONES PRIOR TO THE PROCESSES THAT BRING US INTO A STATE THAT WE NO LONGER PRODUCE THESE HORMONES NATURALLY. YOU MUST GET THEM BY PRESCRIPTION ONLY./ IT WILL CHANGE YOU LIFE, HOWEVER DOES NOTHING FOR THE ARTHRITIS. I DON’T KNOW OF ANYTHING YET THAT ELIMINATES THE PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH ARTHRITIS, HOWEVER THIS WILL HELP YOU IN THE AREAS THAT WE FEMALES FACE.

Pls don’t use all CAPS when posting to the NG. It’s NG policy. Thanks…

Response:

        This brings up the interesting philosophical question of whether female human beings are evolutionarily closer to female horses or yams. The implication being that yams are more "natural" than horses and thus we are closer to yams than to horses.         Perhaps it was Olive and not Popeye who said I yam what I yam what I yam. Regards, Susan Hoch, M.D. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – LOOK INTO A NATUAL HORMONE PRODUCT CALLED… ESTRATEST HS TABS. IT IS MADE FROM YAMS INSTEAD OF HORSE PEE-PEE, AND IT MOST CLOSELY RESEMBLES OUR NATURAL HORMONES PRIOR TO THE PROCESSES THAT BRING US INTO A STATE THAT WE NO LONGER PRODUCE THESE HORMONES NATURALLY. YOU MUST GET THEM BY PRESCRIPTION ONLY./ IT WILL CHANGE YOU LIFE, HOWEVER DOES NOTHING FOR THE ARTHRITIS. I DON’T KNOW OF ANYTHING YET THAT ELIMINATES THE PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH ARTHRITIS, HOWEVER THIS WILL HELP YOU IN THE AREAS THAT WE FEMALES FACE. Pls don’t use all CAPS when posting to the NG. It’s NG policy. Thanks…

Susan Hoch                    

Response:

       This brings up the interesting philosophical question of

whether female human beings are evolutionarily closer to female horses or yams. The implication being that yams are more "natural" than horses and thus we are closer to yams than to horses.        Perhaps it was Olive and not Popeye who said I yam what I yam what I yam. << I dunno Doc, that science is well over my head, but I think most of think you’re a real peach. !^NavFont02F01570007RGHHH585B49 !N2

Response:

Yes i do know the pain of what you are feeling and there maybe just a cure but it’s a natural way my pain management doctor turned me on to it for more info e-mail me Levi lady3 p.s my husband took the stuff to lose weight he really thought it was b.s he lost 8 pounds his first week and I am taking less medication.

Response:

Sorry, you have me stumped.  This sounds like something you must discuss with the doctor.  It frankly doesn’t sound like Sjogren’s to me, and the fact that it hasn’t responded to Claritin at all makes it sound like maybe it isn’t an allergy… but then, maybe it is an allergy that simply isn’t responding to the Claritin. In any case, it does NOT sound like something to play around with on your own. Please see the doctor and let us know what he says. Best regards,

Response:

also could you possibly be allergic to your pillow or what it’s made from ? Just a thought! debbie

Response:

Lee, I wouldn’t just assume this is from allergy or try to self-diagnose. There are a number of things that could cause this kind of swelling. You need to see a doctor about it, and keep after them if you haven’t gotten a good answer.  Do you have a form of arthritis, I’m wondering because you posted this here.  It might possibly be a blood-vessel inflammation related to this is what occurred to me. It may be something as simple as a mold allergy as was suggested already, but don’t just assume, check it out!, OK? Liz G

Response:

I dont really know where else to turn.  For the past year or so I have slowly developed facial swelling that is somewhat disfiguring when I first wake up in the morning.  My lips, tongue, cheeks, eyelids are all swollen.  I was concerned that it may be Sjogrens but I wouldnt think it would involve all of those areas.  I have dry eyes but have plenty of saliva in my mouth.  Has anyone heard of this? Claritin doesnt seem to be helping at all. Lee Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

Sometimes you have to do a little personal investigation.  Years ago I had a problem with the same thing (not tongue swelling though).  Every morning when I woke up my face was swollen and my jaw hurt.  It progressively got worse over a 8 month period.  I was laying in bed and looked at the wall by my bed (made of cynder block).  I noticed a tiny crack that looked black in color.  Not very noticable.  I followed it around to my nightstand and around the wall behind my bed it was worse.  It was wear moisture was getting it.  When I looked behind my bed’s headboard it was  horrible.  Full of mold!!  I scrubbed with Lysol under my bed and also the walls and was cured.  For a long time I was very puzzled though.  Check your room.  Change your sheets.  Dust under your whole room.  Do you have a cat that sleeps with you?  Sometimes you can have a delayed reaction.  Look for anything that you might have started using when this started happening.  Night cream maybe? Let us know if you figure it out.  Good luck.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I dont really know where else to turn.  For the past year or so I have slowly developed facial swelling that is somewhat disfiguring when I first wake up in the morning.  My lips, tongue, cheeks, eyelids are all swollen.  I was concerned that it may be Sjogrens but I wouldnt think it would involve all of those areas.  I have dry eyes but have plenty of saliva in my mouth.  Has anyone heard of this? Claritin doesnt seem to be helping at all. Lee Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

are you drinking enough water? I know it seems contradictory, but when I swelled, it was due to lack of water in my body

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I dont really know where else to turn.  For the past year or so I have slowly developed facial swelling that is somewhat disfiguring when I first wake up in the morning.  My lips, tongue, cheeks, eyelids are all swollen.  I was concerned that it may be Sjogrens but I wouldnt think it would involve all of those areas.  I have dry eyes but have plenty of saliva in my mouth.  Has anyone heard of this? Claritin doesnt seem to be helping at all. Lee Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

LOOK INTO A NATUAL HORMONE PRODUCT CALLED… ESTRATEST HS TABS. IT IS MADE FROM YAMS INSTEAD OF HORSE PEE-PEE, AND IT MOST CLOSELY RESEMBLES OUR NATURAL HORMONES PRIOR TO THE PROCESSES THAT BRING US INTO A STATE THAT WE NO LONGER PRODUCE THESE HORMONES NATURALLY. YOU MUST GET THEM BY PRESCRIPTION ONLY./ IT WILL CHANGE YOU LIFE, HOWEVER DOES NOTHING FOR THE ARTHRITIS. I DON’T KNOW OF ANYTHING YET THAT ELIMINATES THE PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH ARTHRITIS, HOWEVER THIS WILL HELP YOU IN THE AREAS THAT WE FEMALES FACE.

Response:

LOOK INTO A NATUAL HORMONE PRODUCT CALLED… ESTRATEST HS TABS. IT IS MADE FROM YAMS INSTEAD OF HORSE PEE-PEE, AND IT MOST CLOSELY RESEMBLES OUR NATURAL HORMONES PRIOR TO THE PROCESSES THAT BRING US INTO A STATE THAT WE NO LONGER PRODUCE THESE HORMONES NATURALLY. YOU MUST GET THEM BY PRESCRIPTION ONLY./ IT WILL CHANGE YOU LIFE, HOWEVER DOES NOTHING FOR THE ARTHRITIS. I DON’T KNOW OF ANYTHING YET THAT ELIMINATES THE PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH ARTHRITIS, HOWEVER THIS WILL HELP YOU IN THE AREAS THAT WE FEMALES FACE.

Pls don’t use all CAPS when posting to the NG. It’s NG policy. Thanks…

Response:

        This brings up the interesting philosophical question of whether female human beings are evolutionarily closer to female horses or yams. The implication being that yams are more "natural" than horses and thus we are closer to yams than to horses.         Perhaps it was Olive and not Popeye who said I yam what I yam what I yam. Regards, Susan Hoch, M.D. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – LOOK INTO A NATUAL HORMONE PRODUCT CALLED… ESTRATEST HS TABS. IT IS MADE FROM YAMS INSTEAD OF HORSE PEE-PEE, AND IT MOST CLOSELY RESEMBLES OUR NATURAL HORMONES PRIOR TO THE PROCESSES THAT BRING US INTO A STATE THAT WE NO LONGER PRODUCE THESE HORMONES NATURALLY. YOU MUST GET THEM BY PRESCRIPTION ONLY./ IT WILL CHANGE YOU LIFE, HOWEVER DOES NOTHING FOR THE ARTHRITIS. I DON’T KNOW OF ANYTHING YET THAT ELIMINATES THE PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH ARTHRITIS, HOWEVER THIS WILL HELP YOU IN THE AREAS THAT WE FEMALES FACE. Pls don’t use all CAPS when posting to the NG. It’s NG policy. Thanks…

Susan Hoch                    

Response:

       This brings up the interesting philosophical question of

whether female human beings are evolutionarily closer to female horses or yams. The implication being that yams are more "natural" than horses and thus we are closer to yams than to horses.        Perhaps it was Olive and not Popeye who said I yam what I yam what I yam. << I dunno Doc, that science is well over my head, but I think most of think you’re a real peach. !^NavFont02F01570007RGHHH585B49 !N2

Response:

Yes i do know the pain of what you are feeling and there maybe just a cure but it’s a natural way my pain management doctor turned me on to it for more info e-mail me Levi lady3 p.s my husband took the stuff to lose weight he really thought it was b.s he lost 8 pounds his first week and I am taking less medication.

Response:

Sorry, you have me stumped.  This sounds like something you must discuss with the doctor.  It frankly doesn’t sound like Sjogren’s to me, and the fact that it hasn’t responded to Claritin at all makes it sound like maybe it isn’t an allergy… but then, maybe it is an allergy that simply isn’t responding to the Claritin. In any case, it does NOT sound like something to play around with on your own. Please see the doctor and let us know what he says. Best regards,

Response:

also could you possibly be allergic to your pillow or what it’s made from ? Just a thought! debbie

Response:

Lee, I wouldn’t just assume this is from allergy or try to self-diagnose. There are a number of things that could cause this kind of swelling. You need to see a doctor about it, and keep after them if you haven’t gotten a good answer.  Do you have a form of arthritis, I’m wondering because you posted this here.  It might possibly be a blood-vessel inflammation related to this is what occurred to me. It may be something as simple as a mold allergy as was suggested already, but don’t just assume, check it out!, OK? Liz G

Response:

I dont really know where else to turn.  For the past year or so I have slowly developed facial swelling that is somewhat disfiguring when I first wake up in the morning.  My lips, tongue, cheeks, eyelids are all swollen.  I was concerned that it may be Sjogrens but I wouldnt think it would involve all of those areas.  I have dry eyes but have plenty of saliva in my mouth.  Has anyone heard of this? Claritin doesnt seem to be helping at all. Lee Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

Sometimes you have to do a little personal investigation.  Years ago I had a problem with the same thing (not tongue swelling though).  Every morning when I woke up my face was swollen and my jaw hurt.  It progressively got worse over a 8 month period.  I was laying in bed and looked at the wall by my bed (made of cynder block).  I noticed a tiny crack that looked black in color.  Not very noticable.  I followed it around to my nightstand and around the wall behind my bed it was worse.  It was wear moisture was getting it.  When I looked behind my bed’s headboard it was  horrible.  Full of mold!!  I scrubbed with Lysol under my bed and also the walls and was cured.  For a long time I was very puzzled though.  Check your room.  Change your sheets.  Dust under your whole room.  Do you have a cat that sleeps with you?  Sometimes you can have a delayed reaction.  Look for anything that you might have started using when this started happening.  Night cream maybe? Let us know if you figure it out.  Good luck.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I dont really know where else to turn.  For the past year or so I have slowly developed facial swelling that is somewhat disfiguring when I first wake up in the morning.  My lips, tongue, cheeks, eyelids are all swollen.  I was concerned that it may be Sjogrens but I wouldnt think it would involve all of those areas.  I have dry eyes but have plenty of saliva in my mouth.  Has anyone heard of this? Claritin doesnt seem to be helping at all. Lee Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

are you drinking enough water? I know it seems contradictory, but when I swelled, it was due to lack of water in my body

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I dont really know where else to turn.  For the past year or so I have slowly developed facial swelling that is somewhat disfiguring when I first wake up in the morning.  My lips, tongue, cheeks, eyelids are all swollen.  I was concerned that it may be Sjogrens but I wouldnt think it would involve all of those areas.  I have dry eyes but have plenty of saliva in my mouth.  Has anyone heard of this? Claritin doesnt seem to be helping at all. Lee Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

Hurt

Question:

Hi Brenda, Nice to meet you. Hi Ellie, nice to meet you. I’m Brenda. I’d tell you all about myself but I don’t want to ride that roller-coaster again! You’ll have to look at past posts for that.

I may just do that.. my own story has never been really told in it’s entirety.  Though bit’s and pieces have shown up here from time to time. [snip] I guess it’s not my place to just step in here and act like I have some all-important answer for anyone.   I don’t.  I just hate to see eveyone so hurt.  I couldn’t even read a quarter of what was posted. It was just too much for me.   And it makes me wonder what new people, and new insights this group may have lost because of another giant flame war.   I try to stay away from it. There are some truly wonderfull people here. Carey comes to mind but there are others as well. Some very special ones too, like Sera. I barely know most of the people here so I shouldn’t judge. I try not to. It’s odd to find so much bitterness in a group that’s named "recovery".

Been here for a little over a year now… So, this is my "cyber-family" and in any family there are always arguments and disagreements.  There are those that shine brightly, and those who, well.. I best not go there…   Any way, this place seems to me (always has) to be a place where it is somewhat safe to release emotions such as bitterness and anger.  It also seems to be a place where one can find friends as well as enemies.   Anyway, for those of you who are new to the ng… welcome to AAR.  May you find peace here.   Well, I’ve worked on my issues somewhat and I’ve made progress there. So that’s good. I talk to my therapist about things that I discover here. Together they’ve been helpfull.  

That’s good.  My T generally says the same thing… It’s good to have this place.  It becomes a link to the outside world at times  when there is no other way. I hope that those of you involved in the flame war will find it too..AAR is not a place filled with heartless, unfeeling, uncaring people.  Quite the opposite in fact.  I hope that whatever it is that you came in search of is found here. I just want to stay away from all the fighting. I don’t like conflict so I haven’t even read certain threads. Its just a   stupid fight anyway.

I don’t like being in the middle of such things either.  It depresses me. To those of you who have been here and know who I am, I’ve missed you all a great deal.   You sound like a nice person Ellies. Stay away from the fight you’ll just get sucked in. They’re beyond reasoning with right now.

I like to think so. As for the fighting… I always try to stay out of flame wars, but sooner or later I will probably get ticked off at the whole thing and say something anyway, or get myself into a flame war of my own.  Stuff happens, people get triggered whether they want to or not sometimes. Welcome again to AAR… may your stay be a pleasant one. E. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Ellies              ,                                      ,              db                                     db              d8                                     d8             d8                                     d8            d8                                     d8           d8                                    ,d8          d8ppp,   opppp,  ,q88p,  opppp,   ,qppp88  ,qpppp"         d8′ ‘88   d8  8b d8′ ,d"  d8 ‘db ,d8′ ‘d8 ,d8′ ‘d"        d8   ,88  d8     d888P*"  d8  d8  d8   d8′ d8   d8        8b, ,d8  d8      88      d8  d8   88, ,88  8b  ,d8′        "888*"  d8       "db    d8   db   "888*’"b "88P*"b         "Love makes you real"  – The Velvetine Rabbit — —            z        z  |  z   _,,,–,,  /,`.-’`’   ._  -;;,_ |,4-  ) )_   .;.(  `’-’ ‘—”(_/._)-’(__) "Love makes you real"  – The Velvetine Rabbit — http://www.GeoCities.com/SoHo/Nook/7680

Response:

whoops, that should be… Granted you weren’t embroiled.. Granted you were embroiled in a messy custody/divorce at the time..–

Pat

Response:

Morning Ellie.. The place.. sorry to say.. is not the same place it was this past summer. It’s sad.. One day, someone posted a rather simple post.. asking why someone would deny abusing.. afterall he had "proved" it.. they kids had bruises, you know.. he just couldnt understand why someone would continue to deny it.. Unfortunately, his post came at the end of another one of those same types of stories.. Someone coming here to learn more about how_these_things_happen.. I answered him.. because sometimes it isn’t true.. that’s why i denied abusing.. That’s why you denied it as well..  Granted you were embroiled in a messy custody/divorce at the time.. just an overzealous intern.  Heck I wasn’t either when the accussations were made.. I wonder.. how many people are lurking out there, reading this group, who have been accused such as we were?  I know they’re out there.. I hear from them every now and then.. It used to be a topic we could talk about here.. Not any more.. It’s what triggered all this nasty mess.. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I started reading the ng last night after being computer-less for nearly a month.  I almost wish I hadn’t.  At this point I’ve just deleted everything.  It breaks my heart to see people that I care about hurting so much. Perhaps I missed something that I might have responded to in a positive way.. perhaps not.  Either way, I walked back into a war zone, and in my eyes it is a terrible sight. There are new people here, whom I’ve missed greeting and welcoming to AAR. There are old friends I’ve missed saying hello to.  And for what? Not because my computer was down, but because you are all so busy being angry ((MO).  I, for one don’t care who started what.  But I do wish that everyone would take a step back and take a deep breath before any more hurt is done.  I’m not trying to tell anyone what to do, but again, so much anger and hurt is floating thru here that no one seems to be able to see much of the good that is here too. I guess it’s not my place to just step in here and act like I have some all-important answer for anyone.   I don’t.  I just hate to see eveyone so hurt.  I couldn’t even read a quarter of what was posted. It was just too much for me.   And it makes me wonder what new people, and new insights this group may have lost because of another giant flame war. Anyway, for those of you who are new to the ng… welcome to AAR.  May you find peace here.  I hope that those of you involved in the flame war will find it too..AAR is not a place filled with heartless, unfeeling, uncaring people.  Quite the opposite in fact.  I hope that whatever it is that you came in search of is found here. To those of you who have been here and know who I am, I’ve missed you all a great deal. Ellies

– Pat

Response:

Hi Ellie, nice to meet you. I’m Brenda. I’d tell you all about myself but I don’t want to ride that roller-coaster again! You’ll have to look at past posts for that. [snip] I guess it’s not my place to just step in here and act like I have some all-important answer for anyone.   I don’t.  I just hate to see eveyone so hurt.  I couldn’t even read a quarter of what was posted. It was just too much for me.   And it makes me wonder what new people, and new insights this group may have lost because of another giant flame war.  

I try to stay away from it. There are some truly wonderfull people here. Carey comes to mind but there are others as well. Some very special ones too, like Sera. I barely know most of the people here so I shouldn’t judge. I try not to. It’s odd to find so much bitterness in a group that’s named "recovery". Anyway, for those of you who are new to the ng… welcome to AAR.  May you find peace here.  

Well, I’ve worked on my issues somewhat and I’ve made progress there. So that’s good. I talk to my therapist about things that I discover here. Together they’ve been helpfull.   I hope that those of you involved in the flame war will find it too..AAR is not a place filled with heartless, unfeeling, uncaring people.  Quite the opposite in fact.  I hope that whatever it is that you came in search of is found here.

I just want to stay away from all the fighting. I don’t like conflict so I haven’t even read certain threads. Its just a   stupid fight anyway. To those of you who have been here and know who I am, I’ve missed you all a great deal.  

You sound like a nice person Ellies. Stay away from the fight you’ll just get sucked in. They’re beyond reasoning with right now. Ellies

              ,                                      ,               db                                     db               d8                                     d8              d8                                     d8             d8                                     d8            d8                                    ,d8           d8ppp,   opppp,  ,q88p,  opppp,   ,qppp88  ,qpppp"          d8′ ‘88   d8  8b d8′ ,d"  d8 ‘db ,d8′ ‘d8 ,d8′ ‘d"         d8   ,88  d8     d888P*"  d8  d8  d8   d8′ d8   d8         8b, ,d8  d8      88      d8  d8   88, ,88  8b  ,d8′         "888*"  d8       "db    d8   db   "888*’"b "88P*"b          "Love makes you real"  – The Velvetine Rabbit — —             z         z   |  z   _,,,–,,   /,`.-’`’   ._  -;;,_  |,4-  ) )_   .;.(  `’-’ ‘—”(_/._)-’(__)  "Love makes you real"   — The Velvetine Rabbit — http://www.GeoCities.com/SoHo/Nook/7680

Response:

Hi Mary : ) You may not have noticed but my

job just went out the window because the funding dried up for "on-call" response to the hospital. < I’m sorry, I didn’t notice.  How are you holding up, and what will you do? What will probably happen after I get the rest of my credentials is to

start my own business contracts. Do you want to come work with me??? I would like to work with abuse families and get some groups going.< Credentials in what?  I would love to work with you, mary, but I rarely ever interact with people I don’t have to.  I know that sounds awful, and I don’t mean it to.  Would it be something I could do for you here at home?  I’m happy to help anyway you need. This has been a stressful, but satisfying time of my life. The graduate

school is actually fun and so far straight A’s.< I envy you so much, Mary.  I want so much to go back to school, and you are so brave for doing it yourself. I don’t know if I will

pull it off next semester with four classes. (Psychometrics for one). I did Ace my research classes so maybe it won’t be as hard as I think< What’s Psychometrics? She is from

Mexico City and cooks the most wonderful traditional food.< Yum…send her over here.  My greatest weakness is mexican food.  : ) If you need to slip away during your family gathering,

come over here. Mary< Oh golly, you doll.  {{{{Mary}}}}  I wish I could, just get me and Lyle and the kids and come over to your house.  We could all use a grandmother to go home to. I’m e mailing you my phone number in case you too get antsy during the holidays.  I’m usually available after ten pm with undivided attention.

Response:

Hi Mary : ) You may not have noticed but my job just went out the window because the funding dried up for "on-call" response to the hospital. < I’m sorry, I didn’t notice.  How are you holding up, and what will you do?

It was a big disapointment because it was the perfect colleg job. I was on call 8 at night to 8 next morning and did not get many calls. I live 11 blocks from the hospital so that was nice. My professors would let me leave no need to ask. It wasn’t much money ($120 a week) but it paid gas and helped with bills.  Now it is back to putting out my name and finding another part-time (I hope) job. What will probably happen after I get the rest of my credentials is to start my own business contracts. Do you want to come work with me??? I would like to work with abuse families and get some groups going.< Credentials in what?  I would love to work with you, mary, but I rarely ever interact with people I don’t have to.  I know that sounds awful, and I don’t mean it to.  Would it be something I could do for you here at home?  I’m happy to help anyway you need.

I am credentialed in Alcohol and Drug counseling. I have my Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner certification. I am getting my Masters in Counseling and my Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Also my RSOP. Registered Sexual Offender Provider. I may also get my SWA…Social Work Associate. Lots of years, lots of hours. But my gift is counseling and that was part and package of just what was given, the rest is paper to impress the powers-that-be. I thank you for your offer to help and I may be needing some answers to some things I am working on. My testing showed I am a people person but I have a great need for solitude. My husband is a great gate keeper and he is very protective. He reads me like a book and can tell when I hit the end of my tether. (Sometimes, I feel like I am walking three feet off the ground and need a yank to get me back on earth) Then he makes me quit studying and come play pool with him….where everyone comes to talk with me, all his male friends and the barmaids. We get everything free because the owner thinks I am a miracle worker and sends all his girls to talk to me! This has been a stressful, but satisfying time of my life. The graduate school is actually fun and so far straight A’s.< I envy you so much, Mary.  I want so much to go back to school, and you are so brave for doing it yourself.

I would be surprised if you did not go back, Tenacity. You have so much intelligence, energy, and street smarts that will give you an edge over most people. I will continue to encourage you because I believe you have a purpose that will give you such satisfaction when you fullfill the education. I don’t know if I will pull it off next semester with four classes. (Psychometrics for one). I did Ace my research classes so maybe it won’t be as hard as I think< What’s Psychometrics?

Testing. all the different kinds: MMPI to psych-social. It is very challenging since you have to understand your limitations in what the results mean and how it applies to that individual. ADD is one that is coming into use even with adults. By the way, colleges are terrific place to get free testing because of all of us college students having to administer them. She is from Mexico City and cooks the most wonderful traditional food.< Yum…send her over here.  My greatest weakness is mexican food.  : ) If you need to slip away during your family gathering, come over here. Mary< Oh golly, you doll.  {{{{Mary}}}}  I wish I could, just get me and Lyle and the kids and come over to your house.  We could all use a grandmother to go home to.

You would be welcome. We have lots of cats and I love to read to kids. (One time I read to my high school kids Edgar Allen Poe’s, The Tell-Tale Heart and they wouldn’t go to bed, insisting they were too scared to go upstairs so slept in their sleeping bags in the living room.) I promise I won’t read your little kids scarey stories, except maybe Richard Scary. Thanks for the offer about the phone I may call just out of GP. mary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m e mailing you my phone number in case you too get antsy during the holidays.  I’m usually available after ten pm with undivided attention.

Response:

Hi Ellies, and thanks for your welcome  : )

Response:

Hi Tenacity, I haven’t tried to get a word in edgewise for quite a while, you seem back for conversation and I am interested in talking to you. How are things for you with the job and kids. You may not have noticed but my job just went out the window because the funding dried up for "on-call" response to the hospital. I have the heavy hearted task of trying to find something that will fit in with my college classes. What will probably happen after I get the rest of my credentials is to start my own business contracts. Do you want to come work with me??? I would like to work with abuse families and get some groups going. This has been a stressful, but satisfying time of my life. The graduate school is actually fun and so far straight A’s. I don’t know if I will pull it off next semester with four classes. (Psychometrics for one). I did Ace my research classes so maybe it won’t be as hard as I think. My husband went out and bought a beautiful real tree this year and I love the pine smell….I miss the Northwoods. We use to pick our own in the forests when I was a child. It is so funny about life. I loved my baby doll and played mother and dreamt of having children.  I had eight kids, was a foster mother and dreamt of having grandkids. MY children got married and none of the come-home-to-grandmothers-house dreams came true. Yet, if I had enveloped myself in that I would never completed my education. I guess I will mother the whole world….my kids are in Germany, Australia, Minnesota, Oregon, North Carolina, Virginia. Christmas Eve Rick and I are going to my adopted daughter and her son’s house. We are deep frying a turkey and bringing a salad. She is from Mexico City and cooks the most wonderful traditional food. She has been such a friend and her son is a jewel. (age 14…and giving his mother a lot of talk now) If you need to slip away during your family gathering, come over here. Mary

Response:

I am so glad to see a post from you, I was and have been very worried. So thank you…  This time of year is not so great for so many. I am glad you are back. Sorry you are hurting. Sera – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I started reading the ng last night after being computer-less for nearly a month.  I almost wish I hadn’t.  At this point I’ve just deleted everything.  It breaks my heart to see people that I care about hurting so much. Perhaps I missed something that I might have responded to in a positive way.. perhaps not.  Either way, I walked back into a war zone, and in my eyes it is a terrible sight. There are new people here, whom I’ve missed greeting and welcoming to AAR. There are old friends I’ve missed saying hello to.  And for what? Not because my computer was down, but because you are all so busy being angry ((MO).  I, for one don’t care who started what.  But I do wish that everyone would take a step back and take a deep breath before any more hurt is done.  I’m not trying to tell anyone what to do, but again, so much anger and hurt is floating thru here that no one seems to be able to see much of the good that is here too. I guess it’s not my place to just step in here and act like I have some all-important answer for anyone.   I don’t.  I just hate to see eveyone so hurt.  I couldn’t even read a quarter of what was posted. It was just too much for me.   And it makes me wonder what new people, and new insights this group may have lost because of another giant flame war. Anyway, for those of you who are new to the ng… welcome to AAR.  May you find peace here.  I hope that those of you involved in the flame war will find it too..AAR is not a place filled with heartless, unfeeling, uncaring people.  Quite the opposite in fact.  I hope that whatever it is that you came in search of is found here. To those of you who have been here and know who I am, I’ve missed you all a great deal. Ellies

Response:

On Sun, 20 Dec 1998, it was written:  [by JustUs/Ellies]      [someone is mucking about with my newsreader!] I started reading the ng last night after being computer-less for nearly a month.  I almost wish I hadn’t.  At this point I’ve just deleted everything.  It breaks my heart to see people that I care about hurting so much.  

