Group reply, thank you all. It has been troubling me so much. I am very upset about her getting treated like that. It was not a shrink, they are great, it was a stupid social worker. I understand though that she probably has seen children of abuse and neglect and was maybe scoping it out but to tell my child she was dysfunctional in her need to get physical comfort from her family was too far. It's funny because I had a colleague with whom I worked for many years. She is a lovely lady and frequently I would go to her and say I just need a hug, or, as her life has also been hard, I would say do you need a hug? She is a love and I don't think she is dysfunctional. She is a good friend.

I am blessed with people who are affectionate and appropriate. I did not have any safe touch as a child and Jane was my model.

I am hurting to not have my baby home for the holidays. She is saying she wants us to come down right before New Year and do Channukah for a night or two. I won't even have her back for her birthday. She will be 18 on Jan 8th.

My son and have just had a major battle and we are probably both the better for it. I told him I was unhappy with a lot of the behavior he and his girlfriend are showing but most of all insulted that they trashed my daughter's car and their sense of entitlement. Once discussed I see their side and we can come to agreements. Family is sacred and I really want to work this out with him.

Anyway, I can't tell you how much your support means to me. Reality check. Good for me. Peace to all.