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What's hard is that

Posted By: sm... on 2008-10-13
In Reply to: Buy a bike, grow a garden, get rid of cable, take a second part time job - It's time to start over I guess NM

we have been keeping all of our kids' college funds in the stockmarket. After a big hit in 2001, they were doing OK. But now that we're really having to use them, the money just isn't there.

I'm wondering if it makes more sense to keep the money in the market (waiting for recovery) and take out a loan for the college tuition.


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I know how hard it is......sm
I understand what you're saying. God didn't give us the ability to forget, just the strength to get through it. Have you talked with your husband. Does he seem happy to have this child or has he ever said he was sorry for ever wanting that now that the child is here? Maybe if you could hear him say he was sorry for ever wanting that and couldn't imagine your child not being here, maybe that would help. Seeing true remorse in a person goes a long way in helping you deal with this.
Hard to say
If I had it to do over again, I probably would not have married my husband. He and I are not very well suited to each other at all. But then I wouldn't have my wonderful son, so I can't say I entirely regret it. And after 27 years of marriage, my husband and I finally have a great relationship, with the help of an excellent marriage counselor. What's that saying - I've been happily married for 8 years, but we were married 27 years ago.
I'm sorry - I know it must be hard for you (sm)
I don't have experience with it, but at lesat she is making the decision and you don't have to make it. There are also assisted living facilities that are not so much a nursing home, if you think that would be an option for her. Best wishes to you.
i know it is hard to believe
but I didn't see a pay phone in the dorm. You can get a room phone installed but it is expensive. I guess that is a thought though.

Even if I could contact AIM, I don't think I would. He is 18 and really I can't tell them not to let him use his free account. He's an adult (at least in terms of the law) even if he isn't acting very mature. The way it is now, I can see if he is online and talk to him. If I did something like that he would jsut make up a new screen name that I wouldn't have at all. I just don't think that is a good idea.
This is so hard
Your dog is beautiful. I know how attached you get and how much love these little guys give us.

We just had to go through much the same thing with our 9-year-old lab, Murphy. He got pancreatitis and was very sick, started to get better, but then really took a turn for the worse. He was unable to get up and walk and just cried and cried. After a couple of days, we all decided it was best to have him euthanized. It was the hardest decision I ever had to make, but none of us could stand to watch him suffer any more. He has had this look in his eyes like he was saying let me go.

Not saying that that is the right decision for you. I think you will know in your heart when it is time. Just try to keep him as comfortable and happy as possible.

My heart goes out to you and Fox.
re: having a hard day/NC MT
It depends on where your degree is from, and where you plan to go to school.  If your college credit is from a community college, it should most certainly transfer. You really have to check with a counselor from the school you wish to attend. Good luck!
I'm so sorry...I know it must be so hard (sm)
at least it has only been 8 months though...so you two have no children together, right? No having to beg for sex when you are a newlywed is not normal. I have a lot of marital issues myself thought not similar...please e-mail me if you want to talk!
7 is a hard age sm
Had a 2nd grader who was after much angst by all, diagnosed as gifted. I was able to put him in private school, quieter, excelled at everything, is now an entrepeneur and doctoral candidate. It was not easy to pay the bills, but worked harder than ever.  The school had me thinking it was my parenting skills, or lack of them, his behavior, his needing more male positive image, etc., etc. If I had istened to them he would have been put in a special class with those with learning difficulties.  All in all, I was crying every day. Took a lot of time and energy. Looking back, his teacher was at fault for mislabeling him and not appreciating his talent. I think he was smarter than she was. We shudder at even the mention of her name. Some don't deserve to be teaching. Don't let her be mislabeled. Thank goodness, I knew someone in the field who tested as I was transcribing his work.  It's a very hard road you have in front of you. Don't be discouraged, please. Good luck with it, it's very difficult. Keep examining the whole picture. God bless you.
So sorry. I know this has to be so hard
but she obviously is in a very loving home. Take a little comfort in knowing that you gave her a wonderful life.
it must be hard
person... i mean if you have only felt the need to apologize one time that must be some sort of record. correct me if i'm wrong, but you were apologizing at that particular time even though you were not at fault?
I did it on my own. It was not hard. No one else will
It did take some time to educate myself but it was not difficult. Got Money magazine and started reading. Also read other mags. I did have someone to talk to but could have done it without this person.  Also, the investment groups 800 numbers were able to answer questions I had. It was acutally fun, in an odd way, knowing I was taking care of me, without having to pay someone else to do it. And that someone else would also be paid, out of my money, for giving me advice I could find for myself. 
It's so hard to know ....
It's so hard to know the truth when these stories are printed in the Enquirer and papers of that kind. I hope this is one of those stories that turn out to be just sensationalism. How sad for him if it isn't!
No wonder it's so hard to get through - and why
And yet US hospitals are trusting confidential data to the people who built that tangled mess. Unbelievable.
It's really hard to tell ...
what the true tones of some of these texts are meant to be.

