I just got off the phone with my former SS24. He moved in with his father and I when he was 16. He came from the inner city of a very large town and had a LOT of issues with the law and his mom. At the time, I told my DH that all he needed was a good stable home in southern suburbia. Unfortunately, 16 years of neglect and abuse from his BM are hard to overcome. This child, although personable and well-liked, gave us every kind of hell we could imagine. Stealing my cell phone, stealing our car, getting caught with pot at school, selling pot, etc. Ultimately, at the age of 19 he was caught having sex with a 14 year old girl. (Now, not making excuses for his behavior but this was NOT your normal innocent 14 year old girl. She had been around the block a time or two, but he certainly knew better.) He ended up spending some time in prison (18 months.) His father and I ended up divorcing but we have remained friends. I have kept in contact with my former SS. We just had a conversation about how he is back in school, has fallen in love with a wonderful woman with a level head, and is stepping up to the plate as the father of his own 2 yr old daughter. He finally seems to have his act together. Somehow in the conversation, I asked about his mother and he said he was done with her. He told me that I was more of a mom to him then she ever was. He gave me (and his father) credit for teaching him the right things, and although it may have taken a few years, he says he is grateful for everything I did. And he still calls me his stepmom even though his father and I are divorced. I'm very proud of him and just wanted it to be known that when we as parental figures in the lives of our skids persevere there just might be a light at the end of the tunnel as well as a happy ending. For so long I thought my efforts with him were wasted, but now I feel as if I have accomplished something after all.