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Hi everyone, It's been a while since my last update. I also enjoy helping other parents navigate the storms that our troubled children bring into our lives, so it's good to be back. DS, who turned 20 earlier this month, moved out last night after we confronted him with evidence that he had...

Hello everyone! I hope that we are all staying safe and are well during these very challenging times. I have not been here in a very long time and wanted to post an update (those who don't know my story can read my post history, it's very long and convoluted). The last time I updated, my...

DS seems to be at the very least, flirting with political views that are to our mind, unacceptable. We don't know what to do. He talks to us openly about his thoughts, which is a good thing; but he is becoming more and more militant, more passionate, and more entrenched in beliefs that both W...

DS has been a member of our household for about one month. And things are going better than I could have possibly predicted. Mind you, there is plenty of room for improvement. He is holding down a part time job, which is a positive. He is also SUPPOSED to be completing his high school diploma...

DS is on the verge of being kicked out of his group residence because he is openly flouting their rules. He's been bragging about his infractions to us. Finally, he's been caught, and the residence is planning to hold him accountable. It sounds to us as if they plan to deliver him a warning. He...

I have not been around much lately, but there is a lot happening in our lives. DS came back into the picture about one month ago. He burned his bridges with F and YS and essentially had nowhere else to turn. The legal system is involved in the situation. W and I had many tearful discussions...

I am, as the title says, potentially on the brink of doing something very out of character. There's someone at work who intrigues me, and I believe, is also intrigued by me. Thus far no opportunities to advance this attraction have come up. But if by chance opportunity does strike, I wouldn't...

Out of the blue YS has reappeared. Not to me or W directly but to another relative who was intimately involved in his recovery from attempted suicide and against whom he has professed sheer hatred since he left the hospital. He has agreed to see us soon for the Easter holiday. Both W and I are...

Hello friends, After months of absolutely no news regarding either DS or YS, we received troubling information from another relative who made contact with YS over the weekend via text. This relative (who has mental illness issues as well) reached out to W and said that YS in particular was...

I haven't been around here too much of late. There hasn't been much to report. We remain completely estranged from DS and YS and there is no indication of that changing anytime soon. An offer was made to spend some time over Xmas via F, and both boys (or should I say, young men) refused. W...

I saw an ad for a new film starring Julia Roberts as the parent of an addicted young adult who is returning home for Xmas. The movie is called "Ben Is Back" and I believe it opens on Friday. I don't think W and I will be seeing it, even though drug addiction isn't really our trigger (that would...

As you all know the last year in particular has been very difficult for me and my family. And you also know that I was recently separated from my wife. We are continuing to reconcile and things are going pretty well there. I have a very close friend. More than close, actually. More like an...

Friends, My wife and I are separated and are on a path that will likely lead to divorce, meaning my time as a stepparent to DS and YS is soon coming to an end. Reconciliation is still a possibility at this point but I don't think that would be either a healthy or a correct choice for me to...

I am in need of some insight and advice from you wonderful folks. First a brief update. Life has been interesting to say the least. W and I seem to have weathered our current marital storm. Things are not perfect or ideal at this point but we have come to certain understandings that were long...

Exactly one year ago W and I received a call that changed our lives forever - the call from F telling us that YS had overdosed on cardiac medication in a suicide attempt. So much has changed yet so much remains the same. YS is continuing to heal and from the limited amount of information we...

More detail later....but for now..... Have any non custodial parents ever asked a court to appoint a GAL for a child whose custodial parent can not provide a safe environment? If so what was your experience like? The goal in our case would not be a custody change. It would be oversight and...

We are at this point essentially childless which is a relief and very painful at the same time. It's very different. Calm and peaceful and no adolescent drama, or contact with my wife's ex, which is wonderful to be honest. But then we miss the boys at the same time. Or I should say, we mourn...

Just a quick hello. I try to respond to members' posts when I feel I can offer some comfort or experience. My situation is the same. Things at home have been pretty good lately - the troubles in my marriage tend to mirror the troubles we are having with my stepsons. We have not heard from...

I participated in graduation activities for work. I saw 17 and 18 year old students, some with obvious struggles and some with seemingly the world at their feet. All of them are moving on to the next phase of their lives. All of them successfully completed high school. Some are the first in...

Earlier this week W texted YS to say I love you. He called back and exploded into a torrent of cursing, screaming and crying. He wants her to get out of his life and stay out. He was hysterical at times. I did my best to stay out of it entirely but I did crack at one point. Hearing his vile...