I hate parents who shelter thier children from the real world

[RaZoRbLaDe KiSs]

dont you?
yesterday, for example, my grandma, my mom, my 2 cousins Lyndsey (15) Kevin (12) and I went to the museum of science and industry here in chicago, one of the main reasons we went is to see the body world exibits (in case you didnt know its real bodies and their parts, coated in this plastic so that they stay that way forever)
i've been there once but the kids really wanted to go, and so did my mom (shes a nurse) ok... that, and we had free tickets. (but you didnt need to know that)
so we went and we all agreed that we'd go. well right before we decide to go in my grandma bails, and she says she doesnt want my two cousins to go either because thier "too young" and its "too gorey"
well, i just think thats a crock of shit. I could understand If i asked to take them to a showing of Evil Dead ya know?
but thats real life!! not to mention my cousin wants to be a docter, so shes gonna have to deal with it sooner or later.

I have that problem with people, i HATE parents that shelter thier children, i had the same problem with my other uncle who wouldnt let me take my 14 year old cousin to a Green Day concert because she was "too young"
yet i went to see Metallica when i was 2. :rolleyes:

[TurdBerglar]

wow. this is something i highly agree with. it turns them into pussies or it makes them crazy

[RaZoRbLaDe KiSs]

wow.. we agree?? tomarrows newspaper headlines: pigs fly and it snows in hell!!! :)

[Documad]

Alas, kids grow up too fast these days. :o

[Chicka B]

Ya know, that sounds sorta like my dad. He's real strict, but good thing he's a truck driver so he's gone all the time. You know what's fucked up? He told my mom this exactly "a girl came to my truck and said looking for company? she was kinda cute" and that really hurt my mom, I want my mom to divorce my dad he's a dick. Anyway that sounds like my friends mom ya know, she's kinda like that.

[ToucanSpam]

I would die for my mother, father, or sister. Escpecially my little sister.

[RaZoRbLaDe KiSs]

I would die for my mother, father, or sister. Escpecially my little sister.
Of course, so would I, and one of the things I would die for is so that they have a chance to see everything there is to be shown. these are those parents who never talk to thier kids about sex or drugs or anything.
I want my cousins to see that shit, and see how it affects people, so that when they get to college and thier finally on thier own, they dont fuck every guy in the place and get pregnant or an STD or end up doing all the shit they can get thier hands up and end up dead in a damn ditch some where.
I just want them to learn, and to not be afraid to learn and ask questions.

Like Turd says, sheltered kids grow up as Insain pussies, who cry at a Hilary Duff movies. (n)

[cosmo105]

sometimes children are too young to understand or comprehend certain things and it just wouldn't be a wise choice to expose them to something along those lines. not that i think sheltering kids is that great of an idea, but i don't think it's necessary to shove it in their faces.

[Documad]

I sincerely wish that parents would shelter their children from sit-down restaurants and PG-13 movies until said children are at least 14. ;)

[cosmo105]

i not-so-secretly wish that parents exposed their kids to more art and culture at a younger age and actually paid attention to them and cared about their development instead of parking them in front of the tv and letting an electronic babysitter raise their kids. :)

[RaZoRbLaDe KiSs]

I believe that if kids want to see things, and thier intrested in doing them for THEMSELVES, like going to see that exhibit, and thier doing it because they want to learn, then they should be able to do it regardless of what thier "too young" for.

[Ace42]

I hate people who justify their ignorance by saying "at least I have street-smarts."

As if not having a sophisticated understand of the world beyond their city somehow has magically imbued them with a special insight into how the world works.

"I might not be able to form a coherant thought, but I know a lot more than most people who have actually bothered to learn things!"

Sorry guys, "The common touch" is a booby prize. It's something the thinking man tells you so you don't get wise.


Or "Lots of intelligent people don't have common sense."

Because yah, it's ALWAYS the intelligent people you find have electrocuted themselves because they thought it would be cool to use the pop-up toaster in the bathroom.

Kinda off topic, but it bugs me.

[ToucanSpam]

I was gonna type something long and awsome, but last time I did, it got deleted.

Short version

art/books/nature=(y)

internet/tv/movies=(n)

so, yeah. The liberal arts people. Love them. Read Rennaissance stuff. I know I can't spell it, but please, read it.

