I'm still around...

[Guest guest]

To this sweet group, I hope everyone has enjoyed a pleasant holiday

weekend, whatever holiday you celebrate! I am enjoying a rare day at

home with no children... only has to work until 11 today, and

the kids' father has moved back to town to help care for them. He

seems to have really changed his attitudes, and wants to help and be

a father, now that his brother (the rat who deserted our daughter) is

gone. is benefiting from some counseling, and TJ will go next

week.

and TJ gave me a gold heart necklace that says " Grandma " on it,

and this is the first gift she has given me in years. She said she

wanted me to remember how precious I am to her and to her kids, even

though she doesn't always remember to tell me. We really did have a

nice day yesterday! The most laughter came when Rebekah pushed Randy

away from her new doll bed and baby doll, and told him " That's MY

baby, you go love a truck! " This from a 2 1/2 year old... This girl

is gonna go far!

I know I don't post much, but I do try to at least read the posts

every other day, and keep up with stuff. You're all in my prayers,

but at the end of a 12-hour day that begins at 5 AM, all I want to do

is flake out on the couch with my cat! I try to find simple meals

that I can pre-prepare, and then Ron can get them ready, and that is

good for him to do. On his bad days, we can eat cereal.

My wish for all is that the new year brings healing, understanding,

tolerance, laughter, and continued friendship and support.

Judi

[Guest guest]

Judi,

God bless you for helping out with your grandchildren, especially

when you have health problems of your own. My husband left me five

years ago with three kids then ages 2, 4 and 5. (He tried to leave

when the youngest was 2 weeks old, but I told him that if he did that

I would personally devote my life to making his life a living hell

for all eternity, so he waited a bit, though he didn't work and

didn't help out much.) I had no immediate family, and my extended

family (and my husband's family) did a lot of handwringing and oh-you-

poor-dear, but nobody did SQUAT. Not an evening of babysitting, not

a loan, NOTHING. We managed, but it was very, very hard, and I

suspect that it led to the RA and fibro that I have now.

Your daughter must be having a very, very difficult time, but at

least she knows that you're behind her. And I'm glad that the kids'

dad is back in the picture, and I'm glad that YOU'RE glad -- unless

he's abusive, the kids really do need him in their lives, even if

he's pond scum.

Happy holidays.

>

> To this sweet group, I hope everyone has enjoyed a pleasant holiday

> weekend, whatever holiday you celebrate! I am enjoying a rare day

at

> home with no children... only has to work until 11 today, and

> the kids' father has moved back to town to help care for them. He

> seems to have really changed his attitudes, and wants to help and

be

> a father, now that his brother (the rat who deserted our daughter)

is

> gone. is benefiting from some counseling, and TJ will go

next

> week.

>

> and TJ gave me a gold heart necklace that says " Grandma " on

it,

> and this is the first gift she has given me in years. She said she

> wanted me to remember how precious I am to her and to her kids,

even

> though she doesn't always remember to tell me. We really did have

a

> nice day yesterday! The most laughter came when Rebekah pushed

Randy

> away from her new doll bed and baby doll, and told him " That's MY

> baby, you go love a truck! " This from a 2 1/2 year old... This

girl

> is gonna go far!

>

> I know I don't post much, but I do try to at least read the posts

> every other day, and keep up with stuff. You're all in my prayers,

> but at the end of a 12-hour day that begins at 5 AM, all I want to

do

> is flake out on the couch with my cat! I try to find simple meals

> that I can pre-prepare, and then Ron can get them ready, and that

is

> good for him to do. On his bad days, we can eat cereal.

>

> My wish for all is that the new year brings healing, understanding,

> tolerance, laughter, and continued friendship and support.

>

> Judi

>