Ioavva wrote ------- I don't have any family, but I my best female friend is 40 so she's like a big sister to me.....I had a little girl and she's got 3 son's so she wents nuts over my little girl, carrying her around everywhere and putting tiny dresses on her........ She says I'm like the little sister she never had. -------- That is great. I am so glad you have connected with several people.
I watched a documentary on TV about Cambodian people helping other Cambodians without relatives. The aid workers referred to anyone older than them as Auntie or Uncle. Never Mrs X or Mr. Y. It had a nice family ring to it. Sounds like your 40 yr old friend is some of the best kind of people one would ever encounter.
----------- I have to parent myself, it teaches me to look out for myself and my dd4. ------------ Sad for you but too often a true story.
You had a worse childhood than I did, although I would not call mine good. I often wonder if my childhood were better, would I have been a better parent? Like you, I too decided that I had to do the best I could for my kids and not repeat the mistakes that were made on me in my childhood.
After a certain age, life is not about what we got or didn't get in our childhood, it is about being a parent. Having a child centered spouse help tremendously.
Have you read any books that deals with unresolved childhood issues? Supposedly, your spouse, along with a book or two can help you to work through some of the things you feel you should have gotten as a child. If I can remember the title or author I will post it later.
