Hi EM - My best wishes to you as you go through this difficult period. You know your W better than any of us, and I am sure that she must have some real sterling qualities inspite of the way she has been behaving lately, and inspite of your differences over handling the misbehavior of the stepson. It is clear to me that your believe your M is something worth saving, so I wish you continued perseverence, wisdom, and patience. We can only see snippets of what is going on, so sometimes our drive-by recommendations may or may not be what you need to hear. If she is worth fighting for, then by all means do what is within your power to save the M. But don't be hard on yourself if it turns out that it is not possible. Ultimately, you are primarily responsible for your well being and for that of your daughter. Meanwhile, I have nothing but admiration for your courage and your character. We are all pulling for you.
