read through all the long posts on this thread and I have to say - you are Nicola and your kids are lucky they have Nicola as their mother
I grew up in England with both my parents and three brothers and found out when I grew up we were very very poor funny I never realised it at the time dad worked two jobs and my mum worked nights the big things I remember about growing up we were all important to our parents and I never felt like we didn't have their attention each day we went off to school and some of my fondest memories are walking home in the snow and stopping to look through the window of our lounge room and seeing the fire burning and my brothers waiting for me and walking in shaking off the cold and sitting down with hot chocolate and cookies and mum asking us all about school and our day as she sat with us
I always remember that no matter what dad came in from work smiling and happy to be home and after working two jobs he sat down with us in front of the fire and he was happy to be with us
so maybe we were poor financially but we sure were not poor emotionally and I guess thats why my brothers and I had the big conversation a few years back with my mum about how it was funny we never realised we were poor
you are doing great - and your kids will remember the happy times they spent with you and the fact that both parents cared - and being together may be something they want for their parents and themselves but I really think you are making this second in importance for them everything you do tells them how important they are in your life and what a great counsellor you have found for your daughter