It seems what I am reading is saying to tell the truth in an abstract way, just not in a personal way.

If anyone cares, my kids are only 4, 5, and 8, so the subject of my experience with alcohol and sex would be totally inappropriate. I was just wondering if anyone had an experience where being truthful with their older kids (18+) about herself was helpful. Apparently not?
me too and its so hard! nm
x
Not too hard for me, either.
I probably only eat meat 3 times a week as it is. I've committed to a vegetarian diet several times before in my life, and kept it up the longest for about 3 years. The thing that pulls me back to the meat eating side is hamburgers. I don't know why, but I love 'em! Really good ones... not fast food "patties". Also, I don't have any issues about not eating animals. I think some animals are quite tasty. But I can do fine without eating them, too. Were I more committed to vegetarian philosophy, I'm sure it would be a different story.
Too hard for me
b
Hard liquor.

Way to go. I know it is hard, did it about 12 years ago (sm)
now my husband who was a die-hard smoker has gone 2 months without.

He finds it great that now when we go anywhere he can relax and not worry about the next location he can light up.

Thoughts are with you. It's a tough fight but you can do it.
Hard drive?
Hello...sorry for the beginner question, but if I purchase a hard drive, are they generic to any computer? Or do they need to be specific for the computer they are going to be put into? It's going to go into an HP Pavilion. I just want to get a 40GB hard drive that doesn't cost too much. Any info. would be appreciated.


I know you're right - it's hard to do though! (sm)
But I think that is what I have to do! Thanks!
WW is hard for about 2 days (sm)

It's hard when you're adjusting your intake amounts and type of food, but it's sound science to lose weight with.  However, the biggest key for me was changing my mindset.  I had lost and gained several times in the past--65 pounds, then 42 pounds, 5 pounds, 10 pounds, etc.  I scared the crud out of myself at age 25 and was finally scared straight. 


When I was 25, I had a bunch of weird neurological symptoms and had an MRI done.  My neurologist asked me, "Why are you having strokes?"  Holy cow--what?  I was a healthy, obese woman with two young girls, not having stroke symptoms.


That night I thought about my baby girl and 3-year-old girl.  My husband would run off to work in the morning and be gone until 5 p.m.  I would be lying motionless on the bed, unable to care for my little girls because I ate my way to a massive stroke. My baby would be crying out for me for food and a pants change.  My oldest could throw her some Cheerios but that's about it until my husband came home. 


I know it is not completely rational, but that was the catalyst that got me going.  I started with my old WW calculator and went down from 235.5 pounds to 112 pounds.  I'm 5 feet 5 inches and 28 now.  I've kept the weight off for over a year, most of it for 2 years (most of the weight came off in about a year), and even kept it off through a pregnancy.  I was at my prepregnancy weight at 3 days postpartum.


Anyway, I'm rambling.  My tips for you--don't drink your calories, eat high-fiber cereal every morning, and save some points for whatever you like to eat.  I always saved a couple points every night for ice cream.  Oh yeah, and weigh every day.  That way you'll know what foods affect your weight and which don't. 