Hi, Ellies,  it’s like walking into any room – the first thing you notice is the loadest noise and wildest commotion.  If you look away from that, shield your eyes from the flares, you will see lots of good stuff happening.  You want to hunch your shoulders sometimes, but most of the shells are duds. d — If I thought you were sent by the Creator, I might be induced to think you had the right to dispose of me as you see fit.                                       Chief Joseph, Nez Perce

Response:

I started reading the ng last night after being computer-less for nearly a month.  I almost wish I hadn’t.  At this point I’ve just deleted everything.  It breaks my heart to see people that I care about hurting so much.   Perhaps I missed something that I might have responded to in a positive way.. perhaps not.  Either way, I walked back into a war zone, and in my eyes it is a terrible sight.   There are new people here, whom I’ve missed greeting and welcoming to AAR. There are old friends I’ve missed saying hello to.  And for what? Not because my computer was down, but because you are all so busy being angry ((MO).  I, for one don’t care who started what.  But I do wish that everyone would take a step back and take a deep breath before any more hurt is done.  I’m not trying to tell anyone what to do, but again, so much anger and hurt is floating thru here that no one seems to be able to see much of the good that is here too.   I guess it’s not my place to just step in here and act like I have some all-important answer for anyone.   I don’t.  I just hate to see eveyone so hurt.  I couldn’t even read a quarter of what was posted. It was just too much for me.   And it makes me wonder what new people, and new insights this group may have lost because of another giant flame war.   Anyway, for those of you who are new to the ng… welcome to AAR.  May you find peace here.  I hope that those of you involved in the flame war will find it too..AAR is not a place filled with heartless, unfeeling, uncaring people.  Quite the opposite in fact.  I hope that whatever it is that you came in search of is found here. To those of you who have been here and know who I am, I’ve missed you all a great deal.   Ellies

Response:

Hey Kait  I’m sorry u are hurting so much.  but u know u would be missed.  Please stick around .. the world wouldn’t be as interesting.   hugs if ok shelayla Peace Light Hope Love It’s my time to Live. (Revenge was just a hobby)

Response:

Kaitlyn I care!!!!!! hope things get better… shelayla Peace Light Hope Love It’s my time to Live. (Revenge was just a hobby)

Response:

Spike.. You are one sick motherfucker .. the people who support your actions are just as fucking sick.. good-bye… the place sucks

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Kait; I think you have over-reacted to a misunderstanding. However if pat can give ppl a choice her or crisis. That can help explane this. Speaking of crisis and her pals, they told me i’m a big fundamentalist nazi and should chat with you, yes please if you wish. I figured if i talked to you now you will just scream at me. I have just noted Pat asking very upset survivors to do stuff contrary to their own well being, i really hope this is not the case with you. If you like lets talk. No kait, you can’t i have a million dollar policy on you and i don’t need more police troubles. I see you are going to see the doc, maybe we can talk at spike tomorrow? Kait i’m upset, but not with you dear, with others. Now, if ppl are not noticing the heart and soul of aar (usenet) is away. Has anyone thought that she is upset? She is here and helping day in and out, but she is a survivor also. So i have stuff to do. Panthers to hug. My marriage is on the rocks, work with and not against me and it’s fixed over night. (that and i prove why the ladies call me snuffy) Kait, you and i both have been so down before, if you are really sad and need a pal, you can call me. I have this thing where the fone company, oh wait nevermind, but info should be free, right. The only way i can get a divorce is if you refuse marriage counseling:-)  Kaitlyn only do stuff you want, in your heart, be able to explain it and we will never have a disagreement about ideals or a serious misunderstanding, i think so any ways. See you after the appointment? Maybe if you had a better understanding of what’s up these days with me it may help? If you like, (((kait))) i’ll meet you there. If you want to kick my ass for not being caring or observant enough i will be there for that as well! I’m afraid to look at lix’s post’s. The only thing i always kinda liked about suicide, is that if the headaches got so bad, i could just kill myself, and that allowed me to keep going and fighting. That is the only reason you can share this dangerous idea, but cuz it’s so dangerous you must call and check for patches, updates and revisions. My fonenumber is my birth date but i sent that info to you right? I’m sorry if i hurt you, andy Before anything andy I wish you will read this.  It’s not a flame. I do believe you about the courtcase. I did call Liz on her telling you to kill yourself. I’m sorry that rosee hurt you, and I’m also sorry you hurt rosee’s kid. You want a divorce?  OK, I’ll do you one better, I’ll make you a widower.  No more killfile for anyone, just for me. ((((((((((((Andy))))))))))))))) Kaitlyn :-) i am hurt that you watched me struggle and get called names. :-) maybe i will get over it, martin kruse and french andy can’t. :-) i think if you look my reason for my divorce is legal, non support. you :-) can be supportive or silent but not be silent watching me get attacked and :-) then be supportive to a person telling me to off myself. maybe you just :-) didn’t know? maybe others will learn. kait you brought this on yourself. :-) you know me, you must not expect me to not fight back, your best tactic is :-) to say spike is very serious about some stuff, be careful and not get :-) involved. :-) BE CLEAR, TELLING PPL TO KILL THEIR SELVES IS WRONG. :-) JAMES ATTACKING LADIES WILL BE ADDRESSED. :-) spike :-) ps if you keep me on kill file like you say, it may be easier to heal and :-) do recovery. just think down the road, this is best for survivors and that :-) is all i care about. Not abusers not fair-weather pals. I AM MORE UPSET :-) THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY BE. That would explain what you are thinking about :-) now, or the last time you saw me. :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) I turned off the computer thrusday night and just turned it back on :-) tonight (Sunday). :-) :-) I have been so hurt these past few days.  Yes I know many have been :-) hurting much longer than that, but that is them and this is me. :-) :-) I need to say something for myself. :-) :-) There was a person here who I have been very very fond of for the past :-) few years.  Fond enough to call him Hubby.  This week I saw him and :-) others doing some pretty hurtful things, and I called him and others :-) on their actions.  I ended up putting three people in my killfile :-) because I couldn’t stand to see the hurting they were causing. :-) :-) I come to the newsgroup and find that alot of the waring has calmed :-) down, and so I took those people off of killfile.  I read a post to me :-) from Crisis saying she is sorry for hurting me.  That was wonderful. :-) I care for so many people on both sides of the flames.  I also see :-) some good posts from Liz, but I still have Liz on a post to post :-) self-killfile.   I have had my run-ins with Liz, but we have also been :-) able to get past those run-ins. :-) :-) But the one who I hurt over most is spike.  Someone who built me an :-) island with as many small ponies that I wish to have.  I asked spike :-) to stop hurting people who have nothing to do with this newsgroup :-) except to be the husband and child of another member., and then I’m :-) accused of not believing that spike won his court trial.  I never said :-) I didn’t believe him.  But time and time again it was stated falsely :-) that I didn’t believe him. :-) :-) When I told spike that I had to put him in my killfile, he came back :-) with "I want a divorce".  I guess my friendship with spike wasn’t as :-) strong as I thought it to be, and that hurts me more than anything. :-) I guess I have no clue what true friendship is.  Maybe I never had a :-) clue in the first place. :-) :-) None of you know how upset I have been this weekend, did any of you :-) care?  Do any of you truly care about the people who write here? I’ve :-) been here for 5 years now, and I wonder why I have bothered to stick :-) around this long. :-) :-) Kaitlyn of the Prism Collective :-) :-) Check out my Web Site at: Check out my Web Site at: http://www.angelfire.com/ca/prismcollective/ — A caring post from lix bateman. Organization: chat rooms? ppl like james tolson log your words, lix bateman uses this info for her "fun." Newsgroups: alt.abuse.recovery spike says: If you have a problem with me, it could be this. Those who fail to learn from history are set to repeat it.   Views of the past lis…..isn’t that what you told jean’s friend andre to do???? Something that you told greg similarily? Don’t you ever learn? Panther spike…do us all a favor, why don’t you?  Go in the bathroom, grab a bottle of whatever meds you stopped taking, take them all at once and swallow a couple of bottles of vodka afterward? <awaiting newest screw up Go spike, do it now.

Response:

Hi Kaitlyn; Panther is not to blame for my insensitivity to issues. It’s my fault. The only thing that changed is i will be careful of who i help and what i tell. Ppl should think about time spike got smart. I’m sorry if i have hurt you. I can try and make it up to you. Take care, spike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Oh yes and you have Panther to thank for any misunderstanding YOU had/have in reguards to this whole mess. Kaitlyn Hi Kait; I think you have over-reacted to a misunderstanding. I over reacted?  ME?  What misunderstanding?  Your own words are below "i am hurt that you watched me struggle and get called names. maybe i will get over it, martin kruse and french andy can’t. i think if you look my reason for my divorce is legal, non support. you can be supportive or silent but not be silent watching me get attacked and then be supportive to a person telling me to off myself. maybe you just didn’t know? maybe others will learn. kait you brought this on yourself." These are how you really feel.  Don’t go put the blame on me. I wasn’t over reacting.  YOU were.  I didn’t misunderstand what you wrote above.  YOU misunderstood what I was saying.  Don’t you dare try and put the blame on me Andy.  I’ll not except it. You got your divorce, and you can have Pony Island too.  I almost did something very very stupid last night and thank my Goddess that I didn’t, because YOU are not worth ME trying to kill myself.  I’m SOOOOOO much better than you are. Now you will be put back into my killfile, UNLESS I decide to read you and make your life hell. Kaitlyn However if pat can give ppl a choice her or crisis. That can help explane this. Speaking of crisis and her pals, they told me i’m a big fundamentalist nazi and should chat with you, yes please if you wish. I figured if i talked to you now you will just scream at me. I have just noted Pat asking very upset survivors to do stuff contrary to their own well being, i really hope this is not the case with you. If you like lets talk. No kait, you can’t i have a million dollar policy on you and i don’t need more police troubles. I see you are going to see the doc, maybe we can talk at spike tomorrow? Kait i’m upset, but not with you dear, with others. Now, if ppl are not noticing the heart and soul of aar (usenet) is away. Has anyone thought that she is upset? She is here and helping day in and out, but she is a survivor also. So i have stuff to do. Panthers to hug. My marriage is on the rocks, work with and not against me and it’s fixed over night. (that and i prove why the ladies call me snuffy) Kait, you and i both have been so down before, if you are really sad and need a pal, you can call me. I have this thing where the fone company, oh wait nevermind, but info should be free, right. The only way i can get a divorce is if you refuse marriage counseling:-)  Kaitlyn only do stuff you want, in your heart, be able to explain it and we will never have a disagreement about ideals or a serious misunderstanding, i think so any ways. See you after the appointment? Maybe if you had a better understanding of what’s up these days with me it may help? If you like, (((kait))) i’ll meet you there. If you want to kick my ass for not being caring or observant enough i will be there for that as well! I’m afraid to look at lix’s post’s. The only thing i always kinda liked about suicide, is that if the headaches got so bad, i could just kill myself, and that allowed me to keep going and fighting. That is the only reason you can share this dangerous idea, but cuz it’s so dangerous you must call and check for patches, updates and revisions. My fonenumber is my birth date but i sent that info to you right? I’m sorry if i hurt you, andy Before anything andy I wish you will read this.  It’s not a flame. I do believe you about the courtcase. I did call Liz on her telling you to kill yourself. I’m sorry that rosee hurt you, and I’m also sorry you hurt rosee’s kid. You want a divorce?  OK, I’ll do you one better, I’ll make you a widower.  No more killfile for anyone, just for me. ((((((((((((Andy))))))))))))))) Kaitlyn :-) i am hurt that you watched me struggle and get called names. :-) maybe i will get over it, martin kruse and french andy can’t. :-) i think if you look my reason for my divorce is legal, non support. you :-) can be supportive or silent but not be silent watching me get attacked and :-) then be supportive to a person telling me to off myself. maybe you just :-) didn’t know? maybe others will learn. kait you brought this on yourself. :-) you know me, you must not expect me to not fight back, your best tactic is :-) to say spike is very serious about some stuff, be careful and not get :-) involved. :-) BE CLEAR, TELLING PPL TO KILL THEIR SELVES IS WRONG. :-) JAMES ATTACKING LADIES WILL BE ADDRESSED. :-) spike :-) ps if you keep me on kill file like you say, it may be easier to heal and :-) do recovery. just think down the road, this is best for survivors and that :-) is all i care about. Not abusers not fair-weather pals. I AM MORE UPSET :-) THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY BE. That would explain what you are thinking about :-) now, or the last time you saw me. :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) I turned off the computer thrusday night and just turned it back on :-) tonight (Sunday). :-) :-) I have been so hurt these past few days.  Yes I know many have been :-) hurting much longer than that, but that is them and this is me. :-) :-) I need to say something for myself. :-) :-) There was a person here who I have been very very fond of for the past :-) few years.  Fond enough to call him Hubby.  This week I saw him and :-) others doing some pretty hurtful things, and I called him and others :-) on their actions.  I ended up putting three people in my killfile :-) because I couldn’t stand to see the hurting they were causing. :-) :-) I come to the newsgroup and find that alot of the waring has calmed :-) down, and so I took those people off of killfile.  I read a post to me :-) from Crisis saying she is sorry for hurting me.  That was wonderful. :-) I care for so many people on both sides of the flames.  I also see :-) some good posts from Liz, but I still have Liz on a post to post :-) self-killfile.   I have had my run-ins with Liz, but we have also been :-) able to get past those run-ins. :-) :-) But the one who I hurt over most is spike.  Someone who built me an :-) island with as many small ponies that I wish to have.  I asked spike :-) to stop hurting people who have nothing to do with this newsgroup :-) except to be the husband and child of another member., and then I’m :-) accused of not believing that spike won his court trial.  I never said :-) I didn’t believe him.  But time and time again it was stated falsely :-) that I didn’t believe him. :-) :-) When I told spike that I had to put him in my killfile, he came back :-) with "I want a divorce".  I guess my friendship with spike wasn’t as :-) strong as I thought it to be, and that hurts me more than anything. :-) I guess I have no clue what true friendship is.  Maybe I never had a :-) clue in the first place. :-) :-) None of you know how upset I have been this weekend, did any of you :-) care?  Do any of you truly care about the people who write here?  I’ve :-) been here for 5 years now, and I wonder why I have bothered to stick :-) around this long. :-) :-) Kaitlyn of the Prism Collective :-) :-) Check out my Web Site at: Check out my Web Site at: http://www.angelfire.com/ca/prismcollective/

– A caring post from lix bateman. Organization: chat rooms? ppl like james tolson log your words, lix bateman uses this info for her "fun." Newsgroups: alt.abuse.recovery spike says: If you have a problem with me, it could be this. Those who fail to learn from history are set to repeat it.   Views of the past lis…..isn’t that what you told jean’s friend andre to do???? Something that you told greg similarily? Don’t you ever learn? Panther

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – spike…do us all a favor, why don’t you?  Go in the bathroom, grab a bottle of whatever meds you stopped taking, take them all at once and swallow a couple of bottles of vodka afterward? Go spike, do it now.

Response:

Hi Kait; So what happened at the doctors? I am starting to feel i must start going my own way. I want to help survivors and first nations ppl in canada. I am sure i have said that, i am now very concerned about what ppl expect from me. What happens as this now, the rosseau matter goes through the courts, do my fellow survivors help the perps? That two years at rosseau has not gotten into the public domain, i must now think long and hard about what i do now. The thing is i am in the strongest position i have ever been in and if ppl with to walk away, i must let them. I can live with you being angry with me. I’m sad but i will survive. What is important to me is not important to you, there is nothing sad about that and no one should be upset. But i don’t answer to anyone, and i sure don’t wish to have to explain everything about rosseau in court and then to ppl here, so i won’t. I will do it one last time about my last victory in court and show just what is important to me as some don’t know and that is what is my only regret. Which i will fix. Take care, spike – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Kait; I think you have over-reacted to a misunderstanding. I over reacted?  ME?  What misunderstanding?  Your own words are below "i am hurt that you watched me struggle and get called names. maybe i will get over it, martin kruse and french andy can’t. i think if you look my reason for my divorce is legal, non support. you can be supportive or silent but not be silent watching me get attacked and then be supportive to a person telling me to off myself. maybe you just didn’t know? maybe others will learn. kait you brought this on yourself." These are how you really feel.  Don’t go put the blame on me. I wasn’t over reacting.  YOU were.  I didn’t misunderstand what you wrote above.  YOU misunderstood what I was saying.  Don’t you dare try and put the blame on me Andy.  I’ll not except it. You got your divorce, and you can have Pony Island too.  I almost did something very very stupid last night and thank my Goddess that I didn’t, because YOU are not worth ME trying to kill myself.  I’m SOOOOOO much better than you are. Now you will be put back into my killfile, UNLESS I decide to read you and make your life hell. Kaitlyn However if pat can give ppl a choice her or crisis. That can help explane this. Speaking of crisis and her pals, they told me i’m a big fundamentalist nazi and should chat with you, yes please if you wish. I figured if i talked to you now you will just scream at me. I have just noted Pat asking very upset survivors to do stuff contrary to their own well being, i really hope this is not the case with you. If you like lets talk. No kait, you can’t i have a million dollar policy on you and i don’t need more police troubles. I see you are going to see the doc, maybe we can talk at spike tomorrow? Kait i’m upset, but not with you dear, with others. Now, if ppl are not noticing the heart and soul of aar (usenet) is away. Has anyone thought that she is upset? She is here and helping day in and out, but she is a survivor also. So i have stuff to do. Panthers to hug. My marriage is on the rocks, work with and not against me and it’s fixed over night. (that and i prove why the ladies call me snuffy) Kait, you and i both have been so down before, if you are really sad and need a pal, you can call me. I have this thing where the fone company, oh wait nevermind, but info should be free, right. The only way i can get a divorce is if you refuse marriage counseling:-)  Kaitlyn only do stuff you want, in your heart, be able to explain it and we will never have a disagreement about ideals or a serious misunderstanding, i think so any ways. See you after the appointment? Maybe if you had a better understanding of what’s up these days with me it may help? If you like, (((kait))) i’ll meet you there. If you want to kick my ass for not being caring or observant enough i will be there for that as well! I’m afraid to look at lix’s post’s. The only thing i always kinda liked about suicide, is that if the headaches got so bad, i could just kill myself, and that allowed me to keep going and fighting. That is the only reason you can share this dangerous idea, but cuz it’s so dangerous you must call and check for patches, updates and revisions. My fonenumber is my birth date but i sent that info to you right? I’m sorry if i hurt you, andy Before anything andy I wish you will read this.  It’s not a flame. I do believe you about the courtcase. I did call Liz on her telling you to kill yourself. I’m sorry that rosee hurt you, and I’m also sorry you hurt rosee’s kid. You want a divorce?  OK, I’ll do you one better, I’ll make you a widower.  No more killfile for anyone, just for me. ((((((((((((Andy))))))))))))))) Kaitlyn :-) i am hurt that you watched me struggle and get called names. :-) maybe i will get over it, martin kruse and french andy can’t. :-) i think if you look my reason for my divorce is legal, non support. you :-) can be supportive or silent but not be silent watching me get attacked and :-) then be supportive to a person telling me to off myself. maybe you just :-) didn’t know? maybe others will learn. kait you brought this on yourself. :-) you know me, you must not expect me to not fight back, your best tactic is :-) to say spike is very serious about some stuff, be careful and not get :-) involved. :-) BE CLEAR, TELLING PPL TO KILL THEIR SELVES IS WRONG. :-) JAMES ATTACKING LADIES WILL BE ADDRESSED. :-) spike :-) ps if you keep me on kill file like you say, it may be easier to heal and :-) do recovery. just think down the road, this is best for survivors and that :-) is all i care about. Not abusers not fair-weather pals. I AM MORE UPSET :-) THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY BE. That would explain what you are thinking about :-) now, or the last time you saw me. :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) I turned off the computer thrusday night and just turned it back on :-) tonight (Sunday). :-) :-) I have been so hurt these past few days.  Yes I know many have been :-) hurting much longer than that, but that is them and this is me. :-) :-) I need to say something for myself. :-) :-) There was a person here who I have been very very fond of for the past :-) few years.  Fond enough to call him Hubby.  This week I saw him and :-) others doing some pretty hurtful things, and I called him and others :-) on their actions.  I ended up putting three people in my killfile :-) because I couldn’t stand to see the hurting they were causing. :-) :-) I come to the newsgroup and find that alot of the waring has calmed :-) down, and so I took those people off of killfile.  I read a post to me :-) from Crisis saying she is sorry for hurting me.  That was wonderful. :-) I care for so many people on both sides of the flames.  I also see :-) some good posts from Liz, but I still have Liz on a post to post :-) self-killfile.   I have had my run-ins with Liz, but we have also been :-) able to get past those run-ins. :-) :-) But the one who I hurt over most is spike.  Someone who built me an :-) island with as many small ponies that I wish to have.  I asked spike :-) to stop hurting people who have nothing to do with this newsgroup :-) except to be the husband and child of another member., and then I’m :-) accused of not believing that spike won his court trial.  I never said :-) I didn’t believe him.  But time and time again it was stated falsely :-) that I didn’t believe him. :-) :-) When I told spike that I had to put him in my killfile, he came back :-) with "I want a divorce".  I guess my friendship with spike wasn’t as :-) strong as I thought it to be, and that hurts me more than anything. :-) I guess I have no clue what true friendship is.  Maybe I never had a :-) clue in the first place. :-) :-) None of you know how upset I have been this weekend, did any of you :-) care?  Do any of you truly care about the people who write here?  I’ve :-) been here for 5 years now, and I wonder why I have bothered to stick :-) around this long. :-) :-) Kaitlyn of the Prism Collective :-) :-) Check out my Web Site at: Check out my Web Site at: http://www.angelfire.com/ca/prismcollective/

– A caring post from lix bateman. Organization: chat rooms? ppl like james tolson log your words, lix bateman uses this info for her "fun." Newsgroups: alt.abuse.recovery spike says: If you have a problem with me, it could be this. Those who fail to learn from history are set to repeat it.   Views of the past lis…..isn’t that what you told jean’s friend andre to do???? Something that you told greg similarily? Don’t you ever learn? Panther

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – spike…do us all a favor, why don’t you?  Go

… read more »

Response:

ok crisis if you say so. i am a bit concerned about da big cat. did you get a link from her? take care, spike ps the one with the drawings. if not don’t worry about it. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – x-no-archive: yes I’m sorry if I hurt you, andy ((((((((((((((spikester))))))))))))))))) thanks…. you are no fundamentalist nazi – you are expressing pain, I understand that. But the direction it was going in concerned me. —– Original Message —– Newsgroups: alt.abuse.recovery Sent: Monday, July 10, 2000 12:38 AM Hi Kait; I think you have over-reacted to a misunderstanding. However if pat can give ppl a choice her or crisis. That can help explane this. Speaking of crisis and her pals, they told me I’m a big fundamentalist nazi and should chat with you, yes please if you wish. I figured if I talked to you now you will just scream at me. I have just noted Pat asking very upset survivors to do stuff contrary to their own well being, I really hope this is not the case with you. If you like lets talk. No kait, you can’t I have a million dollar policy on you and I don’t need more police troubles. I see you are going to see the doc, maybe we can talk at spike tomorrow? Kait I’m upset, but not with you dear, with others. Now, if ppl are not noticing the heart and soul of aar (usenet) is away. Has anyone thought that she is upset? She is here and helping day in and out, but she is a survivor also. So I have stuff to do. Panthers to hug. My marriage is on the rocks, work with and not against me and it’s fixed over night. (that and I prove why the ladies call me snuffy) Kait, you and I both have been so down before, if you are really sad and need a pal, you can call me. I have this thing where the fone company, oh wait nevermind, but info should be free, right. The only way I can get a divorce is if you refuse marriage counseling:-) Kaitlyn only do stuff you want, in your heart, be able to explain it and we will never have a disagreement about ideals or a serious misunderstanding, I think so any ways. See you after the appointment? Maybe if you had a better understanding of what’s up these days with me it may help? If you like, (((kait))) I’ll meet you there. If you want to kick my ass for not being caring or observant enough I will be there for that as well! I’m afraid to look at lix’s post’s. The only thing I always kinda liked about suicide, is that if the headaches got so bad, I could just kill myself, and that allowed me to keep going and fighting. That is the only reason you can share this dangerous idea, but cuz it’s so dangerous you must call and check for patches, updates and revisions. My fonenumber is my birth date but I sent that info to you right? I’m sorry if I hurt you, andy Before anything andy I wish you will read this. It’s not a flame. I do believe you about the courtcase. I did call Liz on her telling you to kill yourself. I’m sorry that rosee hurt you, and I’m also sorry you hurt rosee’s kid. You want a divorce? OK, I’ll do you one better, I’ll make you a widower. No more killfile for anyone, just for me. ((((((((((((Andy))))))))))))))) Kaitlyn : -)I am hurt that you watched me struggle and get called names. : -)maybe I will get over it, martin kruse and french andy can’t. -)I : think if you look my reason for my divorce is legal, non support. you : -)can be supportive or silent but not be silent watching me get : attacked and -)then be supportive to a person telling me to off : myself. maybe you just -)didn’t know? maybe others will learn. kait : you brought this on yourself. -)you know me, you must not expect me : to not fight back, your best tactic is -)to say spike is very serious : about some stuff, be careful and not get -)involved. -)BE CLEAR, : TELLING PPL TO KILL THEIR SELVES IS WRONG. -)JAMES ATTACKING LADIES : WILL BE ADDRESSED. -)spike -)ps if you keep me on kill file like you : say, it may be easier to heal and -)do recovery. just think down the : road, this is best for survivors and that -)is all I care about. Not : abusers not fair-weather pals. I AM MORE UPSET -)THAT YOU COULD : POSSIBLY BE. That would explain what you are thinking about -)now, or : the last time you saw me. -) -) -) -) -)"Prism Collective (aka : : -) I turned off the computer thrusday night and just turned it back : on -) tonight (Sunday). -) -) I have been so hurt these past few : days. Yes I know many have been -) hurting much longer than that, : but that is them and this is me. -) -) I need to say something for : myself. -) -) There was a person here who I have been very very : fond of for the past -) few years. Fond enough to call him Hubby. : This week I saw him and -) others doing some pretty hurtful things, : and I called him and others -) on their actions. I ended up putting : three people in my killfile -) because I couldn’t stand to see the : hurting they were causing. -) -) I come to the newsgroup and find : that alot of the waring has calmed -) down, and so I took those : people off of killfile. I read a post to me -) from Crisis saying : she is sorry for hurting me. That was wonderful. -) I care for so : many people on both sides of the flames. I also see -) some good : posts from Liz, but I still have Liz on a post to post -) : self-killfile. I have had my run-ins with Liz, but we have also been : -) able to get past those run-ins. -) -) But the one who I hurt : over most is spike. Someone who built me an -) island with as many : small ponies that I wish to have. I asked spike -) to stop hurting : people who have nothing to do with this newsgroup -) except to be : the husband and child of another member., and then I’m -) accused of : not believing that spike won his court trial. I never said -) I : didn’t believe him. But time and time again it was stated falsely -) : that I didn’t believe him. -) -) When I told spike that I had to : put him in my killfile, he came back -) with "I want a divorce". I : guess my friendship with spike wasn’t as -) strong as I thought it : to be, and that hurts me more than anything. -) I guess I have no : clue what true friendship is. Maybe I never had a -) clue in the : first place. -) -) None of you know how upset I have been this : weekend, did any of you -) care? Do any of you truly care about the : people who write here? I’ve -) been here for 5 years now, and I : wonder why I have bothered to stick -) around this long. -) -) : Kaitlyn of the Prism Collective -) -) Check out my Web Site at: Check out my Web Site at: http://www.angelfire.com/ca/prismcollective/ — A caring post from lix bateman. Organization: chat rooms? ppl like james tolson log your words, lix bateman uses this info for her "fun." Newsgroups: alt.abuse.recovery spike says: If you have a problem with me, it could be this. Those who fail to learn from history are set to repeat it. Views of the past lis…..isn’t that what you told jean’s friend andre to do???? Something that you told greg similarily? Don’t you ever learn? Panther spike…do us all a favor, why don’t you? Go in the bathroom, grab a bottle of whatever meds you stopped taking, take them all at once and swallow a couple of bottles of vodka afterward? <awaiting newest screw up Go spike, do it now. — For more information about this posting service, contact: If you want an anonymous account, visit our sign-up page: http://asarian-host.org/emailform.html

– A caring post from lix bateman. Organization: chat rooms? ppl like james tolson log your words, lix bateman uses this info for her "fun." Newsgroups: alt.abuse.recovery spike says: If you have a problem with me, it could be this. Those who fail to learn from history are set to repeat it.   Views of the past lis…..isn’t that what you told jean’s friend andre to do???? Something that you told greg similarily? Don’t you ever learn? Panther

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – spike…do us all a favor, why don’t you?  Go in the bathroom, grab a bottle of whatever meds you stopped taking, take them all at once and swallow a couple of bottles of vodka afterward? Go spike, do it now.

