My storey may be getting old, but since you asked, any opportunity to "Blather on", works for me
. I was separated from my children's father in 1990. He went out New Years Eve., with friends, including a girl friend from his elementary school years and didn't return for several days. I couldn't take anymore, he wasn't bringing home his paycheck (said; "company couldn't afford to make payroll," 3 consecutive weeks. I was the major breadwinner, so I just left his bags by the front door, when he finally showed up. I was very angry. Then no child support, putting tremendous pressure on me, as I had to find a job that would allow me to schedule myself around children's daycare, doctor's appts., school meetings, etc., etc., Then my family thought I was driinking a little too much so they absconded with my children, called in two reports to Family services, and forced me into Rehab. No prob. Rehab was a vacation, compared to my life, but it hurt me tremendously, as I worked for Family services, it hit me where we eat. Then an ongoing custody battle, the man didn't want custody, his mother took care of the children on his ëvery second weekend, he just didn't want to part with his money. This battle ended up costing me 25,000, and still no conclusion. He wouldn't file his income statement, and I couldn't get him served, he kept moving, basically from one woman's house to another's. This went on over 10 years, I was angry all the time. Very angry, frustrated, couldn't deal with all the anger, it ate me up inside. Then my youngest was severely beaten on the rocks behind the school (elementary), by three bigger boys. I hired a lawyer, paid $200, only to be told, "nothing you can do, they're under age 12". I felt ripped off b/c I'd given her the details over the phone, she could have said so then, instead she collected $200, I didn't have. Credit card time. Then after contemplating the issue, I decided, OK, let him take the kids for a year, trial. It was a disaster, they were left to sleep in his girlfriends basement, were subjected to his and GF's drunken brawls, and he would never follow up with the school, so I had to. Then a special project, my youngest and I had worked on together, all one weekend, that he was really proud of, got smashed by one of GF's kids. My son was all out heartbroken. Then he wouldn't get up to go to school, his father believes in corporal punishment. That was the final straw. Then older brother was dx'd ADHD, younger ADD, but younger wasn't ADD at all, he was learning disabled. Then he was held hostage by older boys that hung out around the school. His Far West jacket disappeared. His special sneakers disappeared. Always, I gave him lunch money, always he walked a mile home and back, for lunch. Often, he would refuse after lunch, to go to school. "They told me if I didn't have $10.00 after lunch, they'd beat me , again. I went to the school. Nice bunch, totally useless. So, into private school he goes. I cannot afford it, but i had to come up with the money, threw us into poverty. Lots of Kraft Dinner. Then bill collectors started calling, even threatened my eldest son, 13, on the telephone. I got a cell phone. Bank started calling me at work. It just kept on and on. Finally, in 1994, my doc called, äre you standing up?"Yes. Ï don't know how you are doing that. Anemia, serious, 6 instead of 13, TSH over 25,000. Thyroid burned up. Then she discovered 11 tender points. Fibro. Only, then all they would prescribe was amyltriptilene. So, on I went. Trying to hold it all together, failing miserably, learned helplessness. Finally, in 2002 I was hit by a truck while crossing in crosswalk, after moving my car, as it was a three hour zone, so had to move it, couldn't afford the "paid parking"at work. God bless that truck. It just brought everything to an absolute standstill. Then, they only allow 140.00 a week for living while lawsuit runs on and on. So, foreclosure notices on house. Car being called in, non-payment on insurance, cancelled. Enough already. Yes, a traumatic event. I feel like my life is one great long tragic event. Youngest still with me, using my money, waiting for his Unemployment Insurance to be finalized. Somedays I don't want to get outta bed. I have too. Two dogs, and Dad with a brain tumour, I have to. Sayonara.