I haven't counted points for a couple of years.  I weigh every day and know when I need to forget a snack for the night by my weight in the morning.  I have control of this beast called weight control, and it is a beast.


Be prepared, though.  People won't tell an obese person that he or she needs to lose weight, but people will take every liberty to tell a formerly fat person that he or she needs to gain some weight, never mind the health part of weight gain.


Good luck!


It's hard, but be strong for your mom and go.

If this is a family gathering, I'd go and be as polite as I could stomach, and then leave and take it up with her at a later time.  Can't say I wouldn't flash her the ol' stinkeye once or twice when no one was looking though.   


 


Here, those jobs are HARD to get
The elementary aide jobs in this county pay @$12.00/hour (your location may vary),lots of paid holidays, great hours, vacation time, sick days, insurance, and retirement.

I worked as an aide in an elementary school in the past when I was in a master's degree program but left the program (and the area) when I had a financial downturn.

To give you an idea of what it may entail, in my school I had duties such as hall duty (keeping the noise to a dull roar and horseplay to a minimum in the morning before classes begin and after school), cafeteria duty (making sure the right classes go to the right tables and fetching forgotten forks, napkins, and condiments), bus duty (helping children get on the right buses), as well as things such as testing for reading level placement and working with one group of students in a subject while the teacher works with another group.

Some of the aide jobs are more clerical in nature, some are in the library, some are to help the special education kids. Once you get in, you can usually find your niche and gravitate towards it.

It is never routine! I, too, am a burned out MT now and would love to get one of those jobs again, but it is very difficult to obtain one here.
Parenting is so hard.......
I am in no way saying that you are being a controlling parent. I understand that just becuase they are in college you can't and don't just say okay, now you are an "adult" you are on your own, go ahead and make mistakes. I myself and a bit controlling (kids are 17 and 15) and am trying really hard to tame that. I learned it from my "other" mother. She was very controlling with my younger brother (from her first marriage) all the way through his college years. He ended up marrying a very controlling person and that marriage lasted 4 years. He is now in a seemingly happy marriage but she is also quite controlling. I think it is a very fine line that we have to walk in giving them wings but also holding on when we see such obvious mistakes. Remeber the boy he was before he met this girl, the boy you raised with sounds like good values. Give him a little more time. About taking away the car I see why you did it. He blantly defied a rule and then lied about it. Maybe to try to build up the trust take it away for a shorter time and give him another chance. JMO! I really hope this gets worked out soon. I can only imagine how hard it is to have your child away for the first time and then these problems thrown in. Good luck.
My condolences -- it is so hard
I lost my best friend for 16 1/2 years this past May (though Tasha was a dog) and I know what you are going through.  I did not have to make the decision as she did but it was still hard.   I also had her cremated and her ashes are here with me in my office and I plan on spreading them up in the park above where I live where she loved to run and chase the squirrls   I cried harder over her passing than I did over my divorce --but then she was faithful and stayed with me through the good, bad and ugly.  Have not gotten another dog yet, but it is hard to come home to an empty house though I do have two cats.  One kitty was very close to Tasha and thought I would lose her afterwards as she did not eat for almost a week and just kept wanderng and wandering.  But she then found an old towel that I used to wipe Tasha off after walking and started to sleep on that and came around.   But I remember her in her younger years and feel that she is  running through heaven and chasing everyone around up there.  So remember the good times and though your heart is aching, as least she is out of her suffering and pain.   They give so much and ask for so little.  Again, prayers and hugs to you.    Patti
Might be a little hard at first, but then you get used to it. Have your kids help.
xx
We had a very hard time with my SIL
married to my younger brother. She was a total gold digger. Sucked up to our family until they were married and then nothing. She would walk into my parent's house and if she saw something new like a stero, she would say we will take the old one, etc. She is now gone. We really like his new wife. Defintely loves my baby bro. My other brother is divorced. My ex-SIL and her new boyfriend travel with our family all the time. My brother works for my hubby but has basically dropped out of out lives.
I know how you feel. It's so very, very hard, but (sm)

my cat had almost a year like that, would keep bouncing back every time I though the end was imminent. I told myself she just didn't want to leave me.  Hang in there. It's rough.


