Was getting ready to go to my son'r football banquet and was in the shower when he came in crying. HE had been sleeping on his bed when I went in.<P>I asked what was the matter and he said he didn't know. I finished and came down stairs and he was sitting in his old clothes.<P>HE was all whinny and said he was tired.So I said we didn't have to go. He started having a temper tantrum so I sent him to bed at 7:30. Of course I got the prerequiste "I hate you Dad" and told him get in line behind his mother(I didn't really say that!)<P>My son had spent the nite at a friends last nite and said he didn't go to sllep till 2:00 am and then got up at 7:30am. They didn't bring him home till 3:00 and then I let him go play at a friends. HE was just drop dead tired.<P>So now instead of him having some fun with his friends at the banquet, he's upstairs sleeping. And instead of me talking to some adults, I get to stay home by myself.<P>This kinda happened last nite too!<BR>I played basketball with a bunch of friends last nite and was going out for a while afterwards. First I stopped to see what my daughter was doing as she had swimming practice and then was going to have a friend over. When I got home, she was alone and said her friend couldn't make it. So while I got to play basketball for 2 hrs, I couldn't go out with the boys afterwards!<P>I just can't catch a break!!!<P><BR>

Yuk. The best laid plans......<P>Make it up to yourself later. Don't feel bad, I got a 15 year old daughter who was at a friend's last night, up all night, and you KNOW is a joy and a pleasure THIS evening!!!<P>((((((((RWD))))))))))<P>Lori

Hi RWD -<P>I was just catching up with your posts..<P>I am so sorry for all that's gone on the past couple of days....I don't know what to say...<P>I am just sad for you and your family.<P>I'm sorry about the "no breaks" also. I can sure relate in that department!!!<P>Well, there's Hercules/Xena or Profiler/Pretender......what will you ot for? I am going with P/P cuz Herc/Xena repeat tomorrow!!!!<P>Put on some music and try to let all the stressfulness of the last few days release a little bit.....<P>Probably would do you good to hit the hay early because the little guy will be bright eyed and bushytailed real early in the am!!!!<P>HUGS, STRENGTH AND PRAYERS,<P>Sheba

RWD-Welcome to the wonderful world of single parenting, boy do I know what that feels like, it's really hard. I feel for you but maybe you have some alternatives that your not aware of. There is a single parents organization called parents without partners in almost every state, it helps! There is also this other organization for men, divorced men that have custody. I don't remember the name of it for obvious reasons, , but I had a friend who joined and found some relief. Either way, we are always here to listen! God Bless!<P>------------------<BR>Chick's <BR>Bren<P>You won't see things until your ready to not be blind!<P>

{{{{{{{{{{RWD}}}}}}}}}}<P>I know how you feel...<BR>I've have several good days with my younger son (Tae Kwon Do success stories...)<P>but... at the same time my oldest got treated to his first flying lesson yesterday... <BR>But today we had a terrible day... he refused to go the CCD training program... (booked 2 months ago) and...<BR>earlier in the week (Tuesday) his anger (building ever since him mom left)... has a second hole in the stairwell wall (yes... his fist still hurt 2 days later) He has asked and I will deliver for him some "anger management" counseling!<P>Single parenthood is so under-apprecicated... and un-understood. For both mothers and fathers too!<P>Hang in there guy...<BR>Share your rough days with us... we'll share them with you...<P>I go for the advice... call it an early night! <P>Jim

RWD,<P>You know, surely something better has got to happen to you! I keep telling myself that <P>I don't think our S's realize what a load they have left when they decided to leave US. My kids are older - in college, but they still feel him gone. There are things he handled for them and now he is gone - like one of the boys had a problem with his motorcycle and he lives in another town and uses the MC toget to class and work. It wasn't running and he needed some info and H was in FL visiting the OW, so S had to take it to a repair shop. Turned out to be a tune-up needed, and $140.00 he doesn't have!<P>Gosh, YES, you need a break. You know, I was thinking of posting a thread declaring an upcoming day to be Emotional Break Day for me and all my MBF friends. What do you think???? It would be a day where we pledge to not focus on our problems and pledge to focus on any and all positives in our lives. We all need a one day break. What about it, guys??????<P>Roll Me Away