Response:

Yeah! spike Press Release: Spikeco Location: World Headquarters Toronto, Canada. Reporter: Saabola – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – x-no-archive: yes Hi Kait…. I just talked with spike…. Spike is upset and he asked me to tell you that it was all a misunderstanding. That’s the truth Kait. Saab Not everything that is faced can be changed But, nothing can be changed until it is faced. That goes for flamewars too. —– Original Message —– Newsgroups: alt.abuse.recovery Sent: Sunday, July 09, 2000 9:50 PM Before anything andy I wish you will read this. It’s not a flame. I do believe you about the courtcase. I did call Liz on her telling you to kill yourself. I’m sorry that rosee hurt you, and I’m also sorry you hurt rosee’s kid. You want a divorce? OK, I’ll do you one better, I’ll make you a widower. No more killfile for anyone, just for me. ((((((((((((Andy))))))))))))))) Kaitlyn : -)I am hurt that you watched me struggle and get called names. -)maybe : I will get over it, martin kruse and french andy can’t. -)I think if : you look my reason for my divorce is legal, non support. you -)can be : supportive or silent but not be silent watching me get attacked and : -)then be supportive to a person telling me to off myself. maybe you : just -)didn’t know? maybe others will learn. kait you brought this on : yourself. -)you know me, you must not expect me to not fight back, your : best tactic is -)to say spike is very serious about some stuff, be : careful and not get -)involved. -)BE CLEAR, TELLING PPL TO KILL THEIR : SELVES IS WRONG. -)JAMES ATTACKING LADIES WILL BE ADDRESSED. -)spike : -)ps if you keep me on kill file like you say, it may be easier to heal : and -)do recovery. just think down the road, this is best for survivors : and that -)is all I care about. Not abusers not fair-weather pals. I AM : MORE UPSET -)THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY BE. That would explain what you : are thinking about -)now, or the last time you saw me. -) -) -) -) : : -) I turned off the computer thrusday night and just turned it back on : -) tonight (Sunday). -) -) I have been so hurt these past few days. : Yes I know many have been -) hurting much longer than that, but that : is them and this is me. -) -) I need to say something for myself. -) : -) There was a person here who I have been very very fond of for the : past -) few years. Fond enough to call him Hubby. This week I saw him : and -) others doing some pretty hurtful things, and I called him and : others -) on their actions. I ended up putting three people in my : killfile -) because I couldn’t stand to see the hurting they were : causing. -) -) I come to the newsgroup and find that alot of the : waring has calmed -) down, and so I took those people off of killfile. : I read a post to me -) from Crisis saying she is sorry for hurting me. : That was wonderful. -) I care for so many people on both sides of the : flames. I also see -) some good posts from Liz, but I still have Liz : on a post to post -) self-killfile. I have had my run-ins with Liz, : but we have also been -) able to get past those run-ins. -) -) But : the one who I hurt over most is spike. Someone who built me an -) : island with as many small ponies that I wish to have. I asked spike -) : to stop hurting people who have nothing to do with this newsgroup -) : except to be the husband and child of another member., and then I’m -) : accused of not believing that spike won his court trial. I never said : -) I didn’t believe him. But time and time again it was stated falsely : -) that I didn’t believe him. -) -) When I told spike that I had to : put him in my killfile, he came back -) with "I want a divorce". I : guess my friendship with spike wasn’t as -) strong as I thought it to : be, and that hurts me more than anything. -) I guess I have no clue : what true friendship is. Maybe I never had a -) clue in the first : place. -) -) None of you know how upset I have been this weekend, did : any of you -) care? Do any of you truly care about the people who : write here? I’ve -) been here for 5 years now, and I wonder why I have : bothered to stick -) around this long. -) -) Kaitlyn of the Prism : Collective -) -) Check out my Web Site at: Check out my Web Site at: http://www.angelfire.com/ca/prismcollective/ — For more information about this posting service, contact: If you want an anonymous account, visit our sign-up page: http://asarian-host.org/emailform.html

– A caring post from lix bateman. Organization: chat rooms? ppl like james tolson log your words, lix bateman uses this info for her "fun." Newsgroups: alt.abuse.recovery spike says: If you have a problem with me, it could be this. Those who fail to learn from history are set to repeat it.   Views of the past lis…..isn’t that what you told jean’s friend andre to do???? Something that you told greg similarily? Don’t you ever learn? Panther

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – spike…do us all a favor, why don’t you?  Go in the bathroom, grab a bottle of whatever meds you stopped taking, take them all at once and swallow a couple of bottles of vodka afterward? Go spike, do it now.

Response:

Hi Kait; I think you have over-reacted to a misunderstanding. However if pat can give ppl a choice her or crisis. That can help explane this. Speaking of crisis and her pals, they told me i’m a big fundamentalist nazi and should chat with you, yes please if you wish. I figured if i talked to you now you will just scream at me. I have just noted Pat asking very upset survivors to do stuff contrary to their own well being, i really hope this is not the case with you. If you like lets talk. No kait, you can’t i have a million dollar policy on you and i don’t need more police troubles. I see you are going to see the doc, maybe we can talk at spike tomorrow? Kait i’m upset, but not with you dear, with others. Now, if ppl are not noticing the heart and soul of aar (usenet) is away. Has anyone thought that she is upset? She is here and helping day in and out, but she is a survivor also. So i have stuff to do. Panthers to hug. My marriage is on the rocks, work with and not against me and it’s fixed over night. (that and i prove why the ladies call me snuffy) Kait, you and i both have been so down before, if you are really sad and need a pal, you can call me. I have this thing where the fone company, oh wait nevermind, but info should be free, right. The only way i can get a divorce is if you refuse marriage counseling:-)  Kaitlyn only do stuff you want, in your heart, be able to explain it and we will never have a disagreement about ideals or a serious misunderstanding, i think so any ways. See you after the appointment? Maybe if you had a better understanding of what’s up these days with me it may help? If you like, (((kait))) i’ll meet you there. If you want to kick my ass for not being caring or observant enough i will be there for that as well! I’m afraid to look at lix’s post’s. The only thing i always kinda liked about suicide, is that if the headaches got so bad, i could just kill myself, and that allowed me to keep going and fighting. That is the only reason you can share this dangerous idea, but cuz it’s so dangerous you must call and check for patches, updates and revisions. My fonenumber is my birth date but i sent that info to you right? I’m sorry if i hurt you, andy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Before anything andy I wish you will read this.  It’s not a flame. I do believe you about the courtcase. I did call Liz on her telling you to kill yourself. I’m sorry that rosee hurt you, and I’m also sorry you hurt rosee’s kid. You want a divorce?  OK, I’ll do you one better, I’ll make you a widower.  No more killfile for anyone, just for me. ((((((((((((Andy))))))))))))))) Kaitlyn :-) i am hurt that you watched me struggle and get called names. :-) maybe i will get over it, martin kruse and french andy can’t. :-) i think if you look my reason for my divorce is legal, non support. you :-) can be supportive or silent but not be silent watching me get attacked and :-) then be supportive to a person telling me to off myself. maybe you just :-) didn’t know? maybe others will learn. kait you brought this on yourself. :-) you know me, you must not expect me to not fight back, your best tactic is :-) to say spike is very serious about some stuff, be careful and not get :-) involved. :-) BE CLEAR, TELLING PPL TO KILL THEIR SELVES IS WRONG. :-) JAMES ATTACKING LADIES WILL BE ADDRESSED. :-) spike :-) ps if you keep me on kill file like you say, it may be easier to heal and :-) do recovery. just think down the road, this is best for survivors and that :-) is all i care about. Not abusers not fair-weather pals. I AM MORE UPSET :-) THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY BE. That would explain what you are thinking about :-) now, or the last time you saw me. :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) I turned off the computer thrusday night and just turned it back on :-) tonight (Sunday). :-) :-) I have been so hurt these past few days.  Yes I know many have been :-) hurting much longer than that, but that is them and this is me. :-) :-) I need to say something for myself. :-) :-) There was a person here who I have been very very fond of for the past :-) few years.  Fond enough to call him Hubby.  This week I saw him and :-) others doing some pretty hurtful things, and I called him and others :-) on their actions.  I ended up putting three people in my killfile :-) because I couldn’t stand to see the hurting they were causing. :-) :-) I come to the newsgroup and find that alot of the waring has calmed :-) down, and so I took those people off of killfile.  I read a post to me :-) from Crisis saying she is sorry for hurting me.  That was wonderful. :-) I care for so many people on both sides of the flames.  I also see :-) some good posts from Liz, but I still have Liz on a post to post :-) self-killfile.   I have had my run-ins with Liz, but we have also been :-) able to get past those run-ins. :-) :-) But the one who I hurt over most is spike.  Someone who built me an :-) island with as many small ponies that I wish to have.  I asked spike :-) to stop hurting people who have nothing to do with this newsgroup :-) except to be the husband and child of another member., and then I’m :-) accused of not believing that spike won his court trial.  I never said :-) I didn’t believe him.  But time and time again it was stated falsely :-) that I didn’t believe him. :-) :-) When I told spike that I had to put him in my killfile, he came back :-) with "I want a divorce".  I guess my friendship with spike wasn’t as :-) strong as I thought it to be, and that hurts me more than anything. :-) I guess I have no clue what true friendship is.  Maybe I never had a :-) clue in the first place. :-) :-) None of you know how upset I have been this weekend, did any of you :-) care?  Do any of you truly care about the people who write here?  I’ve :-) been here for 5 years now, and I wonder why I have bothered to stick :-) around this long. :-) :-) Kaitlyn of the Prism Collective :-) :-) Check out my Web Site at: Check out my Web Site at: http://www.angelfire.com/ca/prismcollective/

– A caring post from lix bateman. Organization: chat rooms? ppl like james tolson log your words, lix bateman uses this info for her "fun." Newsgroups: alt.abuse.recovery spike says: If you have a problem with me, it could be this. Those who fail to learn from history are set to repeat it.   Views of the past lis…..isn’t that what you told jean’s friend andre to do???? Something that you told greg similarily? Don’t you ever learn? Panther

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – spike…do us all a favor, why don’t you?  Go in the bathroom, grab a bottle of whatever meds you stopped taking, take them all at once and swallow a couple of bottles of vodka afterward? <awaiting newest screw up Go spike, do it now.

Response:

Kait….debster here I turned off the computer thrusday night and just turned it back on tonight (Sunday).

I just got home from 4 glorious days on the beach…wow…what incredible power that place has. None of you know how upset I have been this weekend, did any of you care?  Do any of you truly care about the people who write here?  I’ve been here for 5 years now, and I wonder why I have bothered to stick around this long.

I care……I do…..HEY…I’ve been here five years too…wow…. KAIT KAIT KAIT…..I’m so sorry you’re hurting how can I help?? deb

Response:

God Kaitlyn, don’t feel like that.  No one involved is worth doing that over. Hang in there…. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Before anything andy I wish you will read this.  It’s not a flame. I do believe you about the courtcase. I did call Liz on her telling you to kill yourself. I’m sorry that rosee hurt you, and I’m also sorry you hurt rosee’s kid. You want a divorce?  OK, I’ll do you one better, I’ll make you a widower.  No more killfile for anyone, just for me. ((((((((((((Andy))))))))))))))) Kaitlyn :-) i am hurt that you watched me struggle and get called names. :-) maybe i will get over it, martin kruse and french andy can’t. :-) i think if you look my reason for my divorce is legal, non support. you :-) can be supportive or silent but not be silent watching me get attacked and :-) then be supportive to a person telling me to off myself. maybe you just :-) didn’t know? maybe others will learn. kait you brought this on yourself. :-) you know me, you must not expect me to not fight back, your best tactic is :-) to say spike is very serious about some stuff, be careful and not get :-) involved. :-) BE CLEAR, TELLING PPL TO KILL THEIR SELVES IS WRONG. :-) JAMES ATTACKING LADIES WILL BE ADDRESSED. :-) spike :-) ps if you keep me on kill file like you say, it may be easier to heal and :-) do recovery. just think down the road, this is best for survivors and that :-) is all i care about. Not abusers not fair-weather pals. I AM MORE UPSET :-) THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY BE. That would explain what you are thinking about :-) now, or the last time you saw me. :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) I turned off the computer thrusday night and just turned it back on :-) tonight (Sunday). :-) :-) I have been so hurt these past few days.  Yes I know many have been :-) hurting much longer than that, but that is them and this is me. :-) :-) I need to say something for myself. :-) :-) There was a person here who I have been very very fond of for the past :-) few years.  Fond enough to call him Hubby.  This week I saw him and :-) others doing some pretty hurtful things, and I called him and others :-) on their actions.  I ended up putting three people in my killfile :-) because I couldn’t stand to see the hurting they were causing. :-) :-) I come to the newsgroup and find that alot of the waring has calmed :-) down, and so I took those people off of killfile.  I read a post to me :-) from Crisis saying she is sorry for hurting me.  That was wonderful. :-) I care for so many people on both sides of the flames.  I also see :-) some good posts from Liz, but I still have Liz on a post to post :-) self-killfile.   I have had my run-ins with Liz, but we have also been :-) able to get past those run-ins. :-) :-) But the one who I hurt over most is spike.  Someone who built me an :-) island with as many small ponies that I wish to have.  I asked spike :-) to stop hurting people who have nothing to do with this newsgroup :-) except to be the husband and child of another member., and then I’m :-) accused of not believing that spike won his court trial.  I never said :-) I didn’t believe him.  But time and time again it was stated falsely :-) that I didn’t believe him. :-) :-) When I told spike that I had to put him in my killfile, he came back :-) with "I want a divorce".  I guess my friendship with spike wasn’t as :-) strong as I thought it to be, and that hurts me more than anything. :-) I guess I have no clue what true friendship is.  Maybe I never had a :-) clue in the first place. :-) :-) None of you know how upset I have been this weekend, did any of you :-) care?  Do any of you truly care about the people who write here?  I’ve :-) been here for 5 years now, and I wonder why I have bothered to stick :-) around this long. :-) :-) Kaitlyn of the Prism Collective :-) :-) Check out my Web Site at: Check out my Web Site at: http://www.angelfire.com/ca/prismcollective/

Response:

Would someone who has this wonderful woman’s real life phone number give her a call? I’m worried. You’re worried?!  We were in #cave with her just before she posted this!  We’ve already been looking for someone to call her.

And it was your best buddy who made her feel like that.  SPIKE made someone feel suicidal. If I weren’t worried about Kaitlyn, the irony here would be enough to make ya laugh. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Saab Suz. —– Original Message —– Newsgroups: alt.abuse.recovery Sent: Sunday, July 09, 2000 8:50 PM Before anything andy I wish you will read this. It’s not a flame. I do believe you about the courtcase. I did call Liz on her telling you to kill yourself. I’m sorry that rosee hurt you, and I’m also sorry you hurt rosee’s kid. You want a divorce? OK, I’ll do you one better, I’ll make you a widower. No more killfile for anyone, just for me. ((((((((((((Andy))))))))))))))) Kaitlyn : -)I am hurt that you watched me struggle and get called names. : -)maybe I will get over it, martin kruse and french andy can’t. -)I : think if you look my reason for my divorce is legal, non support. you : -)can be supportive or silent but not be silent watching me get : attacked and -)then be supportive to a person telling me to off : myself. maybe you just -)didn’t know? maybe others will learn. kait : you brought this on yourself. -)you know me, you must not expect me : to not fight back, your best tactic is -)to say spike is very serious : about some stuff, be careful and not get -)involved. -)BE CLEAR, : TELLING PPL TO KILL THEIR SELVES IS WRONG. -)JAMES ATTACKING LADIES : WILL BE ADDRESSED. -)spike -)ps if you keep me on kill file like you : say, it may be easier to heal and -)do recovery. just think down the : road, this is best for survivors and that -)is all I care about. Not : abusers not fair-weather pals. I AM MORE UPSET -)THAT YOU COULD : POSSIBLY BE. That would explain what you are thinking about -)now, or : the last time you saw me. -) -) -) -) -)"Prism Collective (aka : : -) I turned off the computer thrusday night and just turned it back : on -) tonight (Sunday). -) -) I have been so hurt these past few : days. Yes I know many have been -) hurting much longer than that, : but that is them and this is me. -) -) I need to say something for : myself. -) -) There was a person here who I have been very very : fond of for the past -) few years. Fond enough to call him Hubby. : This week I saw him and -) others doing some pretty hurtful things, : and I called him and others -) on their actions. I ended up putting : three people in my killfile -) because I couldn’t stand to see the : hurting they were causing. -) -) I come to the newsgroup and find : that alot of the waring has calmed -) down, and so I took those : people off of killfile. I read a post to me -) from Crisis saying : she is sorry for hurting me. That was wonderful. -) I care for so : many people on both sides of the flames. I also see -) some good : posts from Liz, but I still have Liz on a post to post -) : self-killfile. I have had my run-ins with Liz, but we have also been : -) able to get past those run-ins. -) -) But the one who I hurt : over most is spike. Someone who built me an -) island with as many : small ponies that I wish to have. I asked spike -) to stop hurting : people who have nothing to do with this newsgroup -) except to be : the husband and child of another member., and then I’m -) accused of : not believing that spike won his court trial. I never said -) I : didn’t believe him. But time and time again it was stated falsely -) : that I didn’t believe him. -) -) When I told spike that I had to : put him in my killfile, he came back -) with "I want a divorce". I : guess my friendship with spike wasn’t as -) strong as I thought it : to be, and that hurts me more than anything. -) I guess I have no : clue what true friendship is. Maybe I never had a -) clue in the : first place. -) -) None of you know how upset I have been this : weekend, did any of you -) care? Do any of you truly care about the : people who write here? I’ve -) been here for 5 years now, and I : wonder why I have bothered to stick -) around this long. -) -) : Kaitlyn of the Prism Collective -) -) Check out my Web Site at: Check out my Web Site at: http://www.angelfire.com/ca/prismcollective

Response:

<snippage None of you know how upset I have been this weekend, did any of you care?  Do any of you truly care about the people who write here?  I’ve been here for 5 years now, and I wonder why I have bothered to stick around this long.

Yes, Kaitlyn, we care and if you had been reading me you would have seen I answered that issue of your pain.  But you aren’t the only person who has been hurting.  Again, I’m sorry you hurt, but you aren’t the only one, and the constant assumption that some of us do this for fun, when you don’t bother to read or answer our explanations gets very wearing. Feel better…. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Kaitlyn of the Prism Collective Check out my Web Site at: http://www.angelfire.com/ca/prismcollective/

Response:

If I pay you a thousand dollars, will you go to school and learn how to speak English? The rest of this, there is nothing of value at all.  Just more weird, out of control, needs his meds dwarf crap…. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i am hurt that you watched me struggle and get called names. maybe i will get over it, martin kruse and french andy can’t. i think if you look my reason for my divorce is legal, non support. you can be supportive or silent but not be silent watching me get attacked and then be supportive to a person telling me to off myself. maybe you just didn’t know? maybe others will learn. kait you brought this on yourself. you know me, you must not expect me to not fight back, your best tactic is to say spike is very serious about some stuff, be careful and not get involved. BE CLEAR, TELLING PPL TO KILL THEIR SELVES IS WRONG. JAMES ATTACKING LADIES WILL BE ADDRESSED. spike ps if you keep me on kill file like you say, it may be easier to heal and do recovery. just think down the road, this is best for survivors and that is all i care about. Not abusers not fair-weather pals. I AM MORE UPSET THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY BE. That would explain what you are thinking about now, or the last time you saw me. I turned off the computer thrusday night and just turned it back on tonight (Sunday). I have been so hurt these past few days.  Yes I know many have been hurting much longer than that, but that is them and this is me. I need to say something for myself. There was a person here who I have been very very fond of for the past few years.  Fond enough to call him Hubby.  This week I saw him and others doing some pretty hurtful things, and I called him and others on their actions.  I ended up putting three people in my killfile because I couldn’t stand to see the hurting they were causing. I come to the newsgroup and find that alot of the waring has calmed down, and so I took those people off of killfile.  I read a post to me from Crisis saying she is sorry for hurting me.  That was wonderful. I care for so many people on both sides of the flames.  I also see some good posts from Liz, but I still have Liz on a post to post self-killfile.   I have had my run-ins with Liz, but we have also been able to get past those run-ins. But the one who I hurt over most is spike.  Someone who built me an island with as many small ponies that I wish to have.  I asked spike to stop hurting people who have nothing to do with this newsgroup except to be the husband and child of another member., and then I’m accused of not believing that spike won his court trial.  I never said I didn’t believe him.  But time and time again it was stated falsely that I didn’t believe him. When I told spike that I had to put him in my killfile, he came back with "I want a divorce".  I guess my friendship with spike wasn’t as strong as I thought it to be, and that hurts me more than anything. I guess I have no clue what true friendship is.  Maybe I never had a clue in the first place. None of you know how upset I have been this weekend, did any of you care?  Do any of you truly care about the people who write here? I’ve been here for 5 years now, and I wonder why I have bothered to stick around this long. Kaitlyn of the Prism Collective Check out my Web Site at:

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Kaitlyn, yes i do care about people here.  And yes, I do care that you are hurting. polly wog :-) I turned off the computer thrusday night and just turned it back on :-) tonight (Sunday). :-) :-) I have been so hurt these past few days.  Yes I know many have been :-) hurting much longer than that, but that is them and this is me. :-) :-) I need to say something for myself.   :-) :-) There was a person here who I have been very very fond of for the past :-) few years.  Fond enough to call him Hubby.  This week I saw him and :-) others doing some pretty hurtful things, and I called him and others :-) on their actions.  I ended up putting three people in my killfile :-) because I couldn’t stand to see the hurting they were causing.   :-) :-) I come to the newsgroup and find that alot of the waring has calmed :-) down, and so I took those people off of killfile.  I read a post to me :-) from Crisis saying she is sorry for hurting me.  That was wonderful. :-) I care for so many people on both sides of the flames.  I also see :-) some good posts from Liz, but I still have Liz on a post to post :-) self-killfile.   I have had my run-ins with Liz, but we have also been :-) able to get past those run-ins. :-) :-) But the one who I hurt over most is spike.  Someone who built me an :-) island with as many small ponies that I wish to have.  I asked spike :-) to stop hurting people who have nothing to do with this newsgroup :-) except to be the husband and child of another member., and then I’m :-) accused of not believing that spike won his court trial.  I never said :-) I didn’t believe him.  But time and time again it was stated falsely :-) that I didn’t believe him. :-) :-) When I told spike that I had to put him in my killfile, he came back :-) with "I want a divorce".  I guess my friendship with spike wasn’t as :-) strong as I thought it to be, and that hurts me more than anything. :-) I guess I have no clue what true friendship is.  Maybe I never had a :-) clue in the first place. :-) :-) None of you know how upset I have been this weekend, did any of you :-) care?  Do any of you truly care about the people who write here?  I’ve :-) been here for 5 years now, and I wonder why I have bothered to stick :-) around this long. :-) :-) Kaitlyn of the Prism Collective :-) :-) :-) Check out my Web Site at: :-) http://www.angelfire.com/ca/prismcollective/ and the greatest of these is love

Response:

i am hurt that you watched me struggle and get called names. maybe i will get over it, martin kruse and french andy can’t. i think if you look my reason for my divorce is legal, non support. you can be supportive or silent but not be silent watching me get attacked and then be supportive to a person telling me to off myself. maybe you just didn’t know? maybe others will learn. kait you brought this on yourself. you know me, you must not expect me to not fight back, your best tactic is to say spike is very serious about some stuff, be careful and not get involved. BE CLEAR, TELLING PPL TO KILL THEIR SELVES IS WRONG. JAMES ATTACKING LADIES WILL BE ADDRESSED. spike ps if you keep me on kill file like you say, it may be easier to heal and do recovery. just think down the road, this is best for survivors and that is all i care about. Not abusers not fair-weather pals. I AM MORE UPSET THAT YOU COULD POSSIBLY BE. That would explain what you are thinking about now, or the last time you saw me. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I turned off the computer thrusday night and just turned it back on tonight (Sunday). I have been so hurt these past few days.  Yes I know many have been hurting much longer than that, but that is them and this is me. I need to say something for myself. There was a person here who I have been very very fond of for the past few years.  Fond enough to call him Hubby.  This week I saw him and others doing some pretty hurtful things, and I called him and others on their actions.  I ended up putting three people in my killfile because I couldn’t stand to see the hurting they were causing. I come to the newsgroup and find that alot of the waring has calmed down, and so I took those people off of killfile.  I read a post to me from Crisis saying she is sorry for hurting me.  That was wonderful. I care for so many people on both sides of the flames.  I also see some good posts from Liz, but I still have Liz on a post to post self-killfile.   I have had my run-ins with Liz, but we have also been able to get past those run-ins. But the one who I hurt over most is spike.  Someone who built me an island with as many small ponies that I wish to have.  I asked spike to stop hurting people who have nothing to do with this newsgroup except to be the husband and child of another member., and then I’m accused of not believing that spike won his court trial.  I never said I didn’t believe him.  But time and time again it was stated falsely that I didn’t believe him. When I told spike that I had to put him in my killfile, he came back with "I want a divorce".  I guess my friendship with spike wasn’t as strong as I thought it to be, and that hurts me more than anything. I guess I have no clue what true friendship is.  Maybe I never had a clue in the first place. None of you know how upset I have been this weekend, did any of you care?  Do any of you truly care about the people who write here?  I’ve been here for 5 years now, and I wonder why I have bothered to stick around this long. Kaitlyn of the Prism Collective Check out my Web Site at:

– A caring post from lix bateman. Organization: chat rooms? ppl like james tolson log your words, lix bateman uses this info for her "fun." Newsgroups: alt.abuse.recovery spike says: If you have a problem with me, it could be this. Those who fail to learn from history are set to repeat it.   Views of the past lis…..isn’t that what you told jean’s friend andre to do???? Something that you told greg similarily? Don’t you ever learn? Panther

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – spike…do us all a favor, why don’t you?  Go in the bathroom, grab a bottle of whatever meds you stopped taking, take them all at once and swallow a couple of bottles of vodka afterward? see what happens to ppl like me? click here do it now! Go spike, do it now.