I know how hard this must be for you. Hugs to you! nm
!
Yes, it is hard to talk to them sometimes! (sm)
No way will husband do it. He always agrees with her. He thinks the kids should go whether they want to or not.
I'm so sorry. That must be really hard...I'm just sorry ((hugs)) (nm)
x
its hard to tell enough on line, but not all
men who have anger and other problems are serious abusers; they are men with their own baggage that affects their behavior. Mine was one. The first 10-15 years were pretty rough, but these last 10 and esp the last 5 are great -- he's in control, learned to be considerate, etc etc. I agree how bad it is for the children. But our 2 daughters have turned out fine; one married to a wonderful guy with well-raised children of their own, and the other has graduated professional school, working a dream job and going for several years with a great guy. A woman has to make her own judgment calls as to the true nature of their problems/relationship/safety and whether there is hope or not. I just don't think you can rubberstamp these marriages as all doomed.
Guys not hard to buy for...
If they're tech guys, get them Best Buy gift cards.
This will be hard, but there are things
You have to know. As a gay person myself I feel I may have something to offer you.

Your husband may very well be gay or bisexual. The first thing you have to know is that it has nothing to do with you or anything you have or have not done or been to him and he loves you.

People call it a "lifestyle choice." It is not. A "lifestyle choice" is whether you visit your local coffee house, ski every winter, what sort of car you prefer, the clothing you like. These things are related to lifestyle. I know this sounds irrelevent, but it will make more sense in just a moment.

First, you have to understand that he is not doing these things behind your back to hurt you. This has been with him for a very long time. If he has only recently begun to experience his feelings intensely enough to try to act upon them, he is also very confused and feels extremely guilty.

Regardless of that, this is an intrinsic part of who he is. It is who he is. It is not a thing, it is not "something he does." It is who he is. Say that in your head. A lot. And do it before you talk to him. You do have to talk to him.

You have to understand that for him, if he is bisexual or gay, his feelings are as much a part of him as yours are a part of you or mine are a part of me. I could no more just go out and be with a man than you could just go out and be with a woman. It's the same for him. No one who knows and loves him will understand this and he knows it. He knows that it can and will destroy relationships he has in his life, some of them permanently. That's why he's sneaking around. It does NOT justify his sneaking around, but that is the reason.

There are so many reasons to have the heart to heart mentioned by the other poster. The most important being your safety. You have to find out if he's actually been with anyone yet and then you both need some blood work. You will not get the answers if you lose control of your emotions. You will get whatever he feels he needs to tell you to keep you calm and not running out the door. So you have to think about your approach and you may have to think about it for a good while before talking to him. You have to remain grounded no matter how hard it is, because when he realizes he's been found out, he will no longer be grounded.

A person who cheats on their spouse deserves no sympathy, I believe. However, the most important element at play is going to be your safety and your health first. It just has to be.

Next, really try to help him find out if this is who he is. Not for him, but for yourself and your hopefully monogamous marriage. If you're going to get the truth, this has to be done in a non-threatening way. You don't have to be supportive, but I would stop short of confrontational if you want the truth.

You must understand that HE may not be ready for the truth either. Right now, he is experimenting and testing the water while safely married with all the appearances of heterosexuality and the safety that affords a person in and of itself. I don't know how old he is, but I have seen people over about 25 have a really, really hard time with this. If he is not ready, you will not get the truth. This is going to be hell on you. You have to leave the door open. You will get a whole range of answers from "it's a phase" to "i just needed something different" to a harmless fetish or unrealized sexual fantasy.

An important element for you to understand that is missed by most heterosexuals is that sex is not what orientation is about. It is a part of it (thank goodness), but a gay or bisexual person is also emotionally, psychologically, and intellectually attracted to the same sex. Your husband is not just interested in sex with men. It goes beyond that, as it goes beyond that for you in your attraction to your husband. This part can often hit a spouse the hardest.

There is no easy way for you to deal with this. There is not going to be an easy way in or out for either of you. He can promise you that he has or will never "act on it." That doesn't matter because this is who he is. He cannot choose to be someone else anymore than you or I can. You are going to have some really hard choices to make over the coming months.

Unfortunately, on top of your discovery you also have to deal with possible infidelity and the betrayal you feel. This is going to seem insurmountable to you. You have to hold onto yourself for your own sake and become an expert at self preservation. You can eventually allow yourself to break down and lose it, but you can't do that right now, ok? It will sure feel good when you can, but you just can't right now.

I am so sorry. No one deserves to go through this with their spouse. Just please understand that this is WHO a person is, not WHAT a person is. It is not an ACT to hurt you. It is who he is and there is no cause.

I could probably go on but I already feel like I'm babbling now. So much to say...

Please feel free to email me. There really is a lot you can do for yourself to help you stay sane through this.
I'm sorry, but I have a hard time
She made a conscious choice to do drugs, drink, have baby after baby...that's not mental illness.  She (like the other poster stated) puts herself in the path of the photogs...going out 5, 6, 7 times for fast food...come on now.  Flashing her no-underwear-wearing behind...yeah, she's mental alright...just not mentally disabled.  She needs to grow up, live up to her responsibilities, and take care of her kids, plain and simple.  And her mom needs a good a$$ kicking, IMHO of course. 
I know how you feel... it's hard...
I lost my 20yo kitty about 2 years ago. Sweet little girl. I never realized how old she was until my son turned 20 and it dawned on me I adopted her on his 5th birthday. I'm like, dang! you're an old lady!! From then on, we had a bond... 2 old ladies LOL. The only thing that ever ruffled her fur was when I got rid of the clunky monitor. She had to find another 'resting spot.'

The joy and love you had for your girl was no doubt mutual. Animals are very special :-)
Yes, she is being stoic that is why it is so hard.
She looks fine, but the rest of her is not. I have been trying for the last few days to get her to eat and/or drink, but she won't touch it. May be a few licks of wet food. She is just shutting down, so I know I am making the right decision even though she keeps on purring. Thanks.
what about your children? I know how hard
divorce is on children. I have the most beautiful children. They are well-behaved, respectful and happy. Do I trade my happiness for theirs??? Is that FAIR to them? My first step is I am going to separate our money. No more will I be subject to this. He is a poor money manager and I cannot deal with it anymore. I don't feel bad about doing that at all. But I do worry about the effects on the children. They are VERY STABLE AND THEIR LIVES ARE SO GOOD. I am not sure I can do that to them right now.
I hit hard at the beginning...sm
I work at the beginning of the pay period to get ahead a little bit so if I have a slacking day, I am okay. It is hard to stay motivated constantly, but this way most of the time, I see myself ahead of the game money wise and that motivates me more. I also keep a checklist of the bills and goodies that i want and check them off as i accumulate the money. Keeps my spending under control AND feels great when all those bills have check marks next to them. Doing this stuff, i have almost doubled my production over the last six months. Hope one of these help!
Life is hard but not over
Life is hard but not over
I would love to but it's hard to do it
i was thinking about just calling the daycare and asking to speak to her but they would recognize my voice. She doesn't teach my son's class so I don't know her, actually have never seen her and my son doesn't recognize her. But she comes up a few hits down from the top Google hit for that daycare, i'm sure it won't be long before someone else notices it...
that's a hard question --
Good cry - Legends in the Fall.

Feel good - The Holiday.

Good laugh - Practical Magic, Something's Gotta Give.

Romance - First Knight, right down to the locations, costumes and use of slow motion.

Action - Anything Harrison Ford.

Is he hard of hearing?
I ask that seriously because my husband has the same problem, that and he has so many other things going through his head and for whatever reason the things I tell him seem to be the least important to remember! Could you get a bulletin board and tack notes up on it with what he needs to remember, send him emails etc. I send my husband a lot of emails as he works nights and that is the easiest way to "remind" him!
Yes, and it was a very hard decision...
I had moved my mom in with me after she had surgery/went through rehab..  And I took care of her for 19 months. It was so hard. She had to go back in the hospital and I was fighting with my family at the same time for help...  It was really overwhelming.  She is still living but unfortunately my family moved her closer to them where she did not get the best care and was eventually moved again, further away from me to a facility that I can appreciate.  She looks really well and I know that she is being taken care of. I miss her.  I can not visit her as often as I would like but I know that she is being taken care of...  It is a very hard decision that I can not say that I don't regret.  I also contemplate on a daily basis if I made the right decision.  A day never passes that I don't ask myself is it time to go and get mom and bring her home? 
Holidays are hard
My parents were divorced so my sister and I spent many years shuffling between two houses. When we each got married and had our own families the situation got even more complex. My parents are now deceased and my sister and I are estranged (even though we live in the same town), so in some ways life has gotten simpler. I still get very emotional and depressed around the holidays because of my dysfunctional childhood and negative expectations, but I don't have as much guilt and stress anymore.

My husband's parents and family are back in our hometown 600 miles away, and for the last few years he's gone back there for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas with our youngest child. I don't begrudge him that because his folks are elderly and I don't want him to have any regrets later. I can't go with him because we have a lot of animals to take care of, and frankly, I'm really comfortable just hanging out at home with them anyway. We have adult kids too, and two grandchildren, and I encourage all of them to live their lives without the burden of guilt and feelings of obligation. If they can come by and have dinner or visit that's great, and if not BIG DEAL. Honestly, it's just a day. Things got easier for us when we realized we didn't necessarily have to celebrate a holiday on the exact day it was scheduled.

I really understand your not wanting to let your mom down, and I would feel the same way. Your husband is a big boy and has made a choice, so that's on him, not you. He's probably being a bit immature and stubborn on this one. I hope you'll extend the invitation to your husband one more time, then go to your mom's and enjoy yourself whether he comes along or not.

It's hard to tell exactly who you are talking to
Whether it was your intent or not, you have addressed several different posters in this reply. I will be answering my part of it.

On the holidays that I spent solo, I can assure you that I was not LMAO. You seem to be unaware of the fact that there are millions of people out there who do not have warm and fuzzy families to spend Christmas with. Emphatically, I can tell you that it is a less than perfect world for us.

I am painfully aware of the fact that my mother gave me life. However, when it came time to raise me, she handed me off to a nanny and went on about her business. The extent of her involvement with me was to let me know in no uncertain terms how I did not measure up to her expectations. There was never one ounce of encouragement from her and she never failed to be the strict disciplinarian or to punish me whenever I screwed up or became and embarassment to her. That's when the belt came out or I would get slapped across the face. When I was a teenager, I locked myself in my room one day to escape her wrath. Her response was to take an ax to the door and barge in to continue her tirade.

I never made a single decision that was worthy of her approval. To her wealthy friends, she bragged about my "accomplishments" in school, but behind their backs, her criticism of me was relentless. Growing up, I could never understand why everybody else I knew seemed to have loving and kind parents and was constantly asking myself what I ever did to deserve that kind of treatment.

I drew the line when she started in on my son. She would not hesitate to dress me out in front of him when he was a baby and on more than several occasions, she slapped me in the face in his presence. When that happened, HE was the one who cried, not me. I was used to it. I did not have to tell him "these are bad people."

All I ever wanted for him was a normal family. You cannot begin to imagine the pain of not being able to provide that. I never tried to prevent him from seeing his grandmother or the other drug-addicted alcoholics who inevitably would descend into verbally abuse exchanges whenever they would gather together for another drinking occasion. Later in life, he had some limited contact with them because HE TOO ended up with the same longing I had as a child for a normal family. It took him about 10 years (between ages 16 and 26) to figure out that that was never going to happen. The most pain he endures is when he tries to visit his bipolar, drug-addicted, HIV-positive, unemployed, abusive cousin...who he loves. He finally gave up on that ON HIS OWN when he was 27. When he told me about that decision, he turned to me and THANKED ME for protecting him from the toxic tribe.

There is nothing "perfect" about growing up in a world where you are constantly longing to have a normal family that everybody else around you seems to have. Seems to me that you are the perfect one here, with all your "rising above." I made only one judgment and it had little to do with judging my mother. My judgment was based on my imperative AS A MOTHER, that my son would not be required by status quo to go through that same he*ll on earth. His dad provided him with plenty of contact with normal people that encouraged healthy relationships with people who have been my son's life-long friends. He had "substitute" families because that was the best we could do for him. For that, I am grateful and I feel that, though it was not the world I WANTED for him, I made the best decisions I could under the circumstances.

My mom has been gone now for 10 years and she still has the power to inflict that same pain. I still spend my holidays wishing and wondering and longing for family. Regrets? You bet. Would I have done anything different? Not on your life. Relationships are two-way streets, not dead-end destinations.

You seem awfully determined to gain validation for your viewpoint and I have no problem with that. I have given no advice to anybody. I simply told a story and left the punch line up to the readers, who can fill in their own blanks according to their own situations and not some one-size-fits-all ivory tower proclamation.
hard decision

Putting down an animal is never easy.  We have lost two of our fur kids to illness, one just this past February.  His was a sudden illness and completely unexpected, and when the time came when the vet knew it was almost over, we went ahead and had him put to sleep so that he would not be suffering any more.  I was able to hold him when the vet gave him the shot.  It was so peaceful and so quick, and I was shocked.  I had this horrible image in my head of what it would be like, and it was the complete opposite. (Our other fur kid had been put to sleep immediately after surgery, so we had never seen the process).


I don't beleive you are trying to 'kill' a healthy pet.  It sounds like the poor guy is suffering, and dogs I think try to "hang in there" more so than cats.  Here is my opinion, for what it is worth.  If he is still able to go to the bathroom and get around a bit, if he is still eating, then use this time to get her used to the idea.  Talk to her plainly and tell her that he is coming to an end of his time here, and that for her to hold on to him is cruel.  She needs to be aware of how he is really feeling, and pay attention if he tries to tell her.  I'm not really saying this well, but I hope you get what I am trying to say.  I understand your mom's position - the thought of losing someone else is extremely painful to her, and hey, we all avoid pain as much as possible.  However, when she made a commitment to the dog, part of that commitment was making sure that when he was not able to be comfortable, healthy and happy any longer, she would take the steps to make sure he had as easy a passage to whatever lies beyond this life as possible.  Something else she may be worried about is the whole process of putting him to sleep.  If you have a good vet, and it sounds like you do, they will be able to guide her through this. 


Also, let her know that she will not be alone during/after this, and make sure that someone is there with her for support. 


It is a difficult situation for everyone concerned, and you have my heartfelt sympathy.  I hope that what I've said here helps you.  Good luck in whatever happens, and God bless. 


 


hard choice
The choice to rent or buy is tough.  I was a single mom up until a year ago.  I had bought a home; however, I think I would have been better renting.  When you buy, there is a lot to take care of on your own.  It's hard with the unexpected things that come up.  Then again, if you rent, a landlord could be tougher for a woman to deal with to get them to take care of things.  In this economy, buying is scary, too.
Working hard here
I have been on a couple times to see what is going on but it is quiet. I've been working nonstop though. In fact so much I stepped away from the computer for the first time in 4 hours.
How hard is it to figure out whether
the doc is saying the first or last name. Some people will complain about anything.