[cosmo105]

Ace, that was beautiful. *sniff*

[RaZoRbLaDe KiSs]

I also believe that children should'nt be treated as "children" just because they are catorgorized as "children". I believe they should be given a fair chance to speak, and voice thier opinions, and they should'nt be shit on just because thier under 21 years old.
but adults dont let kids voice thier opinion because they know deep down inside that a lot of adults dont know shit.

[Documad]

When I was a child, parents never told you anything. You learned stuff the way you were supposed to, from rumors on the playground. My 2nd grade best friend Carolyn (who incidentally stuffed her panties with kleenex to simulate a penis) had all kinds of info. Some of it was even true. She got a lot of info. from her stoner brother (man could he play drums!).

By the time I was babysitting, the hip young parents (i.e. "swingers") bought these crazy new books about how parents have sex and how babies are made and born. And while the little ones were watching Dukes of Hazzard, you would sneak a peek at the little ones' books and it would scare the living shit out of you.

Back at your own house, you might have an A.A. Milne book--not Winnie the Pooh, but the stupid b/w drawings and poems with no Pooh and no Tigger.

[avignon]

What is too young is relative. You really won't understand how young fifteen is until you are twenty-one. You won't realize how young twenty-one is until you are thirty-one. I can see the inclination to shelter your kids. I also think that some people probably go overboard, but I imagine that that is hard to do in the world today. I personally think that every kid developes a bit different emotionally, and a parent would have to take into consideration what they feel that particular kid is ready for and when.

[cosmo105]

it's not just that "adults don't know shit." that doesn't change with age. while i agree that children should be allowed to voice their opinions, the fact remains that they are children and don't have the experience or wisdom (god i sound like i'm 50) to make mature choices for themselves most of the time. i know you'll probably argue with me...and i would have at your age, too. but i'm just barely a legal adult and i still realize that i have a lot of growing up to do. believe it or not, you don't have everything figured out...none of us do.

[Documad]

i not-so-secretly wish that parents exposed their kids to more art and culture at a younger age and actually paid attention to them and cared about their development instead of parking them in front of the tv and letting an electronic babysitter raise their kids. :)
This is why I'm convinced that we're doomed. That and the fact that most little kids spend hours each day in a car seat being driven to and from daycare.

And they're strapped into one of those cadillac strollers until they're old enough to ride a bike.

[cosmo105]

This is why I'm convinced that we're doomed. That and the fact that most little kids spend hours each day in a car seat being driven to and from daycare.
that's the one reason i wouldn't mind being a stay-at-home parent. because i'd want to give my children the best possible upbringing i could. but i still don't think i could handle being a housemama ;)

[Documad]

What is too young is relative. You really won't understand how young fifteen is until you are twenty-one. You won't realize how young twenty-one is until you are thirty-one. I can see the inclination to shelter your kids. I also think that some people probably go overboard, but I imagine that that is hard to do in the world today. I personally think that every kid developes a bit different emotionally, and a parent would have to take into consideration what they feel that particular kid is ready for and when.
Trust you to say something appropriate. :rolleyes:

[Ace42]

While I was waiting for a train the other day, someone who I went to school with (and didn't know at all, other than as a name, nor had any particular affinity with) decided to talk to me.

What he hoped to get out of this conversation, I cannot guess, but being polite I decided to answer him when he asked me what I was doing. The sum total was "not much, but it gives me plenty of time to catch up with my reading."

He sniffs and says "I never bothered much with reading at school and stuff." The subtext being "Why'd you read?"

It reminded me of Bill Hicks anecdote when he says he is touring out in hicksville, and a waitress at a pancake house comes up to him and says "why are you readin'?"

Bill was taken aback by this - "I could understand 'what are you reading' but I have never been asked 'why are you reading?' before." - he recounts - She points at the corner of the room "There's a TV there, why aren't you watching that?" - "And I had to bite my tongue to stop myself from saying 'so I don't end up working in a place like this. - there's a reason why the menus in those places only have pictures, you know."

[Lindsey_1535]

I want to see that exibit.

[QweenOfBoggle]

I doubt I would let my child go to a greenday concert at 14. My parents did, and I know what goes on. Oh well.

[cosmo105]

Green Day concerts now are about as harmlful as a Wiggles concert.

lindsey - i've seen the exhibit. it's pretty awesome. there's already been a second one! if you get the chance again, definitely check it out.