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UK "Crackdown"

Question:

This is why I am so against the anti-adoption ethos. It’s very difficult to say, convincingly,  that adoption is terrible for HWIs, but wonderful for older troubled kids. I come from a world where there

aren’t enough adoptive families, period. For anyone, including the HIs. To me it seems like a great luxury to have several, if not dozens, of good homes awaiting babies whose mothers can’t raise them; and if that means that it takes on aspects of a market…so be it. A hell of a lot better than the

other way around. Yes, I think it is better for the children if there are more homes than chilkdren to fill them.  And, I don’t think that it is bad that HWI are adopted or that that is what many people desire.  I do, however, have strong discomfort with a lot of the dynamics surrounding the adoption of infants/little ones. Jean

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Yes, I think it is better for the children if there are more homes than chilkdren to fill them.  And, I don’t think that it is bad that HWI are adopted or that that is what many people desire.  I do, however, have strong discomfort with a lot of the dynamics surrounding the adoption of infants/little ones. Jean

But if you are talking about the UK you miss the point that there are only 200 or 300 HWI’s actually available for adoption in England and Wales each year. Our welfare state makes it reasonably easy for single mothers to keep their babies, there are several thousand older children in residential care or long term foster care, desperately needing to be adopted, many of them of mixed race and many with health and emotional problems. It simply isn’t HWI’s that are in need adoption here, the few that there are, are easily placed. robinjh

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Our welfare state makes it reasonably easy for single mothers to keep their babies, there are several thousand older children in residential care or long term foster care, desperately needing to be adopted, many of them of mixed race and many with health and emotional problems.           Isn’t that odd.  A "welfare state" that makes it "reasonably easy for single mothers to keep their babies"… yet the numbers of older children in residential or long term foster care continues to rise.  What correlation, if any, do you draw between those two statements? robinjh: It simply isn’t HWI’s that are in need adoption here, the few that there are, are easily placed.           We share the same problem in this country, although the numbers are a bit different. Jay

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Our welfare state makes it reasonably easy for single mothers to keep their babies, there are several thousand older children in residential care or long term foster care, desperately needing to be adopted, many of them of mixed race and many with health and emotional problems.          Isn’t that odd.  A "welfare state" that makes it "reasonably easy for single mothers to keep their babies"… yet the numbers of older children in residential or long term foster care continues to rise.  What correlation, if any, do you draw between those two statements?

I think that in many cases when the ‘dolly’ phase of a baby’s life is over, reality sets in with a vengeance. The (usually) very young and inexperienced mother finds herself unable to find babysitters, unable to cope with the ‘terrible twos’, and ‘terrifying threes’, and with no free time in which to grow up herself. That’s often the way that ’slightly older’ children come into care. Other circumstances are where the parents’ relationship breaks down, and perhaps the mother is left to cope, in poor circumstances without emotional/psychological  support for herself. The children can easily get out of control, often as a result of suffering the turmoil of domestic rows and/or violence and/or drug/alcohol abuse. The SS finally step in and if necessary they remove the children, and whole sibling groups are often ‘released’ for adoption. Often – though not always – these would be open adoptions, with ongoing contact with their birth families. This is particularly important where there was already a relationship with – say – grandparents and other relatives. Often visits to parents will be supervised, because of past (abusive) history. As a member of Adoption UK (formerly PPIAS) I am entitled to their wonderful quarterly journal, ‘Adoption Today’, and also to their other quarterly magazine entitled ‘Children Who Wait’. I had to ask them to stop sending me the second one as I found it absolutely terrifying! I simply couldn’t cope with the hurt, fear, rage, despair (that was the worst) that emanated from every page. Pictures of whole families of children, many of whom had no chance at all of ever being placed together, and a very large number of whom had severe emotional and psychological damage, as a result of the circumstances in which they lived with their biological families. These of course would all have been considered ’special needs’. It would make you weep with despair at what we do to our children by neglecting them. (I know, I am assuming ‘collective guilt’) If I were of an age to still be adopting, there is no doubt that it is that category of child that would attract me. One of our children WAS disabled, and now is NOT. One-to-one care, and a great deal of love and commitment can give a child the courage and impetus to achieve wonders. It is very rewarding indeed to see even the tiniest improvement – particularly to a child’s self-esteem. Helen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -robinjh: It simply isn’t HWI’s that are in need adoption here, the few that there are, are easily placed.          We share the same problem in this country, although the numbers are a bit different. Jay

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It simply isn’t HWI’s that are in need adoption here, the few that there are, are easily placed.           We share the same problem in this country,

although the numbers are a bit different.

It would be interesting to see how the ratios in different countries compare.  You are a good one for knowing where to find stats, Jay.  Have you seen anytihng comparing children in foster care, needing adoptiove homes, etc, in various countries?  Rupa, are you aware of such a comparison? Jean  :)

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If I were of an age to still be adopting, there is no

doubt that it is that category of child that would attract me. One of our

children WAS disabled, and now is NOT. One-to-one care, and a great deal of love

and commitment can Helen, at what age do you think one should no longer be adopting? To me, that is another of the good points of older, more experienced folks adopting older kids.  We can be looking at a 10 year (intensive parenting) period rather than 20 years! Jean  :)

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It would be interesting to see how the ratios in different countries compare.  You are a good one for knowing where to find stats, Jay.  Have you seen anytihng comparing children in foster care, needing adoptiove homes, etc, in various countries?  Rupa, are you aware of such a comparison? Jean  :)

I’m afraid not…I’m not very well-read on adoption. I think there are others on this ng who are, though, and possibly they have the info. Rupa

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Have you seen anytihng comparing children in foster care, needing adoptiove homes, etc, in various countries? No stats… just anecdotal stories.  Sorry Jean. Dad

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          Isn’t that odd.  A "welfare state" that makes it "reasonably easy for single mothers to keep their babies"… yet the numbers of older children in residential or long term foster care continues to rise.  What correlation, if any, do you draw between those two statements?

Yes I’m sure we can all see the correlation, but I would not advocate taking a new born child from its mother, just because she MIGHT have second thoughts when that child becomes a stroppy three old, many single mothers do go on to raise their children to adulthood successfully. robinjh

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          Isn’t that odd.  A "welfare state" that makes it "reasonably easy for single mothers to keep their babies"… yet the numbers of older children in residential or long term foster care continues to rise.  What correlation, if any, do you draw between those two statements?

Robinjh: Yes I’m sure we can all see the correlation, but I would not advocate taking a new born child from its mother, just because she MIGHT have second thoughts when that child becomes a stroppy three old, many single mothers do go on to raise their children to adulthood successfully.           Of course.  But I can’t help but wonder how many of those older children who have languished in foster care for years would have been better served by adoption at birth.           On the other hand, there are capable and loving birthparents who have been persuaded that relinquishment IS in their child’s best interests when all they needed was a bit of encouragement and some resources to help them become good parents.           No answers… just observations.  Even hindsight isn’t always 20/20. I just wish there existed a better way to identify infants (with various risk factors) who will likely suffer physical/sexual abuse and/or severe neglect.           It’s a shame that some children have to endure the abuse and neglect, then suffer for years in foster care, before they finally have a chance at every child’s birthright… to be loved and nurtured in a permanent family. Dad

Response:

From Reuters, April 9, 2000: UK Minister vows to reform adoption system LONDON, April 9 (Reuters) – Health Minister John Hutton has promised to crack down on errant English councils who are lagging behind on child adoption. “Potential adopters can wait up to a year to begin the process to become a parent. This is just not good enough,” he told reporters after a report revealed major shortcomings. The Social Services Inspectorate found that 1,297 approved adopters had no children placed with them while 2,400 children were waiting to be adopted. “There is obviously a hardcore of local authorities who are still lagging behind,” Hutton said. “I am determined to overcome this unacceptably bad performance and make sure that adoption is used as the positive option that it is.” One century ago, the first Justice Harlan admonished this Court that the Constitution "neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens." Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U. S. 537, 559 (1896) (dissenting opinion). Justice Kenedy, ROMER v. EVANS, 1996.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – From Reuters, April 9, 2000: UK Minister vows to reform adoption system LONDON, April 9 (Reuters) – Health Minister John Hutton has promised to crack down on errant English councils who are lagging behind on child adoption. “Potential adopters can wait up to a year to begin the process to become a parent. This is just not good enough,” he told reporters after a report revealed major shortcomings. The Social Services Inspectorate found that 1,297 approved adopters had no children placed with them while 2,400 children were waiting to be adopted. “There is obviously a hardcore of local authorities who are still lagging behind,” Hutton said. “I am determined to overcome this unacceptably bad performance and make sure that adoption is used as the positive option that it is.”

We hear the same old thing over and over for at least the last ten years, whist several draft adoption acts have been dropped, at least this guy’s not pushing John Major’s idiotic proposal that we go back to letting the Vicar and the District Nurse arrange adoptions as they did in the early days. The article fails to mention that only a small proportion of the 2,400 children are infants, many of them are older children for whom it is much more difficult to find a suitable adoptive home, and there is a much larger number of older children for whom adoption is simply not being considered at the moment. I’ve read somewhere that there are in excess of 8000 children in permanent care but just like so many other places the average PAP here in the UK only wants a healthy white infant and those who would adopt a mixed race child are told that they can not as it would seriously damage the child to be bought up in family that does not share its race and cultural heritage. robinjh

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – From Reuters, April 9, 2000: UK Minister vows to reform adoption system LONDON, April 9 (Reuters) – Health Minister John Hutton has promised to crack down on errant English councils who are lagging behind on child adoption. “Potential adopters can wait up to a year to begin the process to become a parent. This is just not good enough,” he told reporters after a report revealed major shortcomings. The Social Services Inspectorate found that 1,297 approved adopters had no children placed with them while 2,400 children were waiting to be adopted. “There is obviously a hardcore of local authorities who are still lagging behind,” Hutton said. “I am determined to overcome this unacceptably bad performance and make sure that adoption is used as the positive option that it is.” We hear the same old thing over and over for at least the last ten years, whist several draft adoption acts have been dropped, at least this guy’s not pushing John Major’s idiotic proposal that we go back to letting the Vicar and the District Nurse arrange adoptions as they did in the early days. The article fails to mention that only a small proportion of the 2,400 children are infants, many of them are older children for whom it is much more difficult to find a suitable adoptive home,

And of course, many of them are sibling groups who have been released for adoption by the social services.  and there is a much larger number of older children for whom adoption is simply not being considered at the moment.

And yet on the recent television series on adoption, 17 and 18 year olds were demanding to know why they hadn’t been placed for adoption at an early age. Indeed one (almost) 18-year old was still hopeful of finding a family. A triumph of optimism over neglect? I’ve read somewhere that there are in excess of 8000 children in permanent care but just like so many other places the average PAP here in the UK only wants a healthy white infant and those who would adopt a mixed race child are told that they can not as it would seriously damage the child to be bought up in family that does not share its race and cultural heritage.

Yet Nottingham SS – the ones who really acquitted themselves well in all of their adoption practices – do not seem to set such a great emphasis on ONLY placing a child with parents who share the same racial background. They are aware that cultural awareness and support can be dealt with in very many ways. Providing a happy family for the child is seen as the priority, once there is appropriate supportive contact with Black role models and mentors, outside the family. One young woman said she was one-third Afro-Carribean, one-third Irish and one-third Scots – "so which part of my cultural background do they concentrate on? The Black part, of course!" If I recall correctly she had been happily placed with a white couple, though I think there were other adopted children in the family. (I may have the facts slightly askew, but the essence is correct). The other children on the first programme had simply ‘drifted in care’ – from foster carers to Homes and back again. They were all highly critical of the fact that no-one had tried to find adoptive families for them, and now they were too old. I have to say that I found them very articulate and intelligent, and I was very moved by their plight. They were leaving the ‘care’ system to go out into the big bad world, without the back-up of the family they craved. Helen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -robinjh

Response:

The system is indeed in trouble.  I have friends at BAAF who would like to get involved and move some of those who should be with families at least into guardianships but they dare not speak out or their subsidies from Health will be cut.  It is sad but true but most of the PAPs are lining up for HWIs.  I’m for letting everyone get involved in placements so long as they follow some rules.  The bureaucrats in SS aren’t about to do the job right.  T. I. Catwin

Response:

The system is indeed in trouble.  I have friends at BAAF who would like to get involved and move some of those who should be with families at least into guardianships but they dare not speak out or their subsidies from Health will be cut.  It is sad but true but most of the PAPs are lining up for HWIs. I’m for letting everyone get involved in placements so long as they follow some rules.  The bureaucrats in SS aren’t about to do the job right.  T. I.

Catwin Coincidentally there was a report on Channel 5 tonight about the dire state of adoption in the UK. BAAF (British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering) have been asked to set up an action-plan to bring adoption into the 21st Century.  Ms Collier of BAAF was interviewed, (her first name escapes me just now – Frances?) as was Mr Hutton – isn’t he the Minister for Health? Anyway next month was given as the deadline for producing the report (I think) so it sounds as if things are well in hand. There was definitely an ‘air of urgency’ about it all. (Though Robin might know better – no doubt he has ‘heard it all before’!) The figures quoted for children available for adoption were TWICE the numbers of adoptive parents available. They mentioned delays of three years and more of children ‘drifting’ in the care system when they should be with families. Helen

Response:

Hi Helen, you have brought up a good point, but indeed sad……There just are not enough good homes to fill the quota for children who need good homes. The figures quoted for children available for adoption were TWICE the numbers of adoptive parents available.

It’s about supply and demand sadly…..and no solutions to get those kids oversupplied into those families that are just not there. They mentioned delays of three years and more of children ‘drifting’ in the care system when they should be with families. Helen

Kathy Bmom closed adoption reunited from relinquishment 1969 on 101797 Oxford dictionary:   WONKY 1. crooked, off-centre, askew 2. loose, unsteady 3. unreliable reunited closed adoption

Response:

I don’t want to be disagreeable, but I believe that there are sufficient numbers of good homes available in England for each child who is in need of a family.  I realize that some of these children have challenges which make them very difficult to parent, and therefore I favour a wide variety of appropriate services being made available. One of the reasons good families do not come forward is that they simply do not wish to put up with the niggling questions asked by the SS people.  There is no doubt that any baby can find a home, which is one reason, to take us back to the question of laws preventing children from being dumped in bins, I believe most of us on this ng agree that abandonment can be dealt with first.  T. I. Catwin

Response:

Hi Helen, you have brought up a good point, but indeed

sad……There just are not enough good homes to fill the quota for children who

need good homes. Don’t you think more homes could be generated if they’d (a) take advantage of the good homes being offered and then (b) initiate a publicity campaign touting the positive results? When people ‘know’ someone who has adopted, it opens their mind to adoption, even if they only know the family via media coverage.  When people know of success stories, they just might decide that this is something they could and would like to do themselves. The figures quoted for children available for adoption were TWICE the numbers of adoptive parents available.

According to the quote I saw, that figure was for aparents whom had already been approved – they were simply awaiting matches.  AND, matching children with those families would result in a =50%= drop in the number of waiting children – pretty impressive accomplishment, I’d say! It’s about supply and demand sadly…..and no solutions to get those kids oversupplied into those families that are just not there.

Demand can be created.  Marketing people do it all over the world day in and day out. Jean

Response:

The Social Services Inspectorate found that 1,297

approved adopters had no children placed with them while 2,400 children were

waiting to be adopted. The article fails to mention that only a small proportion of the 2,400 children are infants, many of them are older children for whom it is much more difficult to find a suitable adoptive home, and there is a much larger number of older children for whom adoption is simply not being considered at the moment. I’ve read somewhere that there are in excess of 8000

children in permanent care but just like so many other places the average PAP

here in the UK only Even if England has 8000 children in permanent care and another 2,400 children for whom an adoption plan has been written, that’s quite an accomplishment when you compare it to the United States’ figures – we have individual states with higher figures than those! What is being done in england to encourage the adoption of older/special needs children? Jean

Response:

What is being done in england to encourage the adoption of older/special needs children? Jean

The Adoption Act requires that each local authority (county or borough council) and child care organisation form its own adoption policy within the framework of national legislation. Some LAs such as Nottinghamshire are very good others are very poor. What is needed is stronger national legislation. There was a draft adoption bill during the last Conservative administration, but it was a bit controversial because it included the right of gays to adopt and few other similar things and there was an election looming so it was dropped, and a few Statutory Instruments were pushed through in its place and local authorities were told to form new adoption policies in accordance, some did a good job of that and some did not. There needs to be stronger national legislation now, and a national review of adoption, the last such review was the Houghton Committee in the 1960/70s (it took 10 years) adoption needs have changed a great deal since the 1975 Children Act and the 1976 Adoption Act that set today’s policies. BAAF does a lot to encourage the adoption of older and special needs children, but the law needs to be changed to overcome the ‘PC’ attitude of many social workers towards adoption in general, and to force local authorities to spend more realistic amounts of money on their adoption agencies or better still take the responsibility away from LAs and have a proper national adoption authority. As a 40 something year old who spent just over a year in care as a very young child I can testify that "care" even for so short a time and at such a young age is damaging on a life long basis, and it must be a great deal worse for the children who get stuck in the care system here, pushed from pillar to post throughout their childhood and often abused by those charged with their care. I do hope that Hutton’s proposals are not just more hot air. Adoption needs to be  honest, open, devoid of political agenda and devoid of commercialism and most importantly in the best interest of the child, I hope that that is what we will get with our next adoption act and that we get it soon. robinjh

Response:

Absolutely. The thing is, as you suggested, to publicise the success stories and give people a realistic idea of what they’ll be getting into. This is why I am so against the anti-adoption ethos. It’s very difficult to say, convincingly,  that adoption is terrible for HWIs, but wonderful for older troubled kids. I come from a world where there aren’t enough adoptive families, period. For anyone, including the HIs. To me it seems like a great luxury to have several, if not dozens, of good homes awaiting babies whose mothers can’t raise them; and if that means that it takes on aspects of a market…so be it. A hell of a lot better than the other way around. Rupa – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Helen, you have brought up a good point, but indeed sad……There just are not enough good homes to fill the quota for children who need good homes. Don’t you think more homes could be generated if they’d (a) take advantage of the good homes being offered and then (b) initiate a publicity campaign touting the positive results? <snip Demand can be created.  Marketing people do it all over the world day in and day out. Jean

Response:

Even if England has 8000 children in permanent care and another 2,400 children for whom an adoption plan has been written, that’s quite an accomplishment when you compare it to the United States’ figures – we have individual states with higher figures than those!

It does deem that the UK has done a better job than the US has in placement.  Most Western European countries have far, far better social welfare systems than we do. Be careful though, not to compare apples and oranges.  We do have some states with higher figures, but I would bet that those states also have greater populations than the UK

Response:

accordance, some did a good job of that and some did not. There needs to be stronger national legislation now, and a national review of adoption, the

Would that national standars could be inposed in the US.  State governments in the US have far more power than British County Councils. young age is damaging on a life long basis, and it must be a great deal worse for the children who get stuck in the care system here, pushed from pillar to post throughout their childhood and often abused by those

charged with their care. Does this happen in the UK?  An abused child is placed in foster care.  The authorities, putting family preservation  abouve all tell the parent to take a parenting class or drug counseling  etc.  Child is returned to parent.  Parent abuses child.  Repeat.  Repeat.  repeat.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Even if England has 8000 children in permanent care and another 2,400 children for whom an adoption plan has been written, that’s quite an accomplishment when you compare it to the United States’ figures – we have individual states with higher figures than those! It does deem that the UK has done a better job than the US has in placement.  Most Western European countries have far, far better social welfare systems than we do. Be careful though, not to compare apples and oranges.  We do have some states with higher figures, but I would bet that those states also have greater populations than the UK

As always there are lies dam lies and statistics, every time I see a figure for children in care in the UK it is different. One has to ask is that just England and Wales or does it include Scotland and Northern Ireland, which have separate legal systems and hence different adoption laws and separate statistical offices? It probably does not include those children who hope that they are in ‘temporary’ care but may never be returned to their first parents. To me the figures quoted in the Reuters article looks a bit optimistic, there should perhaps be a lot more than 2400 children "waiting to be adopted" if adoption were being considered for all children who have no hope of returning to their first parents. robinjh

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – accordance, some did a good job of that and some did not. There needs to be stronger national legislation now, and a national review of adoption, the Would that national standars could be inposed in the US.  State governments in the US have far more power than British County Councils. young age is damaging on a life long basis, and it must be a great deal worse for the children who get stuck in the care system here, pushed from pillar to post throughout their childhood and often abused by those charged with their care. Does this happen in the UK?  An abused child is placed in foster care.  The authorities, putting family preservation  abouve all tell the parent to take a parenting class or drug counseling  etc.  Child is returned to parent.  Parent abuses child.  Repeat.  Repeat.  repeat.

Where there are doubts, the child is put on the At Risk Register and social workers and health care professionals keep a close eye on things if, they do not improve then the child is taken into care. But as at least one recent well publicised case in Cambridgeshire showed, this system does not always work. Children have been abused in care as much as at home. We’d all like to think that it doesn’t happen any more, but they said that in the 70’s and 80’s and we’ve just found out that abuse was rife in the children’s homes in Wales, at the moment a similar huge investigation is taking place in Yorkshire and throughout Northern England into  children’s homes and foster carers of the 70s and 80s and beyond. Sometimes it looks as though it would be safer to give the parents parenting classes and make sure that they have learned before handing the child back, if they have genuinely reformed. Hopefully recent legislation regarding checks on those working with children, makes it safer for a child to be in care, but that remains to be seen. There does have to be very real evidence of abuse or neglect before the child will be taken into care in the first place. robinjh

Response:

It's Beem a Great Day

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – [...] Hi a, That information intrigued me and I hope you can write what that means from your view point. I thought girls were easier targets because of their socialization to being compliant?! There certainly is that tradition, but there are other reasons for kids to get into ”premature” sexual activity besides the common scenario of being coerced or tricked. I don’t think it’s too radical to suggest that on the average boys have a higher sex drive a/o a greater ”imperative” to have sexual activities that do girls. (Me, I’ve assumed that we’re seeing one result of boys being socialized to be the pursuers and girls to be passively wooed. Not a universal socialization, of course, but I don’t automatically credit that boys are genetically dropped into a sexual overdrive that girls never feel.)   –o0o– i can personally attest to the fact that there is a *big* difference between the libidos of men and women – having been on both sides of that fence. Can’t ask for more qualified expert testimony than that 8). but i dont see "libido" automatically translating into "sex drive". Me neither. What I saw in boys in general was a much more elementary drive–”orgasm drive” or something like that. The imperative seemed to be to get off, not to form adult- style liasons with exchanges of affection and so on. there are plenty of women with high sex drives – but then again maybe they have a relatively higher level of testoserone and/or a greater senitivity to it? hard to say. Sure. But our culture (and most others) works against a girl’s being able to do much about her sex drives–high, medium, or feeble–as compared to the opportunities for boys. It ain’t fair but it’s the game on the table. also, male and female sexualities *are* very different – and they are not a result of socialization but genitics – IMHO of course. Yes, that speaks to what I was suggesting; in an elementary sense, you can seduce a boy’s penis, you don’t necessarily have to seduce the whole person 8). Not all the time, not all boys, and not exclusively. But generally. With girls both the range of feelings and the real-world methods of dealing with the drives ARE different. Due to genetics.

but then if it *is* genitics then i havnt been on both sides as much as i claim to have been. (and trust me – its *only* because i know how supportive this place is or i would *never* say that and i still feel vulnerable and like im taking a big chance) i am just me – how can i claim to speak for anyone at all? nor was i your typical boy – i was in group many years ago and i told them about my best friend debbie when i was five – they asked if i had sexual feeling for her and i was dumbfounded – "you had sexual feelings at five!?" i asked and they acted like "of course – didnt you?" jeeez – now i dont know what the hell i am – i had better stop before i get too depressed here – i should have never written this :( love noen — i can only please one person a day – today is not your day. tomorrow doesnt look good either.    http://www.newsfeeds.com       The Largest Usenet Servers in the World!

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – [...] Hi a, That information intrigued me and I hope you can write what that means from your view point. I thought girls were easier targets because of their socialization to being compliant?! There certainly is that tradition, but there are other reasons for kids to get into ”premature” sexual activity besides the common scenario of being coerced or tricked. I don’t think it’s too radical to suggest that on the average boys have a higher sex drive a/o a greater ”imperative” to have sexual activities that do girls. (Me, I’ve assumed that we’re seeing one result of boys being socialized to be the pursuers and girls to be passively wooed. Not a universal socialization, of course, but I don’t automatically credit that boys are genetically dropped into a sexual overdrive that girls never feel.)   –o0o– i can personally attest to the fact that there is a *big* difference between the libidos of men and women – having been on both sides of that fence.

Can’t ask for more qualified expert testimony than that 8). but i dont see "libido" automatically translating into "sex drive".

Me neither. What I saw in boys in general was a much more elementary drive–”orgasm drive” or something like that. The imperative seemed to be to get off, not to form adult- style liasons with exchanges of affection and so on. there are plenty of women with high sex drives – but then again maybe they have a relatively higher level of testoserone and/or a greater senitivity to it? hard to say.

Sure. But our culture (and most others) works against a girl’s being able to do much about her sex drives–high, medium, or feeble–as compared to the opportunities for boys. It ain’t fair but it’s the game on the table. also, male and female sexualities *are* very different – and they are not a result of socialization but genitics – IMHO of course.

Yes, that speaks to what I was suggesting; in an elementary sense, you can seduce a boy’s penis, you don’t necessarily have to seduce the whole person 8). Not all the time, not all boys, and not exclusively. But generally. With girls both the range of feelings and the real-world methods of dealing with the drives ARE different. Due to genetics. love noen — i can only please one person a day – today is not your day. tomorrow doesnt look good either.    http://www.newsfeeds.com       The Largest Usenet Servers in the World!

a.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Mary I never warned my boys about anyone who might abuse You know as my boys were growing up it never dawned on me that they were in any danger from sexual abuse. In fact I used to think "at least they are safe". I was wrong. Boys are as much a target of abusers as girls are :( Indeed they may be more of a target–or an easier target (however it’s measured). As an ex-boy I can tell you that sex with boys can be way easier to set up and less difficult and time-consuming to accomplish. (I know that sounds weird, but think it over.) Hi a, That information intrigued me and I hope you can write what that means from your view point. I thought girls were easier targets because of their socialization to being compliant?! There certainly is that tradition, but there are other reasons for kids to get into ”premature” sexual activity besides the common scenario of being coerced or tricked. I don’t think it’s too radical to suggest that on the average boys have a higher sex drive a/o a greater ”imperative” to have sexual activities that do girls. Certainly AFTER puberty and sometimes before. A fundamental principle of salesmanship holds that a customer who will meet you halfway is a better sales prospect than a customer with no perceived need for your product. Add to that the fairly common piece about boys sexually experimenting with each other–in all sorts of age groups– somehing that if it is going on with peer-level girls is being kept a secret, for the most part–I have to conclude that a boy is not only more likely to be talked into sex with an older person, but is more likely to consider it at least somewhat of a Good Thing. Or have mixed feelings. I know I was. None of this is to imply that intergenerational sex with kids is a Good Thing. But once or twice a year we seem to circle back to this point; that it is not necessarily a 100% Bad Thing.

