Beth, I wish I had the ability and the power to tell my boys what to feel. I don't. I would just be totally cast aside, then. I taught them to think for themselves and to be independent.

No, it's not fair! No, it's not right! But all I can do is deal with the way things are. I don't have to like it, though.

I have to take into consideration that my daughter has a mental illness. The boys response to her is out of love. They love their sister. I wouldn't have it any other way. What I've been told is that they don't allow her to bad mouth me. If it's true, then I'm grateful for that, at least.

She's spending the day with her father and his family. HE was her abuser. Go figure! I left him because the abuse was spreading from me to my two oldest kids. Tell me she doesn't have things messed up in her mind! I can't do anything about it... and I won't. She's on her own.