I know your frustration, Candy!

Somewhere, maybe in my teenage years, I developed a very strong streak of rebelliousness. I became an arguer but neither of the two women I grew up with would listen, so... I learned to scream and hold the subject for as long as my voice wasn't being heard. You can call it tenacity or you can call it bullheadedness or stubborness. Any of those terms will do. I also learned to shut my mouth after explaining and trying to make my point. Then I learned I statements. In short, I gave my mother and my ex-husband and even present husband the silent treatment after I was certain that I had said all I had to say and my point had been made. None of the above people have ever really listened to me so I'm used to it, I guess.

It's a certainty that I won't be understood by some posters. That's okay. I've tried and given it my best shot. But having witnessed my mother bang her head against the hall wall, I swore to myself that I would never allow anyone to push me to that point. There are times I fail, but in this instance, I WON'T! MY thoughts are out there. Many have understood them. Those that won't, well, they won't. It's THEIR problem.

If these people, whoever they may be, are willing to take a long, hard look at themselves to see if they may, perchance, need some communication skills... or maybe have grown a set of blinders they need to shed, well... I suggest they re-read the thread and ask themselves some questions. "Am I guilty" would be a good start. No, I'm not saying that you are one of those people. You and I understand each other quite well. Just a little nudge here, Sweety; don't take things personally, ok? Shrug them off if you know they don't fit.