[Star]

Animal, your mother should be very proud of you. I know I would be if I were your mom. Your story touched my heart.

My childhood wasn't the best wither. I had an abent alcoholic father who would rather spend his time in a sleezy bar then at home and a mom who I never got along with that was very selfish and drank a lot as well so, my childhood was a living hell too. I left home at the age of 16, quit school (still need 2 credits for the diploma), got a few jobs and lived on my own to get away from all that fighting, yelling and nastiness in that house.

but, like you, I couldn't live without my family. even when i did leave, I needed my family. I have 3 younger brothers and 2 of them lived through what i did. We were there for eachother when our parents couldn't be.

I feel that my parents did the best that they could with the tools they had to work with back then. My childhood changed me as a person but not in a negative way. I never got into drugs, i wasn't permiscious (SP?) at all and just tried to be a good person.

Now i'm the mom. I'm a better mom to my kids then my mom was to me when i was a kid because of her. My mom loves me, I know she does and always has. our relationship is a lot better now then it was when i was younger and that's because i forgave her. she did some horrible things that took me years and years to forgive but i'm glad i did.

Our family is all we can count on when we need them. Blood is so much thicker then water and when you're really down, they're there to help you back up again. It is unconditional love.