[IluvLucy]

I'm so sorry you got your feeling hurt on Mother's Day.

I know where you're coming from. I married at 16, had my first child at 18 and my second at 21. I was divorced at 24 and raised my kids alone for 10 years before I remarried.

My younger son went thru a really rough time as a teen. He is bipolar. It was hell. He lived in a group home for several years because I just couldn't handle it anymore. He had a really tough wakeup call when my husband (his stepfather) died. He told me it took that to make him realize that he HAD to grow up.

That was 2 years ago. He is living with me now, and is a joy to be with. He is also ADHD and even though he is chronologically 29 years old, he is more like a 16 year old. He does everything for himself now. He takes his meds, does his laundry, and has actually become quite a cook.

When he first entered the group home, I felt that I had abandoned him. It hurt me much more than it hurt him. Looking back, I believe it took all the bad times for him to appreciate his life now.

I pray that your son will find what it takes for him to grow up and that a tragedy won't force it.