  –o0o– i dont see how you get from "boys can be easily coerced into sex" to "its not necessarily a 100& bad thing" i missed the logic there love noen — you get what you give    http://www.newsfeeds.com       The Largest Usenet Servers in the World!

Response:

Thanks for the comments, noen and a, I thought they helped in understanding the dynamics of the topics. I guess I was just thinking out loud and it was great that you took an interest and gave your own perspective. It helps me in understanding. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – That information intrigued me and I hope you can write what that means from your view point. I thought girls were easier targets because of their socialization to being compliant?! There certainly is that tradition, but there are other reasons for kids to get into ”premature” sexual activity besides the common scenario of being coerced or tricked. I don’t think it’s too radical to suggest that on the average boys have a higher sex drive a/o a greater ”imperative” to have sexual activities that do girls. (Me, I’ve assumed that we’re seeing one result of boys being socialized to be the pursuers and girls to be passively wooed. Not a universal socialization, of course, but I don’t automatically credit that boys are genetically dropped into a sexual overdrive that girls never feel.)   –o0o– i can personally attest to the fact that there is a *big* difference between the libidos of men and women – having been on both sides of that fence. Can’t ask for more qualified expert testimony than that 8). but i dont see "libido" automatically translating into "sex drive". Me neither. What I saw in boys in general was a much more elementary drive–”orgasm drive” or something like that. The imperative seemed to be to get off, not to form adult- style liasons with exchanges of affection and so on. there are plenty of women with high sex drives – but then again maybe they have a relatively higher level of testoserone and/or a greater senitivity to it? hard to say. Sure. But our culture (and most others) works against a girl’s being able to do much about her sex drives–high, medium, or feeble–as compared to the opportunities for boys. It ain’t fair but it’s the game on the table. also, male and female sexualities *are* very different – and they are not a result of socialization but genitics – IMHO of course. Yes, that speaks to what I was suggesting; in an elementary sense, you can seduce a boy’s penis, you don’t necessarily have to seduce the whole person 8). Not all the time, not all boys, and not exclusively. But generally. With girls both the range of feelings and the real-world methods of dealing with the drives ARE different. Due to genetics. but then if it *is* genitics then i havnt been on both sides as much as i claim to have been. (and trust me – its *only* because i know how supportive this place is or i would *never* say that and i still feel vulnerable and like im taking a big chance) i am just me – how can i claim to speak for anyone at all? nor was i your typical boy – i was in group many years ago and i told them about my best friend debbie when i was five – they asked if i had sexual feeling for her and i was dumbfounded – "you had sexual feelings at five!?" i asked and they acted like "of course – didnt you?" jeeez – now i dont know what the hell i am – i had better stop before i get too depressed here – i should have never written this :( love noen — i can only please one person a day – today is not your day. tomorrow doesnt look good either.    http://www.newsfeeds.com       The Largest Usenet Servers in the World!

Response:

What is "harm"? The inability to have a close relationship with a mate? A sexual fixation? Workalholic? Obsessive compulsive? Isolation? Lack of joy or purpose in one’s life? Drinking and drugging?   –o0o– harm can be quite real – check out my post on brain abnormalities and follow the link.

Thanks for the pointer, will do. Mary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – love noen — i can only please one person a day – today is not your day. tomorrow doesnt look good either.    http://www.newsfeeds.com       The Largest Usenet Servers in the World!

Response:

[...] None of this is to imply that intergenerational sex with kids is a Good Thing. But once or twice a year we seem to circle back to this point; that it is not necessarily a 100% Bad Thing.   –o0o– i dont see how you get from "boys can be easily coerced into sex" to "its not necessarily a 100& bad thing"

Some, or it would seem logical, most boys are ”coerced” or persuaded or seduced. Another sampling leaps at the opportunity. (That would be me). Of those, some subsection found it to be a positive, non-traumatic experience. (Me again.) Or, if it doesn’t harm you, for you, it’s not harmful. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i missed the logic there love noen — you get what you give    http://www.newsfeeds.com       The Largest Usenet Servers in the World!

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Mary I never warned my boys about anyone who might abuse You know as my boys were growing up it never dawned on me that they were in any danger from sexual abuse. In fact I used to think "at least they are safe". I was wrong. Boys are as much a target of abusers as girls are :( Indeed they may be more of a target–or an easier target (however it’s measured). As an ex-boy I can tell you that sex with boys can be way easier to set up and less difficult and time-consuming to accomplish. (I know that sounds weird, but think it over.) Hi a, That information intrigued me and I hope you can write what that means from your view point. I thought girls were easier targets because of their socialization to being compliant?! There certainly is that tradition, but there are other reasons for kids to get into ”premature” sexual activity besides the common scenario of being coerced or tricked. I don’t think it’s too radical to suggest that on the average boys have a higher sex drive a/o a greater ”imperative” to have sexual activities that do girls. Certainly AFTER puberty and sometimes before. A fundamental principle of salesmanship holds that a customer who will meet you halfway is a better sales prospect than a customer with no perceived need for your product. Add to that the fairly common piece about boys sexually experimenting with each other–in all sorts of age groups– somehing that if it is going on with peer-level girls is being kept a secret, for the most part–I have to conclude that a boy is not only more likely to be talked into sex with an older person, but is more likely to consider it at least somewhat of a Good Thing. Or have mixed feelings. I know I was. I work with sex offenders and that is true of many of them. They were introduced to sexual activity at young ages by older females. They didn’t even consider it all that wrong.

I was, I thought it was miraculous, and I didn’t turn out to be a sex offender. (I’ve been plenty sexual and plenty offensive but not usually at the same time.) ”Wrong”, to me, is that which can be shown to have caused harm. None of this is to imply that intergenerational sex with kids is a Good Thing. But once or twice a year we seem to circle back to this point; that it is not necessarily a 100% Bad Thing.  If you prefer, please email your answer. I am looking forward to what you might add or what you might change in my thinking. Hope I helped. Thanks for giving your views. I do learn from people who will speak up about their experiences.

Good. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mary a. When Esther Rantzen brought into the open the subject of child abuse it gave me strength to talk to my daughter about the dangers. We sat as a family and watched and had a discussion about it afterwards. She was only 4 years old then and I hoped, then and now, that she has escaped being abused. We talk about it openly and she has said she has never been abused, and I want to believe her but I have heard people say that as children they denied the abuse when asked, so there is always the fear in me that she has. Although she does not exhibit any of the classic behaviours. Gosh I have certainly went of at a tangent :) I think I better stop as every word I type sets of new things to say :) and if I continue it will end up a book. So write a book 8). It’s fashionable. Take care ((((Mary)))) Ruth a.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Mary I never warned my boys about anyone who might abuse You know as my boys were growing up it never dawned on me that they were in any danger from sexual abuse. In fact I used to think "at least they are safe". I was wrong. Boys are as much a target of abusers as girls are :( Indeed they may be more of a target–or an easier target (however it’s measured). As an ex-boy I can tell you that sex with boys can be way easier to set up and less difficult and time-consuming to accomplish. (I know that sounds weird, but think it over.) Hi a, That information intrigued me and I hope you can write what that means from your view point. I thought girls were easier targets because of their socialization to being compliant?!

There certainly is that tradition, but there are other reasons for kids to get into ”premature” sexual activity besides the common scenario of being coerced or tricked. I don’t think it’s too radical to suggest that on the average boys have a higher sex drive a/o a greater ”imperative” to have sexual activities that do girls. Certainly AFTER puberty and sometimes before. A fundamental principle of salesmanship holds that a customer who will meet you halfway is a better sales prospect than a customer with no perceived need for your product. Add to that the fairly common piece about boys sexually experimenting with each other–in all sorts of age groups– somehing that if it is going on with peer-level girls is being kept a secret, for the most part–I have to conclude that a boy is not only more likely to be talked into sex with an older person, but is more likely to consider it at least somewhat of a Good Thing. Or have mixed feelings. I know I was. None of this is to imply that intergenerational sex with kids is a Good Thing. But once or twice a year we seem to circle back to this point; that it is not necessarily a 100% Bad Thing. If you prefer, please email your answer. I am looking forward to what you might add or what you might change in my thinking.

Hope I helped. a. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – When Esther Rantzen brought into the open the subject of child abuse it gave me strength to talk to my daughter about the dangers. We sat as a family and watched and had a discussion about it afterwards. She was only 4 years old then and I hoped, then and now, that she has escaped being abused. We talk about it openly and she has said she has never been abused, and I want to believe her but I have heard people say that as children they denied the abuse when asked, so there is always the fear in me that she has. Although she does not exhibit any of the classic behaviours. Gosh I have certainly went of at a tangent :) I think I better stop as every word I type sets of new things to say :) and if I continue it will end up a book. So write a book 8). It’s fashionable. Take care ((((Mary)))) Ruth a.

Response:

 [snip] – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I work with sex offenders and that is true of many of them. They were introduced to sexual activity at young ages by older females. They didn’t even consider it all that wrong. I was, I thought it was miraculous, and I didn’t turn out to be a sex offender. (I’ve been plenty sexual and plenty offensive but not usually at the same time.) I don’t know what it is that turns a person into an offender. Is it the degree of abuse? The age the abuse occurred? The kind or combination of abuse? Or is it even the personality? Will brain scans someday show a high propensity for sex offending? Just some things I ponder. ”Wrong”, to me, is that which can be shown to have caused harm. What is "harm"? The inability to have a close relationship with a mate? A sexual fixation? Workalholic? Obsessive compulsive? Isolation? Lack of joy or purpose in one’s life? Drinking and drugging?

  –o0o– harm can be quite real – check out my post on brain abnormalities and follow the link. love noen — i can only please one person a day – today is not your day. tomorrow doesnt look good either.    http://www.newsfeeds.com       The Largest Usenet Servers in the World!

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – [...] Hi a, That information intrigued me and I hope you can write what that means from your view point. I thought girls were easier targets because of their socialization to being compliant?! There certainly is that tradition, but there are other reasons for kids to get into ”premature” sexual activity besides the common scenario of being coerced or tricked. I don’t think it’s too radical to suggest that on the average boys have a higher sex drive a/o a greater ”imperative” to have sexual activities that do girls. (Me, I’ve assumed that we’re seeing one result of boys being socialized to be the pursuers and girls to be passively wooed. Not a universal socialization, of course, but I don’t automatically credit that boys are genetically dropped into a sexual overdrive that girls never feel.)

  –o0o– i can personally attest to the fact that there is a *big* difference between the libidos of men and women – having been on both sides of that fence. but i dont see "libido" automatically translating into "sex drive". there are plenty of women with high sex drives – but then again maybe they have a relatively higher level of testoserone and/or a greater senitivity to it? hard to say. also, male and female sexualities *are* very different – and they are not a result of socialization but genitics – IMHO of course. love noen — i can only please one person a day – today is not your day. tomorrow doesnt look good either.    http://www.newsfeeds.com       The Largest Usenet Servers in the World!

Response:

[...] Hi a, That information intrigued me and I hope you can write what that means from your view point. I thought girls were easier targets because of their socialization to being compliant?! There certainly is that tradition, but there are other reasons for kids to get into ”premature” sexual activity besides the common scenario of being coerced or tricked. I don’t think it’s too radical to suggest that on the average boys have a higher sex drive a/o a greater ”imperative” to have sexual activities that do girls.

(Me, I’ve assumed that we’re seeing one result of boys being socialized to be the pursuers and girls to be passively wooed. Not a universal socialization, of course, but I don’t automatically credit that boys are genetically dropped into a sexual overdrive that girls never feel.) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Certainly AFTER puberty and sometimes before. A fundamental principle of salesmanship holds that a customer who will meet you halfway is a better sales prospect than a customer with no perceived need for your product. Add to that the fairly common piece about boys sexually experimenting with each other–in all sorts of age groups– somehing that if it is going on with peer-level girls is being kept a secret, for the most part–I have to conclude that a boy is not only more likely to be talked into sex with an older person, but is more likely to consider it at least somewhat of a Good Thing. Or have mixed feelings. I know I was. I work with sex offenders and that is true of many of them. They were introduced to sexual activity at young ages by older females. They didn’t even consider it all that wrong. I was, I thought it was miraculous, and I didn’t turn out to be a sex offender. (I’ve been plenty sexual and plenty offensive but not usually at the same time.) I don’t know what it is that turns a person into an offender. Is it the degree of abuse? The age the abuse occurred? The kind or combination of abuse? Or is it even the personality? Will brain scans someday show a high propensity for sex offending?

Frightening thought. Just some things I ponder. ”Wrong”, to me, is that which can be shown to have caused harm. What is "harm"? The inability to have a close relationship with a mate?

That sounds like a possible _result_ of harm, but I’d think of it as a reaction.  "Harm" (the noun) is injury, damage or hurt, according to my dictionary.  Abusers can cause all kinds of pain, but they can’t literally remove emotional capabilities seeds plucked from a fruit. This is one of those ideas that I’ve had to spend time with.  I needed to be pretty clear about where my abuser’s actions stopped and mine started.  At one point, I needed to understand what was mine and what wasn’t. Here’s an example.  If I was randomly punished for emotional honesty and vulnerability by parents who insisted I trust them, that was directly harmful to that child.  My generalization of that as an adult into "don’t trust anyone", while obviously related, is now *mine*, and, unfortunately, no one else will solve it for me. My parents aren’t harming me any more, and haven’t been for many years.  Unpleasant as the results can be, at this point they’re *my* reactions, and mine to change if I can. Sorry to get all lecturing, though, Mary. A sexual fixation? Workalholic? Obsessive compulsive? Isolation? Lack of joy or purpose in one’s life? Drinking and drugging?

Same thoughts.  I see each of these things as reactions to other events, genetic inclinations, inclinations, and so on, rather than direct results.  While they can possibly cause further harm, none of these *are* direct harm, whether from sexual relations or whatever. Blessings while brooding, Mary

Not a bad brood. Swords

Response:

[...trimulation...] I work with sex offenders and that is true of many of them. They were introduced to sexual activity at young ages by older females. They didn’t even consider it all that wrong. I was, I thought it was miraculous, and I didn’t turn out to be a sex offender. (I’ve been plenty sexual and plenty offensive but not usually at the same time.) I don’t know what it is that turns a person into an offender.

I don’t think anybody does. It seems to depend partly on the character of the individual, not on the environmental influences alone. Is it the degree of abuse? The age the abuse occurred?

Age has been shown to have a good deal to do with it, in that early trauma can preclude a child’s ever developing a ”normal” trusting relationship at all, with anybody. Emotional interchange is one of the key things we learn within the family–or don’t learn if it’s not modeled. The kind or combination of abuse? Or is it even the personality? Will brain scans someday show a high propensity for sex offending?

I doubt that, although only a few years ago we didn’t know that there are definite physical brain characteristics associated with schizophrenia, psychopathy, and the like. Who knows? Another, more social problem, is that ‘’sexual abuse” is a term that encompasses a huge range of behaviors–even worse than ”crime” if you think about it. Sexual abuse is one of the few areas of crime where a person can be forced into ”victimhood” against their own will and understanding. There’s nothing comparable in ambiguity with other areas of offense; we don’t have ‘’statutory burglary” or age-related sliding scales of victimhood for nonsexual assault. Just some things I ponder.

Me too. Pondering is tiring but it keeps your mind open 8). ”Wrong”, to me, is that which can be shown to have caused harm. What is "harm"? The inability to have a close relationship with a mate? A sexual fixation? Workalholic? Obsessive compulsive? Isolation? Lack of joy or purpose in one’s life? Drinking and drugging?

Sure, all of those things can be harmful and usually are. Where it gets sticky is attributing such character problems to some milestone earlier event. SOME people may have been wired to be gamblers, sexaholics, or drunks whether they had early sexual trauma or not. Blessings while brooding, Mary

Similar a.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Mary I never warned my boys about anyone who might abuse You know as my boys were growing up it never dawned on me that they were in any danger from sexual abuse. In fact I used to think "at least they are safe". I was wrong. Boys are as much a target of abusers as girls are :( Indeed they may be more of a target–or an easier target (however it’s measured). As an ex-boy I can tell you that sex with boys can be way easier to set up and less difficult and time-consuming to accomplish. (I know that sounds weird, but think it over.) Hi a, That information intrigued me and I hope you can write what that means from your view point. I thought girls were easier targets because of their socialization to being compliant?! There certainly is that tradition, but there are other reasons for kids to get into ”premature” sexual activity besides the common scenario of being coerced or tricked. I don’t think it’s too radical to suggest that on the average boys have a higher sex drive a/o a greater ”imperative” to have sexual activities that do girls. Certainly AFTER puberty and sometimes before. A fundamental principle of salesmanship holds that a customer who will meet you halfway is a better sales prospect than a customer with no perceived need for your product. Add to that the fairly common piece about boys sexually experimenting with each other–in all sorts of age groups– somehing that if it is going on with peer-level girls is being kept a secret, for the most part–I have to conclude that a boy is not only more likely to be talked into sex with an older person, but is more likely to consider it at least somewhat of a Good Thing. Or have mixed feelings. I know I was. I work with sex offenders and that is true of many of them. They were introduced to sexual activity at young ages by older females. They didn’t even consider it all that wrong. I was, I thought it was miraculous, and I didn’t turn out to be a sex offender. (I’ve been plenty sexual and plenty offensive but not usually at the same time.)

I don’t know what it is that turns a person into an offender. Is it the degree of abuse? The age the abuse occurred? The kind or combination of abuse? Or is it even the personality? Will brain scans someday show a high propensity for sex offending? Just some things I ponder. ”Wrong”, to me, is that which can be shown to have caused harm.

What is "harm"? The inability to have a close relationship with a mate? A sexual fixation? Workalholic? Obsessive compulsive? Isolation? Lack of joy or purpose in one’s life? Drinking and drugging? Blessings while brooding, Mary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – None of this is to imply that intergenerational sex with kids is a Good Thing. But once or twice a year we seem to circle back to this point; that it is not necessarily a 100% Bad Thing.  If you prefer, please email your answer. I am looking forward to what you might add or what you might change in my thinking. Hope I helped. Thanks for giving your views. I do learn from people who will speak up about their experiences. Good. Mary a. When Esther Rantzen brought into the open the subject of child abuse it gave me strength to talk to my daughter about the dangers. We sat as a family and watched and had a discussion about it afterwards. She was only 4 years old then and I hoped, then and now, that she has escaped being abused. We talk about it openly and she has said she has never been abused, and I want to believe her but I have heard people say that as children they denied the abuse when asked, so there is always the fear in me that she has. Although she does not exhibit any of the classic behaviours. Gosh I have certainly went of at a tangent :) I think I better stop as every word I type sets of new things to say :) and if I continue it will end up a book. So write a book 8). It’s fashionable. Take care ((((Mary)))) Ruth a.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Mary I never warned my boys about anyone who might abuse You know as my boys were growing up it never dawned on me that they were in any danger from sexual abuse. In fact I used to think "at least they are safe". I was wrong. Boys are as much a target of abusers as girls are :( Indeed they may be more of a target–or an easier target (however it’s measured). As an ex-boy I can tell you that sex with boys can be way easier to set up and less difficult and time-consuming to accomplish. (I know that sounds weird, but think it over.) Hi a, That information intrigued me and I hope you can write what that means from your view point. I thought girls were easier targets because of their socialization to being compliant?! There certainly is that tradition, but there are other reasons for kids to get into ”premature” sexual activity besides the common scenario of being coerced or tricked. I don’t think it’s too radical to suggest that on the average boys have a higher sex drive a/o a greater ”imperative” to have sexual activities that do girls. Certainly AFTER puberty and sometimes before. A fundamental principle of salesmanship holds that a customer who will meet you halfway is a better sales prospect than a customer with no perceived need for your product. Add to that the fairly common piece about boys sexually experimenting with each other–in all sorts of age groups– somehing that if it is going on with peer-level girls is being kept a secret, for the most part–I have to conclude that a boy is not only more likely to be talked into sex with an older person, but is more likely to consider it at least somewhat of a Good Thing. Or have mixed feelings. I know I was.

I work with sex offenders and that is true of many of them. They were introduced to sexual activity at young ages by older females. They didn’t even consider it all that wrong. None of this is to imply that intergenerational sex with kids is a Good Thing. But once or twice a year we seem to circle back to this point; that it is not necessarily a 100% Bad Thing.

 If you prefer, please email your answer. I am looking forward to what you might add or what you might change in my thinking. Hope I helped.

Thanks for giving your views. I do learn from people who will speak up about their experiences. Mary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – a. When Esther Rantzen brought into the open the subject of child abuse it gave me strength to talk to my daughter about the dangers. We sat as a family and watched and had a discussion about it afterwards. She was only 4 years old then and I hoped, then and now, that she has escaped being abused. We talk about it openly and she has said she has never been abused, and I want to believe her but I have heard people say that as children they denied the abuse when asked, so there is always the fear in me that she has. Although she does not exhibit any of the classic behaviours. Gosh I have certainly went of at a tangent :) I think I better stop as every word I type sets of new things to say :) and if I continue it will end up a book. So write a book 8). It’s fashionable. Take care ((((Mary)))) Ruth a.

Response:

Hi averti Like Mary I had thought girls were easier targets. Not being a boy or ex-boy <smile I cannot envisage what you mean. I think I need lessons on male think :)  Take care averti Ruth

| | Hi Mary | | I never warned my boys about anyone who might abuse | | You know as my boys were growing up it never dawned on me | that they were in any danger from sexual abuse. In fact I | used to think "at least they are safe". I was wrong. Boys | are as much a target of abusers as girls are :( | | Indeed they may be more of a target–or an easier target | (however it’s measured). As an ex-boy I can tell you that | sex with boys can be way easier to set up and less | difficult and time-consuming to accomplish. (I know that | sounds weird, but think it over.) | | When Esther Rantzen brought into the open the subject of | child abuse it gave me strength to talk to my daughter about | the dangers. We sat as a family and watched and had a | discussion about it afterwards. She was only 4 years old | then and I hoped, then and now, that she has escaped being | abused. We talk about it openly and she has said she has | never been abused, and I want to believe her but I have | heard people say that as children they denied the abuse when | asked, so there is always the fear in me that she has. | Although she does not exhibit any of the classic behaviours. | Gosh I have certainly went of at a tangent :) I think I | better stop as every word I type sets of new things to say | :) and if I continue it will end up a book. | | So write a book 8). It’s fashionable. | | Take care ((((Mary)))) | | Ruth | | | a. | | — | Today, is the tomorrow, you worried about yesterday. | Anonymous | | | spencer" | | | | | | Hi everyone, | |  Like the subject says "It’s been a Great Day". | Nothing better than | | spending a day with one of your best friends.  We had | pizza for lunch | | and sat around watching movies, and talking. Just a | nice day with a | | good friend. | | | | You know, I think that kind of day is more satisfying | than even special | | days. There is much to be said about enjoying the easy | company of people | | you like to be with. A simple meal becomes a banquet. | | | | Yes, and this friend works in L.A. about two hours away | from here, so | | she spends the week down there and only comes home on | weekends, so | | normally we only get to see each other if we go to | meetings.  But | | yesterday was only the third time we got together like | this in the | | four years we have know each other, which made it all | that more | | special. | | | | One of the things I have had to push out of my life is | just chatting | | with a friend over coffee. Since school and the practicum | I don’t stop. | | I have met a couple women at college and even took off | between classes | | and did shopping for material with her. I am through with | one class but | | another group grabbed me to come do the "bad ass" husband | for a | | demonstration counseling tape they need to make. Actually, | I volunteered | | to come in because when you do these tapes playing: first | the counselor, | | then one of the couples, you end up exhausted.  You have | to follow the | | protocal of introductions; assessment; intervention; | closure. So by | | being the bad ass husband for all three they get spared | that emotional | | drain. (Besides, I like to play the bad ass, it keeps me | in practice) | | :) . | | | | And then I went to a meeting and got to be with other | good friends. | | One of the subjects was sexual abuse. | | | | That was one of the topics in a women’s group that | always got a lot of | | discussion. It is great when you can bring up the | things that once were even | talk about it. Even | | my minister’s wife was sexually assaulted as a child. | She said it was | | really funny to come back to that place as an adult and | live on the same | | street. | | | | Oh yikes!  On the same street? | | | | Yep, her childhood home and her stepdad. She still shows | the scars, but | | is a wonderful musician and does all the fun guitar and | singing in the | | less formal evening service.  She and the minister even | bought a house a | | few houses from the old one. I don’t know if I could have | done that! | | | | Well this meeting was an NA one, and in the four years | I’ve been going | | now I’ve learned a lot about _why_ people end up using | drugs, and most | | of them were abused in one form or another.  I’m | surprized to learn | | how many men in that fellowship were abused sexually, | although I | | really shouldn’t be surprised, what with knowing the men | here. | | | | After learning that for myself from men in alcohol and | drug counseling I | | often wondered how many more are out there? Just a few | years ago, while | | women were telling about abuse and they kept coming out | from their | | closets of pain….you never heard about men going through | that. If we | | kept it a secret or were not allowed to talk about it, | then men were not | | even able to admit it to themselves. They just drowned it | with alcohol | | and drugs. | | | | Another reason (heck linked to the first one really) is | that most of | | the drug addicts are trying to hide from their feelings. | I guess maybe | | addicts are more sensitive to hurts than "normal" | people. | | | | Men arn’t allowed to show feelings in our society and fear | ridicule from | | their male counterparts, we at least, can cry and show | them. I never | | warned my boys about anyone who might abuse | | girls. | | | | Heavy topic, but a good one | | too. I remember when I use to use drugs, and I just | sat in my bedroom | | doing them and had no friends at all.  How sad! and | what a waste of | | soooooo many years. | | | | I didn’t do drugs but I wasted years doing bad | marraiges. Both are very | | lonely and destructive experiences and I believe they | make you just as | | crazy after while. Thank God, we can recover and begin | again. Life is | | good. | | | | Yes thank goodness for recovery in all areas of our | life. | | | |  I hope all of you had as good a day as I have. | | | | I even got some weeding done and cleared out some | garden for new plants. | | Gardening is very theraputic for me. When I went back | inside I had an | | inch worm on me. I hope I "measured" up. :) All | creatures are carefully | | put back in our home. You should have seen my husband | carrying all the | | newly hatched Daddy Longlegs out of our cabin with them | crawling all | | | | Dang I miss my garden.    Measured up  good one mary :) | | | | No I don’t think it would have been good for me to see | that.  Spiders | | give me the creeps.  More now after I got bitten by a | brown | | reclusce (sp)  spider last year. | | | | Ow! did it leave a hole? I heard they don’t heal very | well. | | | | Mary | | | | Kaitlyn | | | | Thanks for your message of good cheer, you are blessed. | | | | Mary | | Kaitlyn | | Visit my Website at: | | http://members.xoom.com/kaitlynw/ | | | | Visit my Website at: | | http://members.xoom.com/kaitlynw/

Response:

