Husband sent me a webcomic. Scroll down until you get to the old folks.

http://iowahawk.typepad.com/bolus/

ETA: I don't see the webcomic now, and the link takes you to someone's blog. I don't know anything about them, so please disregard.

From: [identity profile] postcardsfrom.livejournal.com


I wanted to respond to your latest post about your family issues but I couldn't figure out how (if that was on purpose I apologize for trying to comment anyway). Maybe you'll get this comment though misplaced. I wish I had advice, but aside from that you do have all my sympathy. It must be so hard when someone you love and protect becomes hostile. Although it sounds like there are serious issues, the advent of puberty has got to be responsible for worsening the situation greatly and when the hormonal bridge is crossed maybe some measure of self-control will return. Girls that age usually have big problems with their mothers, and yours clearly has extra difficulty controlling her aggression right now. But you're doing the right things. I understand your reluctance to medicate. Maybe you should just consider it something you're trying out temporarily. I know you will all get through this intact, and some day find the worst of it in the past instead of up ahead.

From: [identity profile] devin-chain.livejournal.com


Thank you. I did disable comments on purpose, but I welcome your thoughts -- especially since we haven't spoken in so long. How are you?

I kept wanting to post an update this week that would read something like, "Nevermind. All is well." But I couldn't because it wasn't. We had a good night at dinner last night, though, when my daughter went off on a tangent about her favorite band, My Chemical Romance, and started smiling, getting excited, and talking to us -- husband and I -- as if we were her teen friends. She went on and on about Frankie and Gerard and Mikey and ... I'm not sure who else.

I thanked goodness yet again for fandom because the bandslash writers post about these guys all the time. While I didn't know details, at least I had an inkling of who they were and could ask questions that didn't send her sulking back into her own head. Last night I felt like I saw my daughter for the first time in forever. I've missed her.

From: [identity profile] postcardsfrom.livejournal.com


Sorry I didn't get back sooner -- holiday last week so I didn't have much time to myself. How am I? Hmm. I'm functioning, in my way. It'll have to do! I could say nothing, or write a lot and maybe still say nothing. Anyway, I'm happy that you asked.

I'm so glad to hear about your good family evening. Your daughter is still there. This may be a high point for awhile, but there will be more good moments.

And it happened because you prepared yourself without even realizing it -- I'll try to learn from that. I expect my kids to get interested in the things that please me but I admit I make very little effort to bone up on the things that please them. But last week I joined Club Penguin.
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