My story is not unique, or even unusual for that matter. It is a sorry tale of divorce - the heartache and sorrow of realizing that the past twenty four years with the man I trusted and loved was a lie. I recently realized that he was a stranger to me - and to our four children. He met someone new - someone who "understood him, who needed him, someone who made him feel alive and special"- everything that I apparently was not able to do for him. He nearly destroyed me - convincing me that I was to blame for everything that was wrong with his life - I was to blame for his unhappiness as well as all the affairs he had - (some with friends and even family!!). After he shot and killed our beloved family pets he even convinced me that I was to blame for their deaths as well. He left me devastated and shattered - he convinced me that my life - indeed the very air that I breathed - was a waste!! He told our children the most horrid lies. Our friends and families were also told terrible lies. I stood by this man through illness and injury ( he broke his leg on two separate occassions, had a severe neck injury that left him in a halo traction for 17 weeks - to mention a few), I stood by him when he decided to go to university when our four children were still very young - how many papers did I write and edit for him, how hard did I squeeze every penny and dime so that we finished that university degree debt free - my own career terminated at his encouragement - "I make enough money for the both of us now" - what a fool I was. Our children - actually young adults - have proven themselves to be amazing people - with a strength of character and courage that I find most admirable!! I guess my life has indeed had a purpose. There is still so much uncertainty for us - we're not even sure if we'll be able to stay in our home. His cruelty is boundless!! It has indeed been a very trying and difficult six months - seems so much longer. However, we've realized that there are so many amazing people - so many who have been there for us since all this madness began. For that I - and the children - will always be grateful. I've heard it said that things happen for a reason - and I know that when this is finally over, my children will be better people for this ordeal. For myself - I'm still trying to find myself again. I lost myself somewhere in the past twenty four years................. thanks....MM

Hi There,
Your article about the taps brings back memories of a weekend about 10 years ago when my children were little.
I too was a single mother with money very scarse. It was an Easter weekend and my clothes dryer broke, so what to do?
I tore the dryer apart, checked out the bad area, replaced the area myself by getting a part from the hardware store and voila!! after almost 4 days of work I had it back together and working. Believe me it wasn't easy!! BUT I will never forget how proud I was of myself and still am.
Love your sight, is there a charge to get a newsletter?
Thanks
Mary Lou