Sok Mary :) I seem to be getting more prolific as time passes. I’ll need to watch that hehe Ruth — Today, is the tomorrow, you worried about yesterday. Anonymous

| | Hi Mary | | I never warned my boys about anyone who might abuse | | You know as my boys were growing up it never dawned on me | that they were in any danger from sexual abuse. In fact I | used to think "at least they are safe". I was wrong. Boys | are as much a target of abusers as girls are :( | When Esther Rantzen brought into the open the subject of | child abuse it gave me strength to talk to my daughter about | the dangers. We sat as a family and watched and had a | discussion about it afterwards. She was only 4 years old | then and I hoped, then and now, that she has escaped being | abused. We talk about it openly and she has said she has | never been abused, and I want to believe her but I have | heard people say that as children they denied the abuse when | asked, so there is always the fear in me that she has. | Although she does not exhibit any of the classic behaviours. | Gosh I have certainly went of at a tangent :) I think I | better stop as every word I type sets of new things to say | :) and if I continue it will end up a book. | | Heh, Ruth……I was delighted to see that nick running up and down my | screen and am so glad you stopped in and told me what you did about | warning your family. I also see you are doing fine and are "writing a | book" (just kidding, but couldn’t resist. :) ) | | (((((((Ruth)))))) | | Mary | | | Take care ((((Mary)))) | | Ruth | | — | Today, is the tomorrow, you worried about yesterday. | Anonymous | | | spencer" | | | | | | Hi everyone, | |  Like the subject says "It’s been a Great Day". | Nothing better than | | spending a day with one of your best friends.  We had | pizza for lunch | | and sat around watching movies, and talking. Just a | nice day with a | | good friend. | | | | You know, I think that kind of day is more satisfying | than even special | | days. There is much to be said about enjoying the easy | company of people | | you like to be with. A simple meal becomes a banquet. | | | | Yes, and this friend works in L.A. about two hours away | from here, so | | she spends the week down there and only comes home on | weekends, so | | normally we only get to see each other if we go to | meetings.  But | | yesterday was only the third time we got together like | this in the | | four years we have know each other, which made it all | that more | | special. | | | | One of the things I have had to push out of my life is | just chatting | | with a friend over coffee. Since school and the practicum | I don’t stop. | | I have met a couple women at college and even took off | between classes | | and did shopping for material with her. I am through with | one class but | | another group grabbed me to come do the "bad ass" husband | for a | | demonstration counseling tape they need to make. Actually, | I volunteered | | to come in because when you do these tapes playing: first | the counselor, | | then one of the couples, you end up exhausted.  You have | to follow the | | protocal of introductions; assessment; intervention; | closure. So by | | being the bad ass husband for all three they get spared | that emotional | | drain. (Besides, I like to play the bad ass, it keeps me | in practice) | | :) . | | | | And then I went to a meeting and got to be with other | good friends. | | One of the subjects was sexual abuse. | | | | That was one of the topics in a women’s group that | always got a lot of | | discussion. It is great when you can bring up the | things that once were even | talk about it. Even | | my minister’s wife was sexually assaulted as a child. | She said it was | | really funny to come back to that place as an adult and | live on the same | | street. | | | | Oh yikes!  On the same street? | | | | Yep, her childhood home and her stepdad. She still shows | the scars, but | | is a wonderful musician and does all the fun guitar and | singing in the | | less formal evening service.  She and the minister even | bought a house a | | few houses from the old one. I don’t know if I could have | done that! | | | | Well this meeting was an NA one, and in the four years | I’ve been going | | now I’ve learned a lot about _why_ people end up using | drugs, and most | | of them were abused in one form or another.  I’m | surprized to learn | | how many men in that fellowship were abused sexually, | although I | | really shouldn’t be surprised, what with knowing the men | here. | | | | After learning that for myself from men in alcohol and | drug counseling I | | often wondered how many more are out there? Just a few | years ago, while | | women were telling about abuse and they kept coming out | from their | | closets of pain….you never heard about men going through | that. If we | | kept it a secret or were not allowed to talk about it, | then men were not | | even able to admit it to themselves. They just drowned it | with alcohol | | and drugs. | | | | Another reason (heck linked to the first one really) is | that most of | | the drug addicts are trying to hide from their feelings. | I guess maybe | | addicts are more sensitive to hurts than "normal" | people. | | | | Men arn’t allowed to show feelings in our society and fear | ridicule from | | their male counterparts, we at least, can cry and show | them. I never | | warned my boys about anyone who might abuse | | girls. | | | | Heavy topic, but a good one | | too. I remember when I use to use drugs, and I just | sat in my bedroom | | doing them and had no friends at all.  How sad! and | what a waste of | | soooooo many years. | | | | I didn’t do drugs but I wasted years doing bad | marraiges. Both are very | | lonely and destructive experiences and I believe they | make you just as | | crazy after while. Thank God, we can recover and begin | again. Life is | | good. | | | | Yes thank goodness for recovery in all areas of our | life. | | | |  I hope all of you had as good a day as I have. | | | | I even got some weeding done and cleared out some | garden for new plants. | | Gardening is very theraputic for me. When I went back | inside I had an | | inch worm on me. I hope I "measured" up. :) All | creatures are carefully | | put back in our home. You should have seen my husband | carrying all the | | newly hatched Daddy Longlegs out of our cabin with them | crawling all | | | | Dang I miss my garden.    Measured up  good one mary :) | | | | No I don’t think it would have been good for me to see | that.  Spiders | | give me the creeps.  More now after I got bitten by a | brown | | reclusce (sp)  spider last year. | | | | Ow! did it leave a hole? I heard they don’t heal very | well. | | | | Mary

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Mary I never warned my boys about anyone who might abuse You know as my boys were growing up it never dawned on me that they were in any danger from sexual abuse. In fact I used to think "at least they are safe". I was wrong. Boys are as much a target of abusers as girls are :( Indeed they may be more of a target–or an easier target (however it’s measured). As an ex-boy I can tell you that sex with boys can be way easier to set up and less difficult and time-consuming to accomplish. (I know that sounds weird, but think it over.)

Hi a, That information intrigued me and I hope you can write what that means from your view point. I thought girls were easier targets because of their socialization to being compliant?! If you prefer, please email your answer. I am looking forward to what you might add or what you might change in my thinking. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – When Esther Rantzen brought into the open the subject of child abuse it gave me strength to talk to my daughter about the dangers. We sat as a family and watched and had a discussion about it afterwards. She was only 4 years old then and I hoped, then and now, that she has escaped being abused. We talk about it openly and she has said she has never been abused, and I want to believe her but I have heard people say that as children they denied the abuse when asked, so there is always the fear in me that she has. Although she does not exhibit any of the classic behaviours. Gosh I have certainly went of at a tangent :) I think I better stop as every word I type sets of new things to say :) and if I continue it will end up a book. So write a book 8). It’s fashionable. Take care ((((Mary)))) Ruth a.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Mary I never warned my boys about anyone who might abuse You know as my boys were growing up it never dawned on me that they were in any danger from sexual abuse. In fact I used to think "at least they are safe". I was wrong. Boys are as much a target of abusers as girls are :( When Esther Rantzen brought into the open the subject of child abuse it gave me strength to talk to my daughter about the dangers. We sat as a family and watched and had a discussion about it afterwards. She was only 4 years old then and I hoped, then and now, that she has escaped being abused. We talk about it openly and she has said she has never been abused, and I want to believe her but I have heard people say that as children they denied the abuse when asked, so there is always the fear in me that she has. Although she does not exhibit any of the classic behaviours. Gosh I have certainly went of at a tangent :) I think I better stop as every word I type sets of new things to say :) and if I continue it will end up a book.

Heh, Ruth……I was delighted to see that nick running up and down my screen and am so glad you stopped in and told me what you did about warning your family. I also see you are doing fine and are "writing a book" (just kidding, but couldn’t resist. :) ) (((((((Ruth)))))) Mary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Take care ((((Mary)))) Ruth — Today, is the tomorrow, you worried about yesterday. Anonymous | | | | Hi everyone, |  Like the subject says "It’s been a Great Day". Nothing better than | spending a day with one of your best friends.  We had pizza for lunch | and sat around watching movies, and talking.  Just a nice day with a | good friend. | | You know, I think that kind of day is more satisfying than even special | days. There is much to be said about enjoying the easy company of people | you like to be with. A simple meal becomes a banquet. | | Yes, and this friend works in L.A. about two hours away from here, so | she spends the week down there and only comes home on weekends, so | normally we only get to see each other if we go to meetings.  But | yesterday was only the third time we got together like this in the | four years we have know each other, which made it all that more | special. | | One of the things I have had to push out of my life is just chatting | with a friend over coffee. Since school and the practicum I don’t stop. | I have met a couple women at college and even took off between classes | and did shopping for material with her. I am through with one class but | another group grabbed me to come do the "bad ass" husband for a | demonstration counseling tape they need to make. Actually, I volunteered | to come in because when you do these tapes playing: first the counselor, | then one of the couples, you end up exhausted.  You have to follow the | protocal of introductions; assessment; intervention; closure. So by | being the bad ass husband for all three they get spared that emotional | drain. (Besides, I like to play the bad ass, it keeps me in practice) | :) . | | And then I went to a meeting and got to be with other good friends. | One of the subjects was sexual abuse. | | That was one of the topics in a women’s group that always got a lot of | discussion. It is great when you can bring up the things that once were talk about it. Even | my minister’s wife was sexually assaulted as a child. She said it was | really funny to come back to that place as an adult and live on the same | street. | | Oh yikes!  On the same street? | | Yep, her childhood home and her stepdad. She still shows the scars, but | is a wonderful musician and does all the fun guitar and singing in the | less formal evening service.  She and the minister even bought a house a | few houses from the old one. I don’t know if I could have done that! | | Well this meeting was an NA one, and in the four years I’ve been going | now I’ve learned a lot about _why_ people end up using drugs, and most | of them were abused in one form or another.  I’m surprized to learn | how many men in that fellowship were abused sexually, although I | really shouldn’t be surprised, what with knowing the men here. | | After learning that for myself from men in alcohol and drug counseling I | often wondered how many more are out there? Just a few years ago, while | women were telling about abuse and they kept coming out from their | closets of pain….you never heard about men going through that. If we | kept it a secret or were not allowed to talk about it, then men were not | even able to admit it to themselves. They just drowned it with alcohol | and drugs. | | Another reason (heck linked to the first one really) is that most of | the drug addicts are trying to hide from their feelings. I guess maybe | addicts are more sensitive to hurts than "normal" people. | | Men arn’t allowed to show feelings in our society and fear ridicule from | their male counterparts, we at least, can cry and show them. I never | warned my boys about anyone who might abuse | girls. | | Heavy topic, but a good one | too. I remember when I use to use drugs, and I just sat in my bedroom | doing them and had no friends at all.  How sad! and what a waste of | soooooo many years. | | I didn’t do drugs but I wasted years doing bad marraiges. Both are very | lonely and destructive experiences and I believe they make you just as | crazy after while. Thank God, we can recover and begin again. Life is | good. | | Yes thank goodness for recovery in all areas of our life. | |  I hope all of you had as good a day as I have. | | I even got some weeding done and cleared out some garden for new plants. | Gardening is very theraputic for me. When I went back inside I had an | inch worm on me. I hope I "measured" up. :) All creatures are carefully | put back in our home. You should have seen my husband carrying all the | newly hatched Daddy Longlegs out of our cabin with them crawling all | | Dang I miss my garden.    Measured up  good one mary  :) | | No I don’t think it would have been good for me to see that.  Spiders | give me the creeps.  More now after I got bitten by a brown | reclusce (sp)  spider last year. | | Ow! did it leave a hole? I heard they don’t heal very well. | | Mary

Response:

Hi Mary I never warned my boys about anyone who might abuse You know as my boys were growing up it never dawned on me that they were in any danger from sexual abuse. In fact I used to think "at least they are safe". I was wrong. Boys are as much a target of abusers as girls are :(

Indeed they may be more of a target–or an easier target (however it’s measured). As an ex-boy I can tell you that sex with boys can be way easier to set up and less difficult and time-consuming to accomplish. (I know that sounds weird, but think it over.) When Esther Rantzen brought into the open the subject of child abuse it gave me strength to talk to my daughter about the dangers. We sat as a family and watched and had a discussion about it afterwards. She was only 4 years old then and I hoped, then and now, that she has escaped being abused. We talk about it openly and she has said she has never been abused, and I want to believe her but I have heard people say that as children they denied the abuse when asked, so there is always the fear in me that she has. Although she does not exhibit any of the classic behaviours. Gosh I have certainly went of at a tangent :) I think I better stop as every word I type sets of new things to say :) and if I continue it will end up a book.

So write a book 8). It’s fashionable. Take care ((((Mary)))) Ruth

a. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — Today, is the tomorrow, you worried about yesterday. Anonymous | | | | Hi everyone, |  Like the subject says "It’s been a Great Day". Nothing better than | spending a day with one of your best friends.  We had pizza for lunch | and sat around watching movies, and talking.  Just a nice day with a | good friend. | | You know, I think that kind of day is more satisfying than even special | days. There is much to be said about enjoying the easy company of people | you like to be with. A simple meal becomes a banquet. | | Yes, and this friend works in L.A. about two hours away from here, so | she spends the week down there and only comes home on weekends, so | normally we only get to see each other if we go to meetings.  But | yesterday was only the third time we got together like this in the | four years we have know each other, which made it all that more | special. | | One of the things I have had to push out of my life is just chatting | with a friend over coffee. Since school and the practicum I don’t stop. | I have met a couple women at college and even took off between classes | and did shopping for material with her. I am through with one class but | another group grabbed me to come do the "bad ass" husband for a | demonstration counseling tape they need to make. Actually, I volunteered | to come in because when you do these tapes playing: first the counselor, | then one of the couples, you end up exhausted.  You have to follow the | protocal of introductions; assessment; intervention; closure. So by | being the bad ass husband for all three they get spared that emotional | drain. (Besides, I like to play the bad ass, it keeps me in practice) | :) . | | And then I went to a meeting and got to be with other good friends. | One of the subjects was sexual abuse. | | That was one of the topics in a women’s group that always got a lot of | discussion. It is great when you can bring up the things that once were talk about it. Even | my minister’s wife was sexually assaulted as a child. She said it was | really funny to come back to that place as an adult and live on the same | street. | | Oh yikes!  On the same street? | | Yep, her childhood home and her stepdad. She still shows the scars, but | is a wonderful musician and does all the fun guitar and singing in the | less formal evening service.  She and the minister even bought a house a | few houses from the old one. I don’t know if I could have done that! | | Well this meeting was an NA one, and in the four years I’ve been going | now I’ve learned a lot about _why_ people end up using drugs, and most | of them were abused in one form or another.  I’m surprized to learn | how many men in that fellowship were abused sexually, although I | really shouldn’t be surprised, what with knowing the men here. | | After learning that for myself from men in alcohol and drug counseling I | often wondered how many more are out there? Just a few years ago, while | women were telling about abuse and they kept coming out from their | closets of pain….you never heard about men going through that. If we | kept it a secret or were not allowed to talk about it, then men were not | even able to admit it to themselves. They just drowned it with alcohol | and drugs. | | Another reason (heck linked to the first one really) is that most of | the drug addicts are trying to hide from their feelings. I guess maybe | addicts are more sensitive to hurts than "normal" people. | | Men arn’t allowed to show feelings in our society and fear ridicule from | their male counterparts, we at least, can cry and show them. I never | warned my boys about anyone who might abuse | girls. | | Heavy topic, but a good one | too. I remember when I use to use drugs, and I just sat in my bedroom | doing them and had no friends at all.  How sad! and what a waste of | soooooo many years. | | I didn’t do drugs but I wasted years doing bad marraiges. Both are very | lonely and destructive experiences and I believe they make you just as | crazy after while. Thank God, we can recover and begin again. Life is | good. | | Yes thank goodness for recovery in all areas of our life. | |  I hope all of you had as good a day as I have. | | I even got some weeding done and cleared out some garden for new plants. | Gardening is very theraputic for me. When I went back inside I had an | inch worm on me. I hope I "measured" up. :) All creatures are carefully | put back in our home. You should have seen my husband carrying all the | newly hatched Daddy Longlegs out of our cabin with them crawling all | | Dang I miss my garden.    Measured up  good one mary  :) | | No I don’t think it would have been good for me to see that.  Spiders | give me the creeps.  More now after I got bitten by a brown | reclusce (sp)  spider last year. | | Ow! did it leave a hole? I heard they don’t heal very well. | | Mary | | Kaitlyn | | Thanks for your message of good cheer, you are blessed. | | Mary | Kaitlyn | Visit my Website at: | http://members.xoom.com/kaitlynw/ | | Visit my Website at: | http://members.xoom.com/kaitlynw/

Response:

Hi Mary I never warned my boys about anyone who might abuse

You know as my boys were growing up it never dawned on me that they were in any danger from sexual abuse. In fact I used to think "at least they are safe". I was wrong. Boys are as much a target of abusers as girls are :( When Esther Rantzen brought into the open the subject of child abuse it gave me strength to talk to my daughter about the dangers. We sat as a family and watched and had a discussion about it afterwards. She was only 4 years old then and I hoped, then and now, that she has escaped being abused. We talk about it openly and she has said she has never been abused, and I want to believe her but I have heard people say that as children they denied the abuse when asked, so there is always the fear in me that she has. Although she does not exhibit any of the classic behaviours. Gosh I have certainly went of at a tangent :) I think I better stop as every word I type sets of new things to say :) and if I continue it will end up a book. Take care ((((Mary)))) Ruth — Today, is the tomorrow, you worried about yesterday. Anonymous

|

| | | Hi everyone, |  Like the subject says "It’s been a Great Day". Nothing better than | spending a day with one of your best friends.  We had pizza for lunch | and sat around watching movies, and talking.  Just a nice day with a | good friend. | | You know, I think that kind of day is more satisfying than even special | days. There is much to be said about enjoying the easy company of people | you like to be with. A simple meal becomes a banquet. | | Yes, and this friend works in L.A. about two hours away from here, so | she spends the week down there and only comes home on weekends, so | normally we only get to see each other if we go to meetings.  But | yesterday was only the third time we got together like this in the | four years we have know each other, which made it all that more | special. | | One of the things I have had to push out of my life is just chatting | with a friend over coffee. Since school and the practicum I don’t stop. | I have met a couple women at college and even took off between classes | and did shopping for material with her. I am through with one class but | another group grabbed me to come do the "bad ass" husband for a | demonstration counseling tape they need to make. Actually, I volunteered | to come in because when you do these tapes playing: first the counselor, | then one of the couples, you end up exhausted.  You have to follow the | protocal of introductions; assessment; intervention; closure. So by | being the bad ass husband for all three they get spared that emotional | drain. (Besides, I like to play the bad ass, it keeps me in practice) | :) . | | And then I went to a meeting and got to be with other good friends. | One of the subjects was sexual abuse. | | That was one of the topics in a women’s group that always got a lot of | discussion. It is great when you can bring up the things that once were talk about it. Even | my minister’s wife was sexually assaulted as a child. She said it was | really funny to come back to that place as an adult and live on the same | street. | | Oh yikes!  On the same street? | | Yep, her childhood home and her stepdad. She still shows the scars, but | is a wonderful musician and does all the fun guitar and singing in the | less formal evening service.  She and the minister even bought a house a | few houses from the old one. I don’t know if I could have done that! | | Well this meeting was an NA one, and in the four years I’ve been going | now I’ve learned a lot about _why_ people end up using drugs, and most | of them were abused in one form or another.  I’m surprized to learn | how many men in that fellowship were abused sexually, although I | really shouldn’t be surprised, what with knowing the men here. | | After learning that for myself from men in alcohol and drug counseling I | often wondered how many more are out there? Just a few years ago, while | women were telling about abuse and they kept coming out from their | closets of pain….you never heard about men going through that. If we | kept it a secret or were not allowed to talk about it, then men were not | even able to admit it to themselves. They just drowned it with alcohol | and drugs. | | Another reason (heck linked to the first one really) is that most of | the drug addicts are trying to hide from their feelings. I guess maybe | addicts are more sensitive to hurts than "normal" people. | | Men arn’t allowed to show feelings in our society and fear ridicule from | their male counterparts, we at least, can cry and show them. I never | warned my boys about anyone who might abuse | girls. | | Heavy topic, but a good one | too. I remember when I use to use drugs, and I just sat in my bedroom | doing them and had no friends at all.  How sad! and what a waste of | soooooo many years. | | I didn’t do drugs but I wasted years doing bad marraiges. Both are very | lonely and destructive experiences and I believe they make you just as | crazy after while. Thank God, we can recover and begin again. Life is | good. | | Yes thank goodness for recovery in all areas of our life. | |  I hope all of you had as good a day as I have. | | I even got some weeding done and cleared out some garden for new plants. | Gardening is very theraputic for me. When I went back inside I had an | inch worm on me. I hope I "measured" up. :) All creatures are carefully | put back in our home. You should have seen my husband carrying all the | newly hatched Daddy Longlegs out of our cabin with them crawling all | | Dang I miss my garden.    Measured up  good one mary  :) | | No I don’t think it would have been good for me to see that.  Spiders | give me the creeps.  More now after I got bitten by a brown | reclusce (sp)  spider last year. | | Ow! did it leave a hole? I heard they don’t heal very well. | | Mary | | Kaitlyn | | Thanks for your message of good cheer, you are blessed. | | Mary | Kaitlyn | Visit my Website at: | http://members.xoom.com/kaitlynw/ | | Visit my Website at: | http://members.xoom.com/kaitlynw/

Response:

I had a good day too Kaitlyn. I spent it with my 18 year old daughter her friend and my husband. We went to Callendar Highland games. The weather wasn’t bad and the Games were great. My favourite event is Tossing the Caber. Afterwards we went to one of our favourite eating places and had good food in a nice atmosphere. Glad your day was good and I hope others had a good day too Take care Kaitlyn :) Ruth — Today, is the tomorrow, you worried about yesterday. Anonymous

| Hi everyone, |  Like the subject says "It’s been a Great Day".  Nothing better than | spending a day with one of your best friends.  We had pizza for lunch | and sat around watching movies, and talking.  Just a nice day with a | good friend. |   And then I went to a meeting and got to be with other good friends. | One of the subjects was sexual abuse.  Heavy topic, but a good one | too. I remember when I use to use drugs, and I just sat in my bedroom | doing them and had no friends at all.  How sad! and what a waste of | soooooo many years. |   I hope all of you had as good a day as I have. | | Kaitlyn | Visit my Website at: | http://members.xoom.com/kaitlynw/ |

Response:

Hi, Sounds nice, I envy you. romana – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi everyone, Like the subject says "It’s been a Great Day".  Nothing better than spending a day with one of your best friends.  We had pizza for lunch and sat around watching movies, and talking.  Just a nice day with a good friend.    And then I went to a meeting and got to be with other good friends. One of the subjects was sexual abuse.  Heavy topic, but a good one too. I remember when I use to use drugs, and I just sat in my bedroom doing them and had no friends at all.  How sad! and what a waste of soooooo many years.  I hope all of you had as good a day as I have. Kaitlyn Visit my Website at: http://members.xoom.com/kaitlynw/

Response:

HI Kaitlyn  : ) We had a quiet day.  Good stuff for us.  We also had pizza for lunch, and one of them was free because Dominoe’s screwed up our last order and I let em know it  ; ) I spent most of the late afternoon and evening online trying to stay connected to irc and scanning homeschooling sites. Nothing better than spending a day with one of your best friends.  

How long have you known each other?

to tell or not to tell, that's the question….

Question:

okay so you all know my story, way in the1000’s of posts here under (i am proud of myself, i finally did it, now what)…my ex was an abusive drug addictive man… so now i have a new problem..I go onto irc to chat..have been doing that for 4 years and probably would never had gotten "out" if it weren’t for the support i had there, b4 i ever found this here NG.  So anyway, my ex decides he will chat in channel i am in.  Fine who am i to stop him of his own freedom??The problem is that he shows up at "get togethers" when I am there…and to top it all off, he now has a "fiance’" from there…i’ve kept my mouth shut thus far, haven’t told anyone about how he "really" is in r/l…..do i continue to keep quiet??I feel guilty for the NEXT victim……I am very ANTI-domestic violence/abuse now, since i managed to get away from it..and i know i would want someone to tell ME if it were me on the other end….so what do i do????? thanks..Karen…

Response:

That’s a hard one Karen…..I myself can’t understand why he would want to talk to a group of people that you have k nown for four years unless he’s trying to find out what you are saying about him.  Maybe leave the group for awhile and see if he goes away?  Or talk under a different name? Daisy Move your vowels every day or you’ll get consonated.

okay so you all know my story, way in the1000’s of posts here under (i am proud of myself, i finally did it, now what)…my ex was an abusive drug addictive man… so now i have a new problem..I go onto irc to chat..have been doing that for 4 years and probably would never had gotten "out" if it weren’t for the support i had there, b4 i ever found this here NG.  So anyway, my ex decides he will chat in channel i am in.  Fine who am i to stop him of his own freedom??The problem is that he shows up at "get togethers" when I am there…and to top it all off, he now has a "fiance’" from there…i’ve kept my mouth shut thus far, haven’t told anyone about how he "really" is in r/l…..do i continue to keep quiet??I feel guilty for the NEXT victim……I am very ANTI-domestic violence/abuse now, since i managed to get away from it..and i know i would want someone to tell ME if it were me on the other end….so what do i do????? thanks..Karen…

Response:

I’d be very, very careful about talking "behind someone’s back" – that is, spreading rumors about them. If you make any accusations of criminal conduct (such as abuse) you had better be able to back them up with a conviction record – if not you’re asking for a bigtime slander (or libel, if you write the words) lawsuit. If those words harm a relationship that this person is in (or destroy it, whether personal or business) then you could be looking at a major damage claim. Bottom line – if you damage someone’s reputation (yes, even your ex’s) you had better be able to prove what you say in a court of law, because your ex *CAN* sue you.  Happens all the time. Divorce decrees commonly include a general release (which takes care of things that happened BEFORE the decree).  However, that doesn’t stop you from being sued for things you do AFTER the decree is entered. — — I ain’t even *authorized* to speak for anyone other than myself, so give up now on trying to associate my words with any particular organization. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – That’s a hard one Karen…..I myself can’t understand why he would want to talk to a group of people that you have k nown for four years unless he’s trying to find out what you are saying about him.  Maybe leave the group for awhile and see if he goes away?  Or talk under a different name? Daisy Move your vowels every day or you’ll get consonated. okay so you all know my story, way in the1000’s of posts here under (i am proud of myself, i finally did it, now what)…my ex was an abusive drug addictive man… so now i have a new problem..I go onto irc to chat..have been doing that for 4 years and probably would never had gotten "out" if it weren’t for the support i had there, b4 i ever found this here NG.  So anyway, my ex decides he will chat in channel i am in.  Fine who am i to stop him of his own freedom??The problem is that he shows up at "get togethers" when I am there…and to top it all off, he now has a "fiance’" from there…i’ve kept my mouth shut thus far, haven’t told anyone about how he "really" is in r/l…..do i continue to keep quiet??I feel guilty for the NEXT victim……I am very ANTI-domestic violence/abuse now, since i managed to get away from it..and i know i would want someone to tell ME if it were me on the other end….so what do i do????? thanks..Karen…

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -so now i have a new problem..I go onto irc to chat..have been doing that for 4 years and probably would never had gotten "out" if it weren’t for the support i had there, b4 i ever found this here NG.  So anyway, my ex decides he will chat in channel i am in.  Fine who am i to stop him of his own freedom??The problem is that he shows up at "get togethers" when I am there…and to top it all off, he now has a "fiance’" from there…i’ve kept my mouth shut thus far, haven’t told anyone about how he "really" is in r/l…..do i continue to keep quiet??I feel guilty for the NEXT victim……I am very ANTI-domestic violence/abuse now, since i managed to get away from it..and i know i would want someone to tell ME if it were me on the other end….so what do i do????? thanks..Karen…

Would *you*  have listened? Toni "Maintaining a complicated life is a great way to avoid changing it"

Response:

find a way to tell her…… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – okay so you all know my story, way in the1000’s of posts here under (i am proud of myself, i finally did it, now what)…my ex was an abusive drug addictive man… so now i have a new problem..I go onto irc to chat..have been doing that for 4 years and probably would never had gotten "out" if it weren’t for the support i had there, b4 i ever found this here NG.  So anyway, my ex decides he will chat in channel i am in.  Fine who am i to stop him of his own freedom??The problem is that he shows up at "get togethers" when I am there…and to top it all off, he now has a "fiance’" from there…i’ve kept my mouth shut thus far, haven’t told anyone about how he "really" is in r/l…..do i continue to keep quiet??I feel guilty for the NEXT victim……I am very ANTI-domestic violence/abuse now, since i managed to get away from it..and i know i would want someone to tell ME if it were me on the other end….so what do i do????? thanks..Karen…

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I’d be very, very careful about talking "behind someone’s back" – that is, spreading rumors about them. If you make any accusations of criminal conduct (such as abuse) you had better be able to back them up with a conviction record – if not you’re asking for a bigtime slander (or libel, if you write the words) lawsuit. If those words harm a relationship that this person is in (or destroy it, whether personal or business) then you could be looking at a major damage claim. Bottom line – if you damage someone’s reputation (yes, even your ex’s) you had better be able to prove what you say in a court of law, because your ex *CAN* sue you.  Happens all the time. Divorce decrees commonly include a general release (which takes care of things that happened BEFORE the decree).  However, that doesn’t stop you from being sued for things you do AFTER the decree is entered. —

Now, wait a second, can you show specific examples of what you are talking about? That’s "material damages." Someone can hardly sue you because you said something to a friend, and, as a result, your friend doesn’t date a guy or breaks off a relationship, whether there’s any "official documentation" or not. If you know for a fact that this is wrong, please give some examples. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – okay so you all know my story, way in the1000’s of posts here under (i am proud of myself, i finally did it, now what)…my ex was an abusive drug addictive man… so now i have a new problem..I go onto irc to chat..have been doing that for 4 years and probably would never had gotten "out" if it weren’t for the support i had there, b4 i ever found this here NG.  So anyway, my ex decides he will chat in channel i am in.  Fine who am i to stop him of his own freedom??The problem is that he shows up at "get togethers" when I am there…and to top it all off, he now has a "fiance’" from there…i’ve kept my mouth shut thus far, haven’t told anyone about how he "really" is in r/l…..do i continue to keep quiet??I feel guilty for the NEXT victim……I am very ANTI-domestic violence/abuse now, since i managed to get away from it..and i know i would want someone to tell ME if it were me on the other end….so what do i do????? thanks..Karen…

If you are just trying to "get back" at him, that’s the wrong thing to do. Chats are global, so it’s hard to understand the context of what you are talking about. But think of it this way. If you had a friend, and this friend starting dating this guy, and you found out that the guy was an ex-boyfriend you had years ago who you dumped because he "did drugs" once in a while (which you disapproved of), and you knew your friend disapproved of drug use, then don’t you think it would be your responsibility to tell her what you knew? You could certainly qualify it with "I don’t know if this guy has changed, but when I dated him…." If she wants to follow up by asking the guy about, and just plain dumps him cuz she doesn’t want the hassle, that’s her business. You’ve simply told her what you know. The truth is the truth. It’s not "spreading rumors" or "gossiping." It happened to YOU, therefore YOU know about it. I’m male, but if I was your friend and I started dating some woman whom you knew for a fact was a slut (not "rumors" or "gossip"), I would certainly want to know about it. If you know for a fact that I’m headed for a fall with this woman, please tell me. The truth is the truth. If more people would stop hiding and covering up the truth, those of us who have some respect for the truth would tend to be better off. ___ TSG

Response:

writes: .and i know i would want someone to tell ME if it were me on the other end….so what do i do?????