[Documad]

that's the one reason i wouldn't mind being a stay-at-home parent. because i'd want to give my children the best possible upbringing i could. but i still don't think i could handle being a housemama ;)
One reason I couldn't have kids is because my standards on raising them is too high.

People in my real life are always surprised when I'm super supportive of full time moms (and dads). I'm usually on the only one going "nothing is more important".

Off topic, but Avignon mentioned the glass ceiling and where you see it most is working moms. A single professional woman can probably go far in the right profession, but if the same woman has a kid, no fucking way.

[TurdBerglar]

i feel that a parent should ALWAYS be home for their kids. i understand that can't always happen. but that should be the ideal. and it can happen a lot more that it does. but people are too money hungry so they can buy big tvs and go and vacations and both the parents work. i feel in an indeal situation the father should work and the mother should stay at home. im not saying women don't belong in the workplace. they're just better are the whole child rasing thing then men for the most part. sadly this has faded away drastically.

[avignon]

This is why I'm convinced that we're doomed. That and the fact that most little kids spend hours each day in a car seat being driven to and from daycare.

And they're strapped into one of those cadillac strollers until they're old enough to ride a bike.
I feel so sorry for the kids that I used to babysit for. They never had a break. One Saturday, they woke up early in the morning because between them, they had three baseball games. (There are six kids in this family) The three and five year old girls had a t-ball game in the morning. When that was over they had to be rushed home to get dressed for their ballet recital that lasted all afternoon and evening because the three girls all had one and they were in different age groups. They rarely have days off from all of their activities and they all have to go and wait when one has a practice or a class. I think I would want to shelter my three year old from that kind of pressure. Hell, I try to shelter myself from that much pressure!

[cosmo105]

I feel so sorry for the kids that I used to babysit for. They never had a break. One Saturday, they woke up early in the morning because between them, they had three baseball games. (There are six kids in this family) The three and five year old girls had a t-ball game in the morning. When that was over they had to be rushed home to get dressed for their ballet recital that lasted all afternoon and evening because the three girls all had one and they were in different age groups. They rarely have days off from all of their activities and they all have to go and wait when one has a practice or a class. I think I would want to shelter my three year old from that kind of pressure. Hell, I try to shelter myself from that much pressure!
that's awful! i can't imagine these kids actually have time to enjoy being kids.

[QweenOfBoggle]

Green Day concerts now are about as harmlful as a Wiggles concert.


I've never actually been to a Green Day concert, but I went to other rock concerts. I just think it's a bullshit area to meet people who will positively influence them. ha, I'm sounding more and more like a real adult everyday :D

[Ace42]

i feel that a parent should ALWAYS be home for their kids. i understand that can't always happen. but that should be the ideal. and it can happen a lot more that it does. but people are too money hungry so they can buy big tvs and go and vacations and both the parents work. i feel in an indeal situation the father should work and the mother should stay at home. im not saying women don't belong in the workplace. they're just better are the whole child rasing thing then men for the most part. sadly this has faded away drastically.

Parents at home for their kids = better parents and better kids = less crime = less cops and guns and shootings = less A & E staff etc etc.

The potential savings from giving support to families with young children are immense IMO. Think of all the child abuse / kidnapping / murder cases that would not have occured if parents had been keeping an eye on their kids.

Again, reminds me of Bill Hicks:

Now get this, I've been travelling all over the country on British Air. No smoking on British Air. Now let me get this straight, no smoking, right, but they allow children. Little fairness, huh? "Well smoking bothers me." Well guess what? I was on this one flight right, I'm flying, I'm sleeping on the plane, I'm fucking "knackered". Very tired right and I feel this tapping on my head. And I look up and there's this little kid - loose! on the fucking plane, he's just loose. It's his playground in the sky. And he has decided that his job is to repetitively tap me on the top of the head. I look across the aisle at his mom. she's just smiling, you know. Guy next to the mom goes, "They're so cute when they're that small." Isn't that amazing, letting your kid run loose on a fucking plane. And then the kid runs over to the emergency exit and he starts flipping that handle to the door. And the guy next to the mom starts to get up, and I go, "Wait a minute... we're about to learn an important lesson right here." Kwoooshh. Boy you're right, the smaller he gets, the cuter he is. God, I wish I had a camera right now. With a telescopic lens. Love to get a picture of his face when his pudgy little legs hit that farmhouse down there. Aah, aah, kids. Ha hha. Stewardess, since we got a breeze in here can we smoke now? Fairly well circulated at this point. Woosh. True story. But, you know.

