My fantasies were about living with a different family than mine, like several of the people I babysat for in my early teens. Their homes were so warm and loving. The children were clearly adored, individually valued, understood, and very much wanted. There was never any yelling; the kids were very well-behaved. There was always plenty of love to go around.

Wow. Talk about what a difference it would have made, growing up in an atmosphere like that!

When I was an older teen, but still living at home, I dreamt a lot about living on my own. If it was a tent by some water, I would have taken it. But I used to stare at homes for sale, and wonder what the rooms were like inside. From really tiny houses to very large, expansive places, I fantasized about living in all of them.