Well I just got back from a long wonderful vacation in CA and wanted to drop in and see how everyone was gettin along...Boy, was I appalled when I read the infamous anonomous comment made in reference to the fantasies of retribution blog. Absolutely stunning how people are willing to poison their children's minds. It really got my wheels turning. I've been doing the whole step-parent bit for 7 years now, since the age of 20, and I will admit-in my younger less mature days, I had my share of ill-willed fantasies. Now, it took me sometime to realize that our thoughts should be closely monitered. All these negative, hateful feelings and thoughts are dangerous- they NEVER help any situation. I no longer want BM to suffer or fail, she's already done plenty of that, and all it does is hurt SS. I find myself now more than ever hoping she will finally be successful, happy, sane etc...I know it sounds strange, but I just want a better life for my SS. And no matter how much crap she has put him and us through, I will always hope that she finally "GETS IT". That being some emotional intelligence, so hopefully some of it can rub off on SS before it's too late. I wanted to share one of my favorite quotes from the famous sleeping prophet, Edgar Cayce:

Be what thou prayest to be made.

If you pray that people become more compassionate, become more compassionate.

If you pray that people become more tolerant, become more tolerant.

If you pray that people become more honest, become more honest.

If you pray that people become more generous, become more generous.

If you pray that people start giving again, to animals, to children, to the homeless, to the rain forests, to those with incurable diseases, to charities whose work you believe in, start giving again.

If you pray that this world becomes healthier, become healthier.

If you pray that this world becomes more peaceful, become more peaceful.

If you pray that this world and all of us who share it do far, far better than we have been to repay our debt of grattitude to our loving God who knows the Way, and is the Way, do far, far better to repay your debt of grattitude to God.

Be what thou prayest to be made.

ALSO, I'VE COMPILED A LIST OF BOOKS I HAVE READ THAT OFFER A LOT OF VALUABLE INFORMATION. VALUABLE BECAUSE IT CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF OUR (STEP)CHILDREN AS WELL AS OUR OWN. I RECOMMEND TO ANYONE.(STEP)PARENTS OR NOT

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE BY DANIEL GOLEMAN

THE IRREDUCIBLE NEEDS OF CHILDREN BY T.BERRY BRAZELTON AND STANLEY GREENSPAN

THE MORAL INTELLIGENCE OF CHILDREN BY ROBERT COLES

HOW TO RAISE A CHILD WITH A HIGH E.Q.(EMOTIONAL QUOTIENT) BY LAWRENCE SHAPIRO

TEACHING TOLERANCE BY SARAH BULLARD

FORGIVENESS IS A CHOICE BY ROBERT ENRIGHT

TOXIC PARENTS BY SUSAN FORWARD

PRISONERS OF CHILDHOOD BY ALICE MILLER

PARENTS AS MENTORS BY SANDRA BURT AND LINDA PERLIS

I HOPE THIS CAN HELP SOMEBODY!!!