Thanks for all the support.<P>Lostva, I get to face that tommorrow nite with my 12 yo as she is at a sleep over tonite! There are at least 4 other girls sleeping over!<P>Sheba,<BR>I have had a pretty interestin week haven't I!!!! I haven't been able to watch TV since discovery back in May. I either do this, Im an old friend or read. Tonite I'm eating green bean casarole, have a ton since i tripled the recipe, and finished it off with some ice cream. Gourmet eating at its best!! I have the replay of our local HS football playoff game on the TV. They won !!!!<P>Chicks,<BR>I have heard of Parents without Partners, although my counselor warned me that its a meat market. I have attended a divorce recovery workshop at a huge churh in Akron. They now have support group running year around. I haven't heard of the mens group!<P>NSR,<BR>yea, it is under appreciated. I make a pretty good living so I don't have too many financial worries. I don't know how the inner city or stay at home moms make it when they are faced with having to raise the kids and support them by themselves. That must be incredible pressure.<BR>You've had some ups and downs with your kids this week too!<P>RMA, <BR>Yea, I could use one. I am getting one on Tues as I have to go out of town on business. Just what I need, to go out of town and sit in a hotel room by myself, I just would rather be with people. <P>I will hang in there as I have no place else to go as I love my kids and want the best for them!<p>[This message has been edited by RWD (edited November 13, 1999).]

RWD,<BR>There is a reason human beings pair bond - raising kids alone for up to 21 years is almost impossibly difficult. Even simple things just add up and become major issues. I can't count the number of times my kids, particularly my son, has asked me questions that I think my H could answer (is "click" really a unit of military measurement - I never heard of it?) but by the time he sees him he has forgotten them. <P>I have two acquaintances who had bad experiences with people they met at PWP - in both cases the people they met were terribly irresponsible and definitely not interested in a LTR - but that's only two people.

You guys are angels sent from Heaven - from where I'm sitting. I've been separated for 2.5 mths, left alone with a 4yo and 18mth old both girls. I've just had the worst weekend of my life, the baby is teething and has a shocking cold and cough, the oldest is throwing temper tantrums when she never really has before, I've had no sleep for 4 days, the washing - well, there's no CLEAN washing, the housework - well the less said about that the better !! I feel so guilty for neglecting my children whilst trying to get all the day to day mundane things done, and not spending time with them. I had to enrol for next years Uni subjects over the internet, my oldest daughter wanted a story read, the cutoff date and time for re-enrolment was there and then, and by the time I came back downstairs to read her the story, she'd given up on me and fallen asleep. Broke my heart. I hate H for dumping all this on me.<BR>HOWEVER, it WILL be better tomorrow. I always believe that things do get better - the bad seems to go on and on and on, but it does have to end at some point in time. And it will for all of us. We will have such close loving relationships with our children, and such special memories of special times. I know for myself personally, I was financially very secure when married - now very financially insecure!! But, we as a little family have found the best things to do, and most of them free or at very little cost. We go out at least 4 times a week, and have great 'adventures'. This experience really has taught me that happiness is not found in material things, it is my baby's arms around my neck, it is a very 'serious' chat with my 4yo, it is splashing in the bath and so many other things that I really didn't appreciate before.<BR>For that reason alone, I actually thank H for making me go through this diabolical stage of my life. <BR>PWP must have the same reputation the world over. I told my Dad I wanted to go to one of their meetings here in Brisbane Australia and he basically 'forbade' me to go. I'm 33, have 2 kids, my own home and here's my Dad treating me like I'm 16 again.!! Must be bad.<BR>You have a lovely day, and please focus on your beautiful children, even when they are driving you nuts. They are what will get us through and help keep our sanity.<P>Jo