Karen Well, I don’t remember if you have kids or not, but I think Toni hit it on the head. Would YOU have listened? Especially after you were already in love with the man? I understand the ‘not wanting someone to make the same mistake I did’, but if you’re going to have to interact with this woman because you share kids with your ex, you might be starting out with a big problem between you and her (i.e., she not believing what you say is true.) Just a thought. Tracey

Response:

slow down here "Karl"..i have a cpo on my ex :) :) he must have done something, i am not full of it here..thanks for the information though, however we already filed for dissolution and all that is taken care of…i am talking morality issues..not issues about putting him behind bars….i got a cpo on him, had to prove domestic violence in front of a judge and it’s like a restraining order, except it lasts 5 years and is much more detailed..he can go ot jail for "showing up" anywhere i am at ..he is supposed to leave immediately, but i don’t enforce is cause everyone has to have a life :) Karen..

Response:

good point…i don’t think i really would have, cause people do end up "learning" on their own…thanks for pointing that one out :) Karen..

Response:

thanks a million :) yes we share two children :) i think i will just remain "hush hush" as i have, because as somenoe else was saying "he could have changed"…i don’t know, maybe he was only abusive with me?! and maybe he has quit the drugs….the courts want him to go to drug counseling to get his children "un-supervised" right now he is ONLY allowed supervised visitation..but he has refused that even and he is not going to "battering" counseling as he is supposed to.  So i don’t know if he’s quit or not..i have no way of "knowing" that….I don’t want to "get even" with him, because he has gotten his punishment for what he has done to me, in other forms…of course i don’t think he got it as "harsh" as he should have, but the legal way is the ONLY way to punish him for his actions…no sense in me trying to ruin his life, cause i want him out of my life and i want him to be happy..he’s just not my cup of tea….I feel  great to be away from him, no more abuse, no more paranoia that i might lose my kids because of his drug problem, and i am finally happy and love ME :) :) :) :) ….so perhaps i should just be quiet :) i just had to say something cause it does bother me that he might do what he did to me to the next woman..he does have a lot of mental problems NOW, which i’ve seen since we separated ,but it’s not MY problem anymore NOT my problem yes hehe thanks :) Karen…

Response:

If she does asks for your side of the story….I would definitely tell. Then the ball is in her court.

Response:

Karen, Coming from a life in which there was abuse, my opinion here is that you should not mention to this *fiance* about his abuse of you. First, if you look back at yourself when you were first with this man, in all probability if someone, especially an ex, had tried to *warn* you about his abusive behavior, chances are you would not have believed them. Secondly, women and men who are in abusive relationships don’t need anyone to tell them that they are being abused – in most cases they already know this and they won’t leave until they come to terms with the true destructive nature of the relationship. Your ex showing up at your chat sites is his way of still trying to manipulate and control you. IMO, you should avoid playing his *game* and not respond – don’t tell the new gf or others at the site. If she doesn’t know about that side of him yet, she will soon enough and you *warning* her isn’t going to turn her wawy from him. It is something she will have to decide for herself. If you do chose to mention his abusive nature, it won’t come off as you being anti-abuse – rather that you still *want* him. Remember, the opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference. You can make a difference against abuse outside of your past relationship with him. Volunteer for a DV shelter or service. Work the hotline. Attend workshops, seminars, and classes to find ways to educate yourself, public officials, and the public to adopt a no excuse attitude toward domestic violence. Patty —

Response:

writes: .i don’t know, maybe he was only abusive with me?!

You know, these may just be anecdotal stories, but I know personally of two men who were/are physically abusive to *some* of their mates and not to others. I dated a guy for almost a year and he was always the perfect gentleman. Two months after he started dating someone else, she wrote me and asked why I had never told her ‘how he was.’ He had started hitting her, biting her, etc. My response was that he had never even gotten angry at me, let alone anything physical. (And, FWIW, she ended up marrying him and then divorcing him a couple of years later because of his abuse.) My sister was married to a man for four years (lived with him for two before they married) and he never hit her either, but, in each of his subsequent five (yes, five) marriages, he has been arrested at least once for domestic violence. <shrug I don’t know what it is. Maybe both of us just didn’t stay involved with these men long enough. It *is* possible that he won’t hurt his new SO. Don’t know how probable, but it’s a possibility. Tracey

Response:

Karen, I vote to tell, but the woman will probably not listen… Donna – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – okay so you all know my story, way in the1000’s of posts here under (i am proud of myself, i finally did it, now what)…my ex was an abusive drug addictive man… so now i have a new problem..I go onto irc to chat..have been doing that for 4 years and probably would never had gotten "out" if it weren’t for the support i had there, b4 i ever found this here NG.  So anyway, my ex decides he will chat in channel i am in.  Fine who am i to stop him of his own freedom??The problem is that he shows up at "get togethers" when I am there…and to top it all off, he now has a "fiance’" from there…i’ve kept my mouth shut thus far, haven’t told anyone about how he "really" is in r/l…..do i continue to keep quiet??I feel guilty for the NEXT victim……I am very ANTI-domestic violence/abuse now, since i managed to get away from it..and i know i would want someone to tell ME if it were me on the other end….so what do i do????? thanks..Karen…

Response:

Find a new IRC room to chat in.  Let your close friends know where you are going and your NEW user-id.   Then MOVE ON.   This man is doing this to get to you ya know.    Maybe say a prayer for the new fiance.  

Response:

This is one of those great Truths you want to have framed and mounted in a place of daily attention, Patty.  And a goal for which to strive – indifference.  Thank you for sharing it with us. Janie

<sage advice snipped Remember, the opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference. Patty

– To reply via email replace "JLT" with "janiet" ICQ#22924224 [Smoke-free since 1/1/99]

Response:

physician's addiction

Question:

I just wanted to share a story with the group. This is a true story that recently occurred at the hospital in the small city in which I live in north central Florida. You be the judge.  An emergency room doctor was arrested for writing narcotic prescriptions, oxycodone, and using them himself. He would write the rx in his girlfriends name, his mother’s name, and in the names of some of the patients that he saw in the ER. He would write them a rx for oxycodone, keep the rx and have it filled while giving the patient something non narcotic or an otc drug. When he was arrested, his girlfriend was also arrested for filling his prescriptions, I thought to myself this guy is finished. I happen to know this doctor, he is an arrogant, self centered man who is totally apathetic to pain patients; ironic isn’t? anyway, he went to court and was sentenced to 6 months on probation and was given a fine to pay. The state board of professional regulation then stepped in for his professional punishment. I couldn’t believe their decision. They suspended the guys medical license for 6 months, the time he was on probation, after the suspension he was allowed to return to his profession and was allowed to continue to write narcotic prescriptions. Although he can only write for a maximum of 10 pills/capsules at a time and the prescriptions must be on a numbered pad, he has most of his rights back. He is back to work at the same ER and hasn’t changed a bit, he is still an arrogant ass. Now I realize that everyone who is convicted of a crime, who serves his sentence, should in fact get another chance at life, but to allow this guy to get off so easy is just unbelievable to me. I don’t think the professional regulation board was hard enough especially since he denied patients of proper pain medications in order to feed his habit. When you hear about how hard the board of professional regulation is on physicians who write narcotic scripts, dont believe it. I would never consider going to the ER when this guy in on duty, this is outrageous.

Response:

What a sad story.  Not only did the physician get away with blatantly mis-treating his patients, but he also managed to get out of a situation [mis use of meds] that if many of us were in we would lose our docs/our pain relief and hence our lives [functionability].. It’s amazing to me the difference in the way people are treated…if that same guy was arrested for treating a legitimate pain patient, with *bad* scripts it would be all over the news cuz of the war on drugs….go figure! Patty – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I just wanted to share a story with the group. This is a true story that recently occurred at the hospital in the small city in which I live in north central Florida. You be the judge. An emergency room doctor was arrested for writing narcotic prescriptions, oxycodone, and using them himself. He would write the rx in his girlfriends name, his mother’s name, and in the names of some of the patients that he saw in the ER. He would write them a rx for oxycodone, keep the rx and have it filled while giving the patient something non narcotic or an otc drug. When he was arrested, his girlfriend was also arrested for filling his prescriptions, I thought to myself this guy is finished. I happen to know this doctor, he is an arrogant, self centered man who is totally apathetic to pain patients; ironic isn’t? anyway, he went to court and was sentenced to 6 months on probation and was given a fine to pay. The state board of professional regulation then stepped in for his professional punishment. I couldn’t believe their decision. They suspended the guys medical license for 6 months, the time he was on probation, after the suspension he was allowed to return to his profession and was allowed to continue to write narcotic prescriptions. Although he can only write for a maximum of 10 pills/capsules at a time and the prescriptions must be on a numbered pad, he has most of his rights back. He is back to work at the same ER and hasn’t changed a bit, he is still an arrogant ass. Now I realize that everyone who is convicted of a crime, who serves his sentence, should in fact get another chance at life, but to allow this guy to get off so easy is just unbelievable to me. I don’t think the professional regulation board was hard enough especially since he denied patients of proper pain medications in order to feed his habit. When you hear about how hard the board of professional regulation is on physicians who write narcotic scripts, dont believe it. I would never consider going to the ER when this guy in on duty, this is outrageous. Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" <HTML I just wanted to share a story with the group. This is a true story that recently occurred at the hospital in the small city in which I live in north central Florida. You be the judge. <BR&nbsp;An emergency room doctor was arrested for writing narcotic prescriptions, oxycodone, and using them himself. He would write the rx in his girlfriends name, his mother’s name, and in the names of some of the patients that he saw in the ER. He would write them a rx for oxycodone, keep the rx and have it filled while giving the patient something non narcotic or an otc drug. When he was arrested, his girlfriend was also arrested for filling his prescriptions, I thought to myself this guy is finished. I happen to know this doctor, he is an arrogant, self centered man who is totally apathetic to pain patients; ironic isn’t? anyway, he went to court and was sentenced to 6 months on probation and was given a fine to pay. The state board of professional regulation then stepped in for his professional punishment. I couldn’t believe their decision. They suspended the guys medical license for 6 months, the time he was on probation, after the suspension he was allowed to return to his profession and was allowed to continue to write narcotic prescriptions. Although he can only write for a maximum of 10 pills/capsules at a time and the prescriptions must be on a numbered pad, he has most of his rights back. He is back to work at the <Usame</U ER and hasn’t changed a bit, he is still an arrogant ass. Now I realize that everyone who is convicted of a crime, who serves his sentence, should in fact get another chance at life, but to allow this guy to get off so easy is just unbelievable to me. I don’t think the professional regulation board was hard enough especially since he denied patients of proper pain medications in order to feed his habit. When you hear about how hard the board of professional regulation is on physicians who write narcotic scripts, dont believe it. I would never consider going to the ER when this guy in on duty, this is outrageous.</HTML

Response:

Scary, isn’t it?  You never who is really treating you!

Response:

Mike, What I have seen in Georgia, with physicians and dentists, normally they lose their professional license for 6 mo. to 1.5 yrs. BUT, they lose their narcotics license forever. I know of several guys who went into groups, or got associates just to be able to have someone in the office with a DEA narcotics license for their patients. Isn’t the privilege of having a narcotics license under Federal authority, and not state or local jurisdiction? Barry K     I just wanted to share a story with the group. This is a true story that recently occurred at the hospital in the small city in which I live in north central Florida. You be the judge.      An emergency room doctor was arrested for writing narcotic prescriptions, oxycodone, and using them     <snip

Response:

Mike, This is just horrible!!! Although I have heard this is not unusual at all, as a matter of fact one of my friends had told me abotu a pain DR who was like this as well!!! I think there are a lot of DR’s out there who are like this.  I find that to be a real shame!!!! I wonder how the DR’s co-workers treat him now?? Why was he not sentenced into a drug rehab??  Thanks for sharing the reality of that story with us, I think he should have been punished worse than that.   Kim – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I just wanted to share a story with the group. This is a true story that recently occurred at the hospital in the small city in which I live in north central Florida. You be the judge.

Response:

Such a man should never be a Doc.     I just wanted to share a story with the group. This is a true story that recently occurred at the hospital in the small city in which I live in north central Florida. You be the judge.      An emergency room doctor was arrested for writing narcotic prescriptions, oxycodone, and using them himself. He would write the rx in his girlfriends name, his mother’s name, and in the names of some of the patients that he saw in the ER. He would write them a rx for oxycodone, keep the rx and have it filled while giving the patient something non narcotic or an otc drug. When he was arrested, his girlfriend was also arrested for filling his prescriptions, I thought to myself this guy is finished. I happen to know this doctor, he is an arrogant, self centered man who is totally apathetic to pain patients; ironic isn’t? anyway, he went to court and was sentenced to 6 months on probation and was given a fine to pay. The state board of professional regulation then stepped in for his professional punishment. I couldn’t believe their decision. They suspended the guys medical license for 6 months, the time he was on probation, after the suspension he was allowed to return to his profession and was allowed to continue to write narcotic prescriptions. Although he can only write for a maximum of 10 pills/capsules at a time and the prescriptions must be on a numbered pad, he has most of his rights back. He is back to work at the same ER and hasn’t changed a bit, he is still an arrogant ass. Now I realize that everyone who is convicted of a crime, who serves his sentence, should in fact get another chance at life, but to allow this guy to get off so easy is just unbelievable to me. I don’t think the professional regulation board was hard enough especially since he denied patients of proper pain medications in order to feed his habit. When you hear about how hard the board of professional regulation is on physicians who write narcotic scripts, dont believe it. I would never consider going to the ER when this guy in on duty, this is outrageous.

Response:

Barry:  In cases where the gov’t has adjudicated a case, in Florida at least, the Department of Professional Regulation steps in to handle the violation. They have the power to suspend, revoke or limit your licensing, including prescription privileges. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  Mike,What I have seen in Georgia, with physicians and dentists, normally they lose their professional license for 6 mo. to 1.5 yrs. BUT, they lose their narcotics license forever. I know of several guys who went into groups, or got associates just to be able to have someone in the office with a DEA narcotics license for their patients. Isn’t the privilege of having a narcotics license under Federal authority, and not state or local jurisdiction? Barry K      with the group. This is a true story that recently occurred      at the hospital in the small city in which I live in north      central Florida. You be the judge.       An emergency room doctor was arrested for writing narcotic      prescriptions, oxycodone, and using them      <snip

Response:

Addiction is not exclusive to any particular group of people, doctors are humans (I hope) after all, the thing that really bothered me was he denied pain relief to people who needed it for his own benefit and the hospital he works for actually let him return. If it was shown he had a drug problem and nobody suffered because of it then I would agree that he should get his job back but in this case its hard to believe he was rehired. BTW, yes, along with his probation he was ordered to attend drug counseling. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mike, This is just horrible!!! Although I have heard this is not unusual at all, as a matter of fact one of my friends had told me abotu a pain DR who was like this as well!!! I think there are a lot of DR’s out there who are like this.  I find that to be a real shame!!!! I wonder how the DR’s co-workers treat him now?? Why was he not sentenced into a drug rehab??  Thanks for sharing the reality of that story with us, I think he should have been punished worse than that. Kim I just wanted to share a story with the group. This is a true story that recently occurred at the hospital in the small city in which I live in north central Florida. You be the judge.

Response:

Kim I know it sounds incredible that the hospital let this addictted doctor come

back to work, but this happens all the time. My father is a retired anesthesiologist, and he told me that to avoid higher mal-practice premiums and lawsuits, doctors and hospitals cover up for the addicted person. Usually the hospital will deal with the person behind closed doors so no one on the outside will ever know. In most cases, the addicted doctor is permitted to remain on staff so that he will not bring a lawsuit for unlawful termination. They can do this since addiction is classified as a "disease". It makes no sense to me but that is the way it works sometimes. Tom S.

Response:

I hope you didn’t think I was singeling out DR’s.  I wasn’t trying to, maybe I came accross that way.  I just meant that it is not something that is talked about a lot but there are drug addictions in any field in this world including the medical world.  I know that not all Dr’s are drug addicts =)  I just know it happens sometimes and I had heard a story about this very recently.  Sorry if I offended you. Kim Addiction is not exclusive to any particular group of people, doctors are humans (I hope) after all, the thing that really bothered me was he denied pain relief to people who needed it for his own benefit and the hospital he works for actually let him return. If it was shown he had a drug problem and nobody suffered because of it then I would agree that he should get his job back but in this case its hard to believe he was rehired. BTW, yes, along with his probation he was ordered to attend drug counseling. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mike, This is just horrible!!! Although I have heard this is not unusual at all, as a matter of fact one of my friends had told me abotu a pain DR who was like this as well!!! I think there are a lot of DR’s out there who are like this.  I find that to be a real shame!!!! I wonder how the DR’s co-workers treat him now?? Why was he not sentenced into a drug rehab??  Thanks for sharing the reality of that story with us, I think he should have been punished worse than that. Kim I just wanted to share a story with the group. This is a true story that recently occurred at the hospital in the small city in which I live in north central Florida. You be the judge.

Response:

Mike , I agree his biggest crime was to deny his pain patients relief. Glad to hear he has to go to rehab,and I’m sure the medical board will keep a close eye on him in future. But once he is prescribing again his patients may still suffer as he surely won’t want to write scripts for pain meds,that he personally has had so much trouble with in his life. Here’s hoping he gets something from his drug counselling and causes his patients no more pain aussie annieb Addiction is not exclusive to any particular group of people, doctors are humans (I hope) after all, the thing that really bothered me was he denied pain relief to people who needed it for his own benefit and the hospital he works for actually let him return. If it was shown he had a drug problem and nobody suffered because of it then I would agree that he should get his job back but in this case its hard to believe he was rehired. BTW, yes, along with his probation he was ordered to attend drug counseling.

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Response:

All- I was just wondering after reading this article if anyone else out there came away with the same impression.  Now brace yourselves, because obviously I’m going to say this to attract attention, prove how smart I am, and stir up controversy  My impression, at least when I first read this article, was that the physician would write himself a prescription for these strong medications when the patient’s problem required only NSAIDs or the like.  For instance, an adult may come in with middle ear infection (very paiful) and the doctor would give him antibiotics, and trell him to take 800mg of ibuprofen.  Then he would write himself a script for 30 percocet and get the medicine for himself.  Or someone comes in with a strained back muscle, and the doctor might prescribe muscle relaxants and some NSAIDs, then write himself a script for those 30 percocet. I guess I was wondering if anyone else came away with this idea after first reading this?  We ASSUME that his patients were left treated inappropriateely, but as I’ve just described it may very well be the case. He may not have denied these people the medications they need.  He may have given them what they need, and then exaggerated what they need in his records then take the meds for himself.  This is honestly what I thought when I first read this post.  Did anyone else come away with the same thought, at first? Spiggy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mike , I agree his biggest crime was to deny his pain patients relief. Glad to hear he has to go to rehab,and I’m sure the medical board will keep a close eye on him in future. But once he is prescribing again his patients may still suffer as he surely won’t want to write scripts for pain meds,that he personally has had so much trouble with in his life. Here’s hoping he gets something from his drug counselling and causes his patients no more pain aussie annieb Addiction is not exclusive to any particular group of people, doctors are humans (I hope) after all, the thing that really bothered me was he denied pain relief to people who needed it for his own benefit and the hospital he works for actually let him return. If it was shown he had a drug problem and nobody suffered because of it then I would agree that he should get his job back but in this case its hard to believe he was rehired. BTW, yes, along with his probation he was ordered to attend drug counseling. .

Response:

no offense taken by me :) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I hope you didn’t think I was singeling out DR’s.  I wasn’t trying to, maybe I came accross that way.  I just meant that it is not something that is talked about a lot but there are drug addictions in any field in this world including the medical world.  I know that not all Dr’s are drug addicts =)  I just know it happens sometimes and I had heard a story about this very recently.  Sorry if I offended you. Kim Addiction is not exclusive to any particular group of people, doctors are humans (I hope) after all, the thing that really bothered me was he denied pain relief to people who needed it for his own benefit and the hospital he works for actually let him return. If it was shown he had a drug problem and nobody suffered because of it then I would agree that he should get his job back but in this case its hard to believe he was rehired. BTW, yes, along with his probation he was ordered to attend drug counseling. Mike, This is just horrible!!! Although I have heard this is not unusual at all, as a matter of fact one of my friends had told me abotu a pain DR who was like this as well!!! I think there are a lot of DR’s out there who are like this.  I find that to be a real shame!!!! I wonder how the DR’s co-workers treat him now?? Why was he not sentenced into a drug rehab??  Thanks for sharing the reality of that story with us, I think he should have been punished worse than that. Kim I just wanted to share a story with the group. This is a true story that recently occurred at the hospital in the small city in which I live in north central Florida. You be the judge.

Response:

All- I was just wondering after reading this article if anyone else out there came away with the same impression.     Now brace yourselves, because obviously I’m going to say this to attract attention, prove how smart I am, and stir up controversy

Spiggy, why don’t you just skip the comments like this?  They don’t add anything to the discusssion, and are just red flags to the combatitive. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My impression, at least when I first read this article, was that the physician would write himself a prescription for these strong medications when the patient’s problem required only NSAIDs or the like.  For instance, an adult may come in with middle ear infection (very paiful) and the doctor would give him antibiotics, and trell him to take 800mg of ibuprofen.  Then he would write himself a script for 30 percocet and get the medicine for himself.  Or someone comes in with a strained back muscle, and the doctor might prescribe muscle relaxants and some NSAIDs, then write himself a script for those 30 percocet. I guess I was wondering if anyone else came away with this idea after first reading this?  We ASSUME that his patients were left treated inappropriateely, but as I’ve just described it may very well be the case. He may not have denied these people the medications they need.     He may have given them what they need, and then exaggerated what they need in his records then take the meds for himself.  This is honestly what I thought when I first read this post.  Did anyone else come away with the same thought, at first?

