Thank you for the welcome and for your concern Sam. My gut feeling about the initial misrepresentation of his "self"........is that it wasn't a deliberate lie. 2 different counselors tend to agree. We might all be wrong of course but for now, that is what I hang my hope on I guess. I believe that for those months.....he was somehow able to come out from behind those huge barriers he had lived behind for years and project what he truely wanted to be. Like I said.....it wasn't something that he could sustain. For that he does need therapy and yes I do know that it won't ever work unless HE decides he wants to go through it. As for your concerns about my daughter. That of course has been my biggest concern also. If this had all taken place when she was of an age where it impacted her more.....I would have immediately extracted both of us from the situation. As it is.....she is in the teen years where her focus is on everything but family. If you don't have a teen....you may not really understand what I am saying. lol I take great pains to be there for her just as much as I ever was as a single mom and I am vigilant about not letting him impact her negatively. Does having to deal with him wear me down and deplete emotional resources that would normally be available for my daughter? Yes. Sometimes.....however....like I said....she is at an age where she is not actively inviting mom's involvement anyway. So far.....I feel like I have that part of it under control. Thanks again for your input. -D