What was the name of the green doll (male) with the lop-sided head that had movable arms and legs? It was around when I was a little kid. Gumby or something. Anyway, I get a visual of a room full of those after reading this thread! LOL!
Star, that breaks my heart- especially after I just read that book. You are truly a survivor to the bone! (I've started on the book you recommended now- it is making me think, too. But I don't always get how to do what they suggest, but that's another topic.)
Anyway, I don't guess I'm too exciting. The only thing I can think of is that I seem to have done several things in spite of the fact that people close to me (usually family) said I would never be able to do. (Maybe that's why I did them- and maybe that's why I haven't given up on difficult child LOL.)
* When I was born, my legs were turned in the hip sockets and the dr's told my dad I needed surgery to break both my legs and re-set them or I might never walk normal. If it didn't work, I would never have normal legs. My dad told them "no". (I wore leg braces for 2 years and I'm not the most graceful walking person, but I walk normally)
* I was accepted into pre-medication at college when I was 16 yo as a B student - my mom let me try because she thought it would never happen. (That isn't all that impressive- I graduated as a Junior and my b-day falls late in the summer, so I was 17 yo when I started. Then, I got married and quit.
)
* I joined the military when I filed for divorce- family memebers said I would never make it through boot camp, and if I did, I would never amount to anything afterwards. (I made it through boot camp and spent 4 years, 8 mos on active duty- it was peace time, I can't take credit for being in during a war.)
* When I got out of the military, I put myself through 5 years of college, with very little help from my Mom, and no help from any other family member. (I did get loans and grants, etc)
* I had a dog that I'd gotten in the military- he was my BABY! I took him to college with me and when he was 3 yo, he nearly died and was diagnosis'd with diabetes. The vet was the only person who suggested that I could still give that dog a normal life. The vet taught me how- I gave him urine tests each morning and 2 shots of insuline per day for seven years. (I miss him soooo much!!)
* No one thought I would be able to take care of my baby as a single parent and keep up my job, which I needed to support the baby. They thought I couldn't deliver him (I did have to have a c-section), then accused me of trying to starve him because I wanted to nurse him and my milk didn't come in right away. (My milk did come him and he did get his share of baby-fat.
Needless to say- this is difficult child we're talking about here....and so far, he has always had clothes, been fed, and goes to bed EVERY night knowing that his mother loves him- even if one or both of us is upset or mad.)
Now, if I can just teach him how to overcome the odds and become a self-sufficient adult who obeys the law and can hold a job and be a good partner and father (if he conceives a child), then I will consider myself a success!!
