A New Beginning - after 2 years...

[needgrace]

KG,

i so admire your ability to honestly face everything in your sitch. it takes a lot of courage to admit our faults and to admit that kids are struggling. i think i have said it elsewhere but it bears repeating that you have set an example to me and that example has helped me to face myself more honestly.

i think it is such a good thing that your D4 has been able to verbalize her feelings about wanting you and H together. That opens the door to validating and exploring her feelings (and you are wise to realize that these feelings are under her behavior.) I hope that you can work out something with your insurance while she is open to expressing these feelings and I believe that D5 would benefit as well from having a place to express what is going on with her. A good play therapist will be skilled in finding ways (pretend play, art, etc. if she is not verbalizing) to help her express what she is feeling and thinking. There are some good children's books about how kids feel during D like "It's Not Your Fault, Koko Bear."

A good therapist can also help H understand how the children are feeling and how he can help.

You are doing all the right things, KG, and I so admire your strength right now and your ability to take one thing at a time. ((((((((((((((((KG))))))))))))))))))))