No, I didn’t.  Spiggy, I can’t take NSAIDS.  There have been several occasions when I have seriously bunged up a body component, gone to the ER, and have been told that they won’t prescribe narcotics for the injury because they just don’t prescribe narcotics.  Now, a fractured eye orbit, a dislocated shoulder, or a torn ankle ligament is not a reason for a BIG script for narcotics; but, it sure is worth a day or two of them to get over the initial pain hump, wouldn’t you say?  Particularly if the person in question CAN’T take NSAIDs?  In review, I have to wonder how often I was denied the script because the doctor wanted it; particularly since I was always able to get my regular doctor to write the script as soon as I got ahold of him/her. Not all doctors are good people.  The bad ones make it a lot harder for the rest. Chris Owens

Response:

NSAIDs are not better for certain conditions causing stabbing, acute pain within a patient.  They are slow SLOW to act on the inflammation site and subside the nerves, in fact a pharmacist remarked to me that NSAIDs work much more slowly than opioid medication to stop pain. NSAIDs are worthless for many painful conditions, infections, cancer, post-op incisions, nerve irrations and spinal pain.  They alleviate swelling and inflammation, not acute moderate to severe pain. So let’s get the record straight on NSAIDs.  They have their place in pharmacology.   BTW, a good site to read up on pain alleviation for illness/chronic problem/post-op is http://www.merck.com Thanks, Mary

Response:

How sad.  Won’t go into details about another ‘horror’ story except to say that the RN got two years probation by the hospital for whom she worked, NEVER was reported to the state licensing board, & didn’t even take a cut in pay while working in an area where there were no drugs.  This RN took the injectible morphine/demerol meant for patients, put it in a vial of sterile saline & went home with it!!!  Patient’s got nothing but sterile saline.   Where should people with such callous disregard for human misery work?  I would not want them treating patients but certainly would not want them teaching students either. —

Response:

This practice of writing narcotics for patients and using them for self use is rampant.  I’ve been hospitalized more than once and found codeine on my bill, i complained first to my doctor, who said that was odd because he ordered none. I was not in pain and no pain meds were ordered or taken.  But 4 tablets disappeared from the pharmacy and were on my bill.  I complained to the hospital and they acted like i was crazy.   Noone cared the amount was small, though the charge was not. I can remember begging for a shot after serious surgery, the med was ordered every 4 hours but each time i had to ask more than once and when it was given i was treated as though it was unnecessary one nurse asked me if i drank too much wine, once accused me of talking to my roommate just before requesting the shot, so she didn’t think i needed it.  I’ll just bet that the charge was applied to my bill every 4 hours, but i didn’t get it as ordered.  Somebody was getting the demoral.  Once after a car accident i went to the ER and checked out OK. There was T3 on the bill, none was given. It’s a wonder he even got six months, i couldn’t get anyone to listen to me.  They do these small amounts that won’t be investigated and it adds up for them.         Dot

Response:

Dot– Hows it goin out there besides–I dont even want to hear it–warm!! Thanks for the nice post the other day, I appreciate it. T and I had a wonderful Christmas and she has been off most of this week. I hope you have a Happy New Year tonight!!! May the New Year bring you good health and happiness. Jefe (who is freezing his ass off right now–in fact, I think my balls have disappeared:)

Response:

A Newsday Article – Take Action

Question:

As someone who is a) 27 b) infertile due to a genetic disorder c) married to an infertile man and d) pregnant following ART which cost almost $14,000 out of pocket I can attest that I am not selfish or a baby boomer or making a lifestyle choice.  My reproductive system doesn’t work and I had to pay out of pocket to "fix" it.  Anyone who has a chronic health condition should be entitled to insurance for treatment — her nose or my ovaries or DH’s testicles.  Two wrongs don’t make a right. naomi — Naomi Zikmund-Fisher                           Spring Hill Elementary Learning Support Teacher                       Pittsburgh, PA                       "If you will it, it is no dream."                                        – Theodore Hertzl

Response:

Let’s all take a moment to pity Ms. Dusky.  Her small, shallow world revolves tightly around the notion that SHE is a victim of the system because of someone else’s purposeful (and selfish) doings, for which they should pay personally.  Okay, let’s look at the fault of her logic.  The American insurance industry charges more to insure women of childbearing years because of the higher cost associated with prenatal care and childbirth (this charge occurs whether or not you plan to start or can have a family).  Without ART, some of us have no hope of having a baby and recouping the money spent on the extra premiums because of the extra costs assoicated with pregnancy.  So it should be one or the other. Insurance companies should either charge a little more and cover infertility, or a lot less and not cover birth. As far as her sinusitis is concerned, if it is truly chronic (as infertility is), do what we do. She should educate herself and fight for the coverage.  After all, most inurance companies pay for drug counseling if you choose to shove crap in your veins; so why not DEMAND coverage for bona fide health problems? Last, not all of us are selfish female baby boomers who waited.  What a horribly classist, sexist remark for a woman who writes about sexism! Let’s just hope her sinusitis was making her cranky.

Response:

THIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN NEWSDAY ON 1/28.  If you feel as strongly opposed to "Let the Buyer Pay for Infertility Treatment" by Lorraine Dusky, Newsday January 28, 1998 COMMENTS "Let the Buyer Pay for Infertility Treatment" by Lorraine Dusky, Newsday January 28, 1998 Chronic Sinusitis is not life threatening, but it leaves you semi-invalid. Even when you are "well," you are always on the verge of catching a cold or a sinus infection.  Your eyes tear and you can’t work more than a few hours. Now there is a new procedure, supposedly more effective, I’ll probably have it. But, as much as I dread surgery, I also dread convincing my insurer that this was necessary for my well-being and not for "cosmetic purposes."  Last time, it took my doctor a year to get paid.  Besides, as diseases go, chronic sinusitis doesn’t rate.  It would be much better to have a sexy problem such as infertility.  To read the political tea leaves these days, I probably wouldn’t have any trouble getting my carrier to pay for fix infertility. The announcement that Aetna would drop advanced fertility treatments from its basic coverage caused such an uproar in the media that the company backed down.  It will now leave high-cost fertility treatments as an option for employers to choose (and pay for) in their benefits package. Several states have already enacted mandates forcing insurance companies to cover high-cost fertility treatments, including NY, CA, TX, MA, IL, CONN, ARK, HW, MD, MT, OH, RI, WV.  Congress is expected to debate a bill this yr that would require all health plans to provide for fertility treatments. It’s the aging baby boomers now controlling the legislative process who represent the very group where "infertility," the disease, is on the rise. Delay conception, as many of this generation did into their 30’s and 40’s  - reasons don’t matter – and it becomes more difficult each passing year to have a healthy baby.  In 1995, more than 10 present of the women who wanted to have children couldn’t – more than double the 1988 figure. But carriers and the companies that share in footing the cost of the premiums – that means the rest of us – should not be asked to foot the bill for a "disease" that is often the result of a lifestyle choice, delaying pregnancy until it is impossible without expensive medical intervention. And it goes without saying that if you offer high-tech conception, it must be option for all.  An age limit would be discriminatory.  That means that someone at 55 who decides she needs a child to complete her life is entitled to have her infertility covered.  In-vitro fertilization went from being amazing in 1984 to nearly routine today.  Most such pregnancies are the result of several attempts.  Pregnancies on the 5th, 6th, and 7th cycle are not all that unusual. Some insurance companies will pay only for 1 or 2 tries, but others go the distance, and shell out upwards of $50,000 for the conception alone.  That’s not counting the additional costs of hospitalization for the mother and child if needed.   One study shows that it could cost as low as 26 cents a month for each individual in the plan – the rest of us, those who have other problems, like chronic sinusitis, like skin cancer, like depression – to include advanced fertility treatments in our plans.  But the study is out of date and the actual costs today are probably significantly higher.   One 55 yr. Old woman who gave birth to twins cost her carrier more than $500,000 before the twins went home.  It wasn’t the cost of getting pregnant with somebody’s else’s eggs that was so high, it was other canteens her pregnancy exacerbated.   To demand such treatment under the aegis of feminism is absurd.  Infertility, the "disease," in aging boomers and beyond is not the same as ovarian cysts or a hear condition or cancer. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with simple, basic treatments for infertility being covered, but when it gets into the high-failure stage of in-vitro fertilization and beyond, insurers, and we, the paying public, ought to insist that these treatments be excluded from our policies.  And pocketbooks. Laurie Smith

Response:

SOS my mom is driving me nuts!

Question:

Dear Goldilocks, (PLease read my post all the way down to the bottom of the page <g

)

I will personally miss you when you leave.   Hope you come back again and again.  You have given me some of the very best medicine available – lots of laughter.  Won’t you tell us more about who you are before you leave?  It’s good that you at least gave us a name to remember you by <g

.

There’s that phrase again – "the real world".  I tell others that they need to remember that this is a real world here – this cyber place.  The people writing here are real, whether they tell us who they are or not.  When we forget that they are real, we forget that they can be broken and hurt.  We forget to answer the newbie post and go on with our conversations. At the same time, we don’t know *who* is real and who isn’t.  It is always possible that you are really Steve playing a game with us or maybe Cliffertil is pretending to be you in order to draw even more attention to his annoying multiple posts ;-) There are some really talented people in this world – even capable of such amazing things as this.  Think about it. Cheryl a…@webtv.net wrote in article <6099bd$ch…@newsd-2.alma.webtv.net

<<snip – lots of amusing good stuff

I’d like to add that my vacation is almost over, so I’ll be returning to the real world, soon —- I wanted to mention this so that everybody can breate a collective sigh of relief — ‘cuz I simply won’t ave time to compose such LONG extensive boring posts. Thank YOU, !! everybody, for letting me share. ———————————————– Steve Harris wrote in another post:      Hmmm, do your engineers think that boiling water is "really" hot and ice is "really" cold and a dog’s tongue is "really" warm?   Or perhaps these are just *qualitative physiological responses* to what is in reality actually a smooth and continuous range of temperatures, without such zones?  Perhaps we need a really *sophisticated* thermometer to show these comfort bands?  <g

                                         Goldilocks a…@webtv.net wrote in article <609duh$cn…@newsd-2.alma.webtv.net

…:

I have not been diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy.  I am not a medical doktor; in fact, I am such a dizzy little blondbimbo of the general public, that I could not even pass a test on the books I read.                                               Best regards,                                                    Goldilocks

Response:

I agree with you.  I enjoy participating in the anarchy of the net. However, I do wish to communicate to these two alledged doctors that I believe were their participation in this newsgroup as documented by their actual posts to be submitted to a peer review board — they would be more than a little redfaced. I fully realize that they — AND EVERYBODY on this planet can write whatever they want, whereever they want on the internet.  I applaud this freedom.  I will not discuss how easy it is to create an Internet Personality with false credentials.  MANY people do this — indeed, it’s part of the charm of the net.  I will place this entire subject aside and presume that these two individuals are true doktors. My own personal criticism is NOT valid and is NOT important, and I know it.  I’m just sharing my own opinion.  I’m not a netnazi and I’m not trying get accredited by the Netpolice.  IF they really are doktors, I would like them to know that I surfed here to alt.support.menopause to commiserate with others on menopausal issues.   And I therefore take exception to them expounding on Joan’s "anger", (again and again and AGAIN), and I take particular exception to them using valuable bandwidth to repetively inform St. Joan that she is not a medical doktor.  If I wanted the opinion of a medical doktor, I’d go see one.  If I wanted medical facts, I’d go the closest university medical library.  If I wanted clear understandable internet medical info, I would explore the other newsgroups where MEDICINE is the precise topic.  (Actually, I’ve already corresponded with four medical doctors in other newsgroups — and NONE of those doctors are behaving like either of these two.)  (At all !) I am quite sick of Cliffertil starting threads for us in this newsgroup. We do not need a DOKTOR to initiate and direct our discussions.  When he does this, and he does this ALL the time — sometimes posting the same question twice, so that there are TWO threads per question he poses — he is serving to muddy the waters of this newsgroup.  I lurked here silently for six weeks.  I’ve never seen such an imposing intimidating newsgroup.  I really hope someone will form a new group entitled alt.support.perimenopuse.  I worry about the 1000s of other silent lurkers who can’t find info when they come here, are afraid to ask a question and when they do, all too often no thread deveps — meantime, they are being responded to privately by internet retailers of menopausal remedies. I am REALLY glad that you took time to address this issue.  I am glad you are a professional writer (—it shows, incidentally).  However, I think you’d agree that you are not here at alt.support.menopause from the vantage point of your profession; nor is Joan participating here as an attorney, and I am not here as a bookseller.  The RNs tell us ther credentials, but they are not participating here AS nurses. The doktors, however, have come here to participate as doktors — and IMHO, I am disgusted by their utter disregard of netiquette.  I have no formal education (as obvious by my wordiness here and the abject difficulty you see in all my posts to articulate my ideas,) and I know my opinion means absolutely NOTHING, but:  I repeat:  I am quite unimpressed with these 2 doktors.  In other newsgroups, real doctors have personally e-mailed me with their advice.  Never once was I treated in a patronizing fashion by these other "internet saavy" m.d.s.  My questions were not sneered, nor my ignorance paraded gleefully to the entire newsgroup.   I have VERY low expectations of doktors, but these two fellas don’t even measure up to these MINIMAL standards. If Cliffertil would spend more time answering newbie questions — and there are plenty that crop up—- and a whole hell of alot less time posing questions for the "girls" in the class to answer, (—-paraphrase of Harris), I would have fewer complaints.  I am NOT here to play "Step to the Head of the Class" and I am not here to be reminded that I have no college education, and no alphabet soup of credentials appearing after my signature.  I’m am QUITE well aware of my deficiencies, thank you, and I do not like having my nose vicariously rubbed in it everytime I read all these jerks’ postings, (to Joan, paticularly). I am NOT here to be tested on my medical knowledge, nor to be shamed and humiliated and electronically stalked by a couple of m.d.s who are HOGGING LOTSA BANDWIDTH in alt.support.menopause. I will defend their right to behave in any fashion they like on the internet — but I have a sneaking suspicion that were this newsgroup to by examined by a "jury of their peers" — a board of ob/gyn specialists, that this board would be appalled by their participation in this newsgroup.  (And embarressed.) I am an internet newbie, so I hope my elders will seriously consider my suggestion of forming, "alt.support.perimenopause" as a place where newbies to menopause could safely interrelate and feel free to post — I didn’t want to interrupt anybody here with my questions — you’re all too busy with other lines of thought — which , I add, I have enjoyed tremendously — but I’ve been dealing with menopause for around 15 years, so I don’t have any anxious,  "PERIMENOPAUSE —- Who,  ME???!? questions to pose.  And if you guys got this ol’ witch to tread carefully — gawd only knows the respose of the 1000s of NICE lurkers,out there in cyberspace. I’d like to add that my vacation is almost over, so I’ll be returning to the real world, soon —- I wanted to mention this so that everybody can breate a collective sigh of relief — ‘cuz I simply won’t ave time to compose such LONG extensive boring posts. Thank YOU, !! everybody, for letting me share.

Response:

a…@webtv.net wrote:

: alt.support.perimenopuse.  I worry about the 1000s of other silent : lurkers who can’t find info when they come here, are afraid to ask a : question and when they do, all too often no thread deveps — meantime, : they are being responded to privately by internet retailers of : menopausal remedies. Yes. I don’t post to newsgroups looking for pen pals either. I always cringe a little when I see "e-mailed privately and posted to the list." If I post to the list, you can answer to the list. Betty

Response:

On Wed, 24 Sep 1997 a…@webtv.net wrote:

I simply stated that my vacation from my real-time job was over this week.   I didn’t say was "leaving" — I said I won’t have the time to do elaborate posts. I have some more comments to some of the wonderful thought provocative comments —- first, however, I must do something called "doing laundry" — if I can even remember how.   :)

        How is the weather in San Diego? ;-) Joan L.

Response:

In article <60cjql$…@agate.berkeley.edu

, bcl…@uclink2.berkeley.edu

(Betty Clark) wrote:

…. Yes. I don’t post to newsgroups looking for pen pals either. I always cringe a little when I see "e-mailed privately and posted to the list." If I post to the list, you can answer to the list. Betty

I think it is considerate when somebody sends something also by private email as well as to the list. To me it means the author wants to make sure the other sees it, and is aware that messages can easily be lost on Usenet (ie, from a newsgroup list). Cathe           (real email "brow…@haskins.yale.eedu" except  replace the "ee" in "eedu" so "edu" has a single "e") [Note: Haskins, a non-profit speech research lab, is *not* part of  Yale.]

Response:

Betty Clark writes:

I always cringe a little when I see "e-mailed privately and posted to the list." If I post to the list, you can answer to the list.

Betty, some folks’ newsreaders are capricious about delivering postings. I occasionally post one with an e-mail copy and make the notation at the bottom of the post so the recipient will be aware that s/he is likely to see it twice if the newsreader is working properly  – also, so that the poster doesn’t respond to the e-mail version if s/he wants the response to go to the group. Regards, Laura Blanchard lblanch…@aol.com

Response:

Fifteen years in perimenopause? That’s a very long time. I hope you’ll stay around or at least drop in and visit us every now and again. In between the double-blind wars, there’s a lot of sharing and supporting going on here. You’ve been a breath of fresh air — you certainly call them as you see them — and I’ll miss you too. Regards, Laura Blanchard lblanch…@aol.com

Response:

I simply stated that my vacation from my real-time job was over this week.   I didn’t say was "leaving" — I said I won’t have the time to do elaborate posts. I have some more comments to some of the wonderful thought provocative comments —- first, however, I must do something called "doing laundry" — if I can even remember how.   :)

Response:

I understand noone wanting spam — however, my e-mailbox has started to humor me.  Each time I mention an illness I’ve never referred to in any other post —— W@WSY!!! I get at least 2 spammails per neverbefore mentioned illness. I don’t read the actual letters, but I see e’nuf to know that wordbots are going crazy — selectively picking out terms for internet retailers — those people are really losing lotsa dough. . . You shoulda seen my mail the first time I mentioned "chronic fatigue syndrome"!!!!! WATCH OUT — here it comes again!!!!

Response:

Will someone please post whee that jerk actually has his practice?  I wouldn’t trust him to put a bandaid on an owwie, much less attempt some serious doktoring. Hey — Is anyone else out there abit disgusted by this "Romeo & St. Joan of Meno Cave" trip that Cliffertil thinks he’s being sly and UNOBVIOUS about?                                                 YAAWWWNnn

Response:

a…@webtv.net wrote:

Will someone please post whee that jerk actually has his practice?  I wouldn’t trust him to put a bandaid on an owwie, much less attempt some serious doktoring. Hey — Is anyone else out there abit disgusted by this "Romeo & St. Joan of Meno Cave" trip that Cliffertil thinks he’s being sly and UNOBVIOUS about?                                                 YAAWWWNnn

 I haven’t seen the post you’re talking about. But dear Herr docktor Cliffie is capable of anything. Telling him to go away doesn’t get us anywhere. Ignoring him doesn’t get us anywhere, insulting him doesn’t get us anywhere. Perhaps we need to report him to his isp and see that he gets formal notice that he’s unwanted here.  But that will only work if we act as a unit and somehow I don’t think that’s going to happen. I vote to get rid of him. He’s too stupid to bother respondidn to though. People who fall for his brand of medical practice unfortunately will become his victims. Personally, I’m not sure he’s a doctor at all. His spelling and grammar are a little suspect. But he also sounds horrifyingly like some real doctors I’ve run into (and away from), and they had cetificates on their walls and everything. Love your sense of humor. Don’t let Cliffie aka Herr docktor aka sonny aka dr. fertile get to you. Believe me he’s not worth it. Can you kill file posters with WEB TV. Do it if you can. Terri Hey, how about a name of some kind – easier to address you and all that way – any name will do.

Response:

Now Joan, let me get this straight…there will be no help for this lady from an OB-GYN or GP.  The only help for her is to get into this groups and listen to stories.  Gyn doctors cannot do any therapy?  Drugs as you call them are not necessary?   OK I get just come to good ole’ Joan and she’ll fix you up.  Now I get it.   Who’s got the bit ego now? Dr. Walt

Response:

Herr Doktor —- I suggest you sit back and realize HOW ridiculous you appear.  AND that your obsession with feisty St. Joan of Meno Cave is embarressingly obvious to everybody else reading this newsgroup.   HOW DARE YOU CRITICISE HER INPUT TO THAT WOMAN —–  Your adolescent attraction to Joan L is not appropriate to advertise throughout this newsgroup.  (Nor is your URL).

Response:

"Edna Perez-Vega" <ms…@texas.net

wrote: I love my mom.  She is a wonderful 51 yr. old woman with whom untill the last 18 months was inspearable.  Since then her dad died, my younger brother took a good job in Dallas, and I am getting married in January.

        Holy Guacamole, Edna! I sure can empathize with your poor mother’s plight. Taken seperately, any one of the three above items are quite a load, but ALL three at once?? Plus, the fact that she is of another culture, AND your folks are separated, AND she is going thru meno.?? Well, I say, the fact that she has not totally gone off the deep end of the diving board, she is way ahead of most folks! There is way -too- much going on in her life to be attributable to meno. alone. You say she will not go to counselling, do you think that she would consider talking with her priest? Perhaps you two could go together. She is going through a major grieving process, due to having so many of her familiar things yanked out from under her all at once, and this is not something to be taken lightly. People need to have some sort of safety valve to release the pressure of such major life changes, and medication alone, without the proper medical supervision, and mental health services would not be a good idea. Perhaps her parish priest can recommend services that would resonate with someone in her situation, in your area, in Texas. There surely must be resources for immigrant folks like her. There is a very large Hispanic population there. As for Joan L.’s suggestion about possible involvement in the local community college, perhaps later, -after- she has had a chance to heal from the deep sorrows that she is carrying, but first things first. Acknowledge her plight, so she knows you understand. Allow her time to grieve. Her losses are great, and she will heal at her own rate. If she will not get any sort of therapy or counselling, consider getting some for your self, so that you can take care of YOU! It seems you might be having a bit of difficulty separating the way she is acting out her very real pain, and your reaction to it. The poor woman is not "driving" you, or anyone else nuts, but only trying to blindly cope with her huge burden. It is -you- who is choosing to allow her to "get to" you. -Big- difference, and one that therapy can help you to clarify. That way, by taking care of yourself, you are better fortified to be supportive of her in her plight. Best wishes to all of you during this process of healing. ~D~ ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Dncz…@aol.com is for anti-spam purposes, and will bounce your mail back. If you wish to email me, change "Dnczrna" to  "Danczarina"

Response:

: Cliffertil (cliffer…@aol.com) wrote:

: : : : Now Joan, let me get this straight…there will be no help for this lady : : from an OB-GYN or GP.  The only help for her is to get into this groups and : : listen to stories.  Gyn doctors cannot do any therapy?  Drugs as you call : : them are not necessary?   OK I get just come to good ole’ Joan and she’ll : : fix you up.  Now I get it.   : : Who’s got the bit ego now? : : Dr. Walt         No Cliff, I think it is far better now that we know more about her entire story for you to drug her into pretending she is happy in her totally devastated life. I think this is an entirely appropriate role for a baby delivery doctor to be doing. And yes, I think she is far better off paying your hourly counseling rate because you have already shown us how gifted you are at interpersonal communication. Both public and private. Joan L.

Response:

Cliffertil (cliffer…@aol.com) wrote:

: : Now Joan, let me get this straight…there will be no help for this lady : from an OB-GYN or GP.  The only help for her is to get into this groups and : listen to stories.  Gyn doctors cannot do any therapy?  Drugs as you call : them are not necessary?   OK I get just come to good ole’ Joan and she’ll : fix you up.  Now I get it.   : Who’s got the bit ego now? : Dr. Walt         I think you should let go of your obsession with me. You are coming across as a jerk. The woman asked for advice. See if you can give it. Joan L.

Response:

My question (after venting) is what can I do to help her?  Are there medicines that can help with her wild mood swings?  I don’t think she want to do counceling, but feel she needs something. I’d appreciate any insight.  edna

Edna,         I am so sorry your first thought was to have your mother take drugs to "fix her"  because she is refusing to look at her life and take advantage of non-drug counseling. I agree with Ali, it is time for you to grow into your own independence as well as it is for your mother.         Relationships in our adult lives are based upon mutual respect. You have earned it and the real hallmark of maturity is when you can reward yourself and get on with your life. Nurture your mother from afar and require she accept responsibility for her own life and not extract a price from you that you do not need to pay. See if you can get your mother to start talking to this group. I bet she will have many stories to share that a lot of other women can relate to.         Best wishes. And keep in touch. We can help you sort out what to expect from menopause and what to expect from midlife. Drugs are rarely the answer to behavioral problems unless under the very specific care of a specialist with experience to treat them.         Your local MD or OBGYN is not a behavioral therapist and should not be dispensing hormone (or any other)  drugs to women to "make them feel good." It is not an FDA authorized use of these products and is listed quite clearly on the label they do not work for depression and other psychological problems. Special therapy and help is needed from other practitioners that an OBGYN or GP for this. Joan L.

Response:

Edna Perez-Vega (ms…@texas.net) wrote:

: THanks for the insights…I am left with some relief knowing that we (my : mom and I) are not alone in the frictions we are enduring.  I guess for us : the circumstances are a bit different as immmigrants the aspect of : acculturation also plays into the whole mess. My parents separated last : Thanks & peace….epv         One thing about coming to a new country is learning new things. One thing is what a wonderful resource your local community college can be. It can provide credit  classes, basic skills classes, ESL classes, short term vocational programs and a whole array of interesting non-credit adult ed programs to take only for the sheer joy of learning.         In America, it is not too late for a 51 year old women to get into whole news interests. At our local college we have special support programs for older women and ones tht have neverbeen to college ever in their life.         We have special programs for those typically under-represented in the traditional college student body. At our local college, have lots of Adopt a Student financial help and a growing Foundation that wants to see that every single student who is willing to make the committment to education can achieve it, regardless of cost, age, language or handicap.         And good news for those in California, our tuition just went down one dollar and is now only $12 US a unit for credit programs and most of our adult ed programs are free. Federal aid is available for the Extended Oppotutniy Program for under-represented minority students.         Please call your local community college and see what they have to offer. Maybe you and your mom can take an evening class together at first to help her get her feet wet and then she is on her own once she realizes what a wonderful new world there is out there waiting for her to just say she is willing to take a chance …with a lot of people giving her support for her challenge, right there in the college program itself. Joan L.

Response:

THanks for the insights…I am left with some relief knowing that we (my mom and I) are not alone in the frictions we are enduring.  I guess for us the circumstances are a bit different as immmigrants the aspect of acculturation also plays into the whole mess. My parents separated last year, but still see each other and talk…we’re Catholic and they will never divorce. Mostly I live at home because it is customary for "proper ladies" to live at home till married and because I make sufficient money to support us both.  I have told her that I will continue to do so, as my future husband is very happy that I look after my mom.  She on the other hand has refused to meet with him and has threatened not to come to our January wedding. I know that the next few months are going to feel like an uphill climb, but my love for her is unending and even if she does not come to the weddding I will love her all the same. I might check-in in the future to tell you what she thought about the book. Thanks & peace….epv

Response:

Dear Edna:      Go out and buy her the book: Dr. Love’s Hormone Book by Dr. Susan Love wrap it up give her an I love you card and seal it with a kiss and go and get on with your own life and let her work it all out.  No matter what you do at this point she will still experience what she is going through with you there or without  you there.  Be supportive but do it by phone if you must.  At 28 you are ready for the next phase of your life…married or not…do you still live at home?  If so maybe it is time for you to move out so that you both can grow.  Most mothers and daughters do much better with their relationships after they live away from one another anyway.  But don’t count on her to stop mothering you, my own mother at age 72 tells me all the time "your hair looks so much prettier when it’s short, why don’t you cut it short like you used to.  I just don’t like it that way!"  And she has always told me this as well as my sisters for our entire lives! :-) —                   \ali//                    (o-o)        —–ooO–(_)–Ooo—– http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/1992 Edna Perez-Vega <ms…@texas.net

wrote in article

<01bcc45c$033d0fe0$50047…@blah.texas.net.texas.net

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

I love my mom.  She is a wonderful 51 yr. old woman with whom untill the last 18 months was inspearable.  Since then her dad died, my younger brother took a good job in Dallas, and I am getting married in January. She hates all of these things and my attempts at helping her cope with

all

these changes and the onset of menopause have strained our realtions. I love her and she is my best friend, but she is so different now.  I’ve read alot about the empy nest, but as a 28 yr. old I feel its time for me too to start the next part of my life–being a wife.  I feel like I have been a good daughter.  Live at home, no kids, MA degreee, executive position and doing ok.  She still wants to know if I’ve brushed my teeth before going to bed… My question (after venting) is what can I do to help her?  Are there medicines that can help with her wild mood swings?  I don’t think she

want

to do counceling, but feel she needs something. I’d appreciate any insight.  edna

Response:

I love my mom.  She is a wonderful 51 yr. old woman with whom untill the last 18 months was inspearable.  Since then her dad died, my younger brother took a good job in Dallas, and I am getting married in January. She hates all of these things and my attempts at helping her cope with all these changes and the onset of menopause have strained our realtions. I love her and she is my best friend, but she is so different now.  I’ve read alot about the empy nest, but as a 28 yr. old I feel its time for me too to start the next part of my life–being a wife.  I feel like I have been a good daughter.  Live at home, no kids, MA degreee, executive position and doing ok.  She still wants to know if I’ve brushed my teeth before going to bed… My question (after venting) is what can I do to help her?  Are there medicines that can help with her wild mood swings?  I don’t think she want to do counceling, but feel she needs something. I’d appreciate any insight.  edna

Response: