I know I no longer need a man to be happy. In fact I am enjoying my "me" time(when I get it) But now my happiness(or unhappiness as the case seems to be)is connected to my daughter's happiness. Things are cascading out of control and to me it seems that we are drifting further apart. She is angry and sad and anxious all the time. She skips cheerleading practice on a regular basis(this used to be her life). She has been skipping school again and everyday is a challenge. Plus I am doing all the packing for the move in 3 days on my own and she is becoming more withdrawn the closer we get to it because after finding a home in the neighborhood of her best friend where she has been going to school on the same bus since last year she has stopped talking to her "best friend"(her friend actually called the other night and asked her to stop coming to catch the bus from her house with only 5 days left till the move)and she now feels she will be as trapped in this new place as she did in our old one. At least she has a counselling session in a few days. I think she will need more than every 2 weeks but since I am paying out of pocket I don't know if I can afford more.

Am I the only one who finds it hard to find the happiness we deserve when our children are unable to find the happiness they deserve?

On the bright side I am getting better at being consistent with behavior and consequences, I just feel like she is getting more and more depressed and it feels like I am losing her and I can't do anything about it except keep loving her and hope for the best.

Christine