Or in Mallrats:

T: You know that kid ?

B: I hope his pants get caught and a bloodbath ensues.

T: What is with you today ?

B:I don't wish the kid harm, but his mother should suffer that
horrific ordeal so she'll learn how to manage her child!

T: Sort of a harsh lesson...

B: Man, there's not a year goes by that I don't read about some escalator accident involving some bastard kid that could've been easily avoided had some parent - I don't care which one - But some parent conditioned him to fear and respect that escalator

[avignon]

While I was waiting for a train the other day, someone who I went to school with (and didn't know at all, other than as a name, nor had any particular affinity with) decided to talk to me.

What he hoped to get out of this conversation, I cannot guess, but being polite I decided to answer him when he asked me what I was doing. The sum total was "not much, but it gives me plenty of time to catch up with my reading."

He sniffs and says "I never bothered much with reading at school and stuff." The subtext being "Why'd you read?"

It reminded me of Bill Hicks anecdote when he says he is touring out in hicksville, and a waitress at a pancake house comes up to him and says "why are you readin'?"

Bill was taken aback by this - "I could understand 'what are you reading' but I have never been asked 'why are you reading?' before." - he recounts - She points at the corner of the room "There's a TV there, why aren't you watching that?" - "And I had to bite my tongue to stop myself from saying 'so I don't end up working in a place like this. - there's a reason why the menus in those places only have pictures, you know."
I hate stereotypes like this. I know waitresses who are extremely intelligent. I work in a factory. I read. A lot. Books are one of my passions. The girl who used to do my hair at the salon had a degree in chemistry, but she couldn't find a job in her field in this city which she moved to because her husband got transferred at his job.
I understand that your post is about people who don't read, not about blue color workers, but I feel like making the point.
Point---Don't be condescending. People are not their jobs.

[avignon]

Most instances of child abuse are by one of the parents.

I can remember a few cases where the stay-at home-mom murdered all of the kids. Like the one who drowned them in the tub.

Just saying.

[yeahwho]

Kids grow up way too fast, that is a crime. If a parent lets a kid do kid things a kid will someday grow up to be a great adult who in turn will understand the value of a kid being a kid while a kid is a kid.

But hey, what do I know, I may have had a rotten childhood, but it's sure been a long one. :D

[Documad]

I swear that my best friend's 3 year old spends at least 3 hours a day in his car seat. No wonder everyone is getting TV screens and DVD players in their minivans. We can now have the worst of all possible worlds.

My mom had a lot of faults, but she spent an awful lot of time hanging out with me. During the daytime we had lots of good times and lots of just talking. (And I already cried typing about my dad in the father's day thread so I'm not starting that again.)

Funny thing about my mom is that because I was the baby (and by a long shot) she was truly sick and tired of raising kids. I was a complete and utter mistake. My dad travelled a lot so he would be gone for a few days solid and then home for a few days solid. Mom hated this and got drunk when dad was gone. So I largely fended for myself and she never knew whether I came home or not. I got involved in a lot of scary things that could have really gone wrong. But I ended up okay. I was very very lucky. And now I'm mom's favorite kid by far (lucky me). So to this day she is convinced that her "hands off" style with me was a great strategy. It was no strategy at the time, but she's old and losing it so I let her believe.

If I was a mom, I'd try to be the opposite of my mom, but then I'd be my sister, and that wouldn't be a good thing either.

[Documad]

I work in a factory. I read. A lot. Books are one of my passions.
I'm a big reading snob. I don't care what anyone reads as long as they do read.

Where I work, we are encouraged to discuss the last book we read. It drives me crazy that so many professional people don't read (or only read to their kids). And they're not embarrassed.

[avignon]

Having that kind of childhood, Doc, doesn't that make you feel like people should have more respect for the innocense of children? My childhood was screwed up, and I think that is where I developed my opinions about the topic. It took me a long time to realize that when certain things had happened to me, I was still a kid. It was like an epiphany. I remember realizing sometime in my twenties that my second step-dad beat me up when I was fourteen-and fourteen is a child. I don't know if I'm explaining this right. I just mean that I never thought of myself as a kid at that age, but when I got older I realized what it meant to have been that young and going through those things.

