Well, thank you.

I hate to leave this, but this whole ordeal has helped me realize that (as spooky as it sounds) I suppose I'm a mother at heart. And I can't parent my friends.

Mother is a scary word. Maybe I'll just consider the term behavioral psychologist. They get paid more, anyway.

Haha, now I'm just beginning to realize I've been trying to parent my friend all along. I've even said the words "I don't approve of this behavior..." Wow. That's not very healthy for me.

I'm starting to think that's why her mother liked me so much. I WAS pretty good at raising this teenager... Of course, when the actual mother opposes me, there's no way I can expect her to side with me. So, okay, this mother is going to lose her children's positive influence.

A bad ending for this family, but at least hopefully I'll walk away with a better understanding of myself.