I am a Male.

[villager]

62. She had a very tough time with eldest son when he was in jr. high

Of course, she'd moved her fatuous alcoholic boyfriend into the house then, too.

She goaded him, the way she'd always goad, or come after, me. Being 12 and 13 then, Eldest had few resources to handle it, and sometimes returned fire inappropriately (and he was already bigger than her). There was a period when she'd angrily proclaim he'd have to live with me, now.

Which usually lasted two weeks or so, until amends were made.

In any case, though she wasn't able to shed fatuous b.f. completely after her hospitalization, nonetheless, some things did change for her. (For one thing, she was on meds for awhile, which stabilized her).

Her relationship with Eldest Son is different now, thankfully. As for Youngest Son, he'd been more of a darling to her, I suppose. In any case, she seems to be using the "script" she had with me -- and his big brother -- less these days.

Thank you for asking, though.

Strange. I've mentioned some of these things briefly over the years at DU, often in the "divorce" forum (where I haven't visited for awhile). But not to the extent in this thread.

And while I've "talked" about these things in therapy and other settings, it also feels good to do so here.