[RaZoRbLaDe KiSs]

I know im 15, and I know I dont know everything, I know I probably never will know everything. I just hate it when people assume that since I am 15, that I dont know shit.
I hate how people assume that since I am 15, I've never been exsposed to drugs, and I dont know how It affects them, or I havent possibley done them myself.
I hate how people assume that since I am 15, I dont know anything about sex, or since Im only 15, I know little about it, or havent done it.
People should'nt assume, or judge, because of age.
I was exsposed to a lot of sick shit at a young age.
My best friend growing up's parents had done coke and X and all that shit since the 70's, I spent almost every weekend at thier house and I know how that shit effects people. I sat there and watched her dad beat the fuck out of her mom every weekend, I saw the shit they did to my friend.
I know how that shit fucks you up.
I knew about the "birds and the bee's" since i was six.
my mom had me at a very young age, and she raised me completley alone.
shes still alone to this day because she doesnt trust men.
she taught me, so that i wouldnt go through the same thing.

My cousins are the ones who grew up in good, safe neighborhoods, no crime, no nothing, divorce is practically unheard of.
if thier parents, or relatives dont teach them, then whos gonna?
my cousin isnt going to learn anything until she exsperiances it.
and god knows what'll happen then.

I learned early because my mom wanted me to be educated, and have a better life then she did, she wants me to be smart and she wants me to learn.
Those kid's arnt so lucky.

so i say teach your kids as much as possible as early as possible.

[avignon]

I know im 15, and I know I dont know everything, I know I probably never will know everything. I just hate it when people assume that since I am 15, that I dont know shit.
I hate how people assume that since I am 15, I've never been exsposed to drugs, and I dont know how It affects them, or I havent possibley done them myself.
I hate how people assume that since I am 15, I dont know anything about sex, or since Im only 15, I know little about it, or havent done it.
People should'nt assume, or judge, because of age.
I was exsposed to a lot of sick shit at a young age.
My best friend growing up's parents had done coke and X and all that shit since the 70's, I spent almost every weekend at thier house and I know how that shit effects people. I sat there and watched her dad beat the fuck out of her mom every weekend, I saw the shit they did to my friend.
I know how that shit fucks you up.
I knew about the "birds and the bee's" since i was six.
my mom had me at a very young age, and she raised me completley alone.
shes still alone to this day because she doesnt trust men.
she taught me, so that i wouldnt go through the same thing.

My cousins are the ones who grew up in good, safe neighborhoods, no crime, no nothing, divorce is practically unheard of.
if thier parents, or relatives dont teach them, then whos gonna?
my cousin isnt going to learn anything until she exsperiances it.
and god knows what'll happen then.

I learned early because my mom wanted me to be educated, and have a better life then she did, she wants me to be smart and she wants me to learn.
Those kid's arnt so lucky.

so i say teach your kids as much as possible as early as possible.
Sweetie, I don't like it when people assume shit about me either. And people do it all the time.
I am thirty-one years old and I still have a lot to learn.
Do you think that if your mom could have kept you from some of these things, she would have?
I think that given the circumstances, your cousins are not as emotionally mature as you and maybe they aren't ready to be exposed to the same kinds of things that you are ready for.

[avignon]

^ says an eighteen year-old.

[avignon]

EAT MY RANCID CUNT
I guess you told me! Now it's obvious how mature you are!

[RaZoRbLaDe KiSs]

see avignon, your one of those cool ass adults. (y)
It's people like you who should raise kids, the kind of adult who'll teach thier kid to skate and fix shit like thier skate shoes with duck tape, and you'll get them into good music early instead of sending them to school, letting them be influenced by todays stupid shit. (n)

[ToucanSpam]

The Avignon respecto-meter went up to a bajillion after reading this thread.

[Medellia]

It reminded me of Bill Hicks anecdote when he says he is touring out in hicksville, and a waitress at a pancake house comes up to him and says "why are you readin'?"
That happened to me once. And yes, it was at a sleazy pancake house. I was reading Lord of the Rings (yeah, I know already. Sheesh) and the waitress said "why do they turn every movie into a book? I'm sure the movie is way better. Books have too many words."

[avignon]

see avignon, your one of those cool ass adults. (y)
It's people like you who should raise kids, the kind of adult who'll teach thier kid to skate and fix shit like thier skate shoes with duck tape, and you'll get them into good music early instead of sending them to school, letting them be influenced by todays stupid shit. (n)
<3

[RaZoRbLaDe KiSs]

<3
I'd buy your Kidney pie anyday!! :p
U and V are gonna have the cutest kids. ;)
:p
(just kidding walter, dont hate me)

[avignon]

I'd buy your Kidney pie anyday!! :p
U and V are gonna have the cutest kids. ;)
:p
(just kidding walter, dont hate me)
Hahahaha! We need to go on a skate tour to raise money for my trip to Amsterdam!

