Shirley, i know how it feels to have to have something to do with an ex that is a _ _ _ _ _ . my oldest daughter is 37 and the youngest is 35. their dad STILL tries to manipulate and control all of us. he tries to get to me, through them. i won't go there with him, but it was a long time before i got brave enough to resist. the girls were in junior high when i said "enough is enough". the girls tell me now that if they had been left with him, they wouldn't have made it. that right there is enough. they knew that my fighting for them made all the difference in their lives.

their dad is a lawyer, so fighting him was extremely difficult. it was hard to find a fair judge.

the girls tell me, frequently, that they always knew that i loved them and would fight for them, regardless. it means so much for kids to know that someone will go to the wall for them. i know it's hard, but it is something that you'll never regret.

love, pat