[Documad]

Having that kind of childhood, Doc, doesn't that make you feel like people should have more respect for the innocense of children?
I don't mean to be boo-hooing! My parents were older and in a really bad place when I was born. They had a lot of bad breaks. My mom had a lot of frustrations that she didn't know how to deal with. My dad was wonderful and he was around a lot, and it never occurred to me that he must know what was happening when he was gone. (I see that with different eyes now.) I knew my family situation was unusual (my sister was 17 years older and left to be a hippie and still feels a lot of guilt and my brothers were 13 and 15 years older and into their own things).

In retrospect, it's the funniest things that bother me. I now realize that the other families on the block must have known a lot more about us than I realized as a kid. I was always welcome at their homes when other kids weren't and invited over for dinner and even sleepovers on school nights. They brought me to church with them, and to their grandparents' farms, to the municipal pool every day all summer long, and even demolition derbies! They had dogs and little brothers and sisters and we had a really good neighborhood (no one's mom worked).

Hey, there's a happy ending! My mom got her shit together when I was in college and they had some really happy times and good years before dad died. :)

Eventually I realized that I have this truly amazing ability to work for difficult bosses. I am hypersensitive to people's feelings, I can read the smallest of mood swings and react accordingly, and I am adored by people no one else can work with. But I also have to be really careful because I get comfortable in bad situations and have to make myself move on.

I have older friends with kids and I usually encourage them to keep on top of things. And to have their kids participate in school activities rather than work. I also mock their teenagers about how it must really suck and it's terribly unfair that your mom actually gives a damn whether you're safe blah blah blah. And their teenagers still tend to like me for some reason. :) Wow, probably shared to much but now that I've typed it I don't have the heart to edit. :o

[Documad]

Kristen, I really like who you are right now, but I also wish you hadn't been through everything you've been through. I don't think it's fair.

[avignon]

I totally didn't mean to make you feel defensive, if I did I'm very sorry. But I love your stories and you shouldn't be allowed to have an edit button.
You and I have a lot in common. I'm glad to know that things worked out with you and your family. It gives me hope that someday me and my family will somehow make amends.

But I also have to be really careful because I get comfortable in bad situations and have to make myself move on.
This is me, but I'm comfortable in a good situation now. So (y)

[RaZoRbLaDe KiSs]

Kristen, I really like who you are right now, but I also wish you hadn't been through everything you've been through. I don't think it's fair.

wow! someone likes me! sweet! (y)
Yeah, I kinda wish I hadn't been through all i've been through either, but if I hadn't then I wouldn't be me!!
When one door closes, another one opens.
thats how I look at it. :)



Hahahaha! We need to go on a skate tour to raise money for my trip to Amsterdam!
YOUR TRIP TO AMSTERDAM!!!!
what about me!?? Im your partner in crime! we skate together, remember?
I fixed your lamp with my shoe gloo! you owe me!!
And I already got the crue picked out, You just gotta make the phone calls, sweetheart. :)

[Documad]

I totally didn't mean to make you feel defensive, if I did I'm very sorry. But I love your stories and you shouldn't be allowed to have an edit button.
You and I have a lot in common. I'm glad to know that things worked out with you and your family. It gives me hope that someday me and my family will somehow make amends.
No, you didn't make me feel defensive. It's just my general thing about my posts being way too long and me going on and on about me and it's silly. But what I actually took out was something about my jobs because it sounded like my current boss and my current boss is a total sweetheart. In fact, I had heard he was difficult and couldn't work with women and I watched him closely for 6 months before realizing that there was absolutely nothing wrong with him.

I hope you have time to mend fences with your family too. I did it for me and me alone by deciding to let go. My sister is waiting for a formal apology and she's never going to get one. I also made a really terrific family of friends who I can count on more than my siblings. (One of my friends even visits my mom and brings his dog.)

And good for you because he sure seems like a keeper. ;)

[beastieangel01]

makes them crazy

that happened to me since I've always been a sheletered kid/adult (ha). Could be those crazy pills I took though, too.