I am  68 and it sounds old but its better than death ! I am single since a divorce 30 years ago . I raised two daughters , the oldest is about to turn 41 , has a wonderful husband and the three best grand daughters in the world and lives outside Philly . They youngest is 37 and lives with me , she has mental and emotional disablities and health issues . She is not retarded but she is a challenge . I will probably address that situation at some future point .  I am semi retired . I started my career as an art teacher but back then , I wanted to stay home and raise children so I only taught for three years . My career after that was sort of something I fell into and had to continue when I got divorced . I managed a paint store for 17 years , then worked in a variety of retail sales situations including my own flower shop . I have never remarried . I grew up with a stepmother after my mother died in 1949 . It was not a good situation and I vowed I would never risk doing that to my own children . Now , I have been on my own so to speak I cant imagine being married . I guess its just not for all of us . I do like men , I just havent had the time to get to know any of them well enough .I have a part time job now that supplements my income and helps pay the bills for my daughters care and I will have to work forever . I wish there was a happy answer to that problem but so far , I havent found one . Life is not always the Cinderella tale you hear about but if you work at making it worthwhile thru the difficulties , its still a life and worth living .

I own my own house thankfully and its paid for but life is definately challenging for me . I read on here about the choices many of you have about your life and my own are limited both by the fast that funds are limited and that I have a lot on my plate with my daughters care . I like to see the ideas that others post , it makes me feel as if I am not the only person in my situation . I keep working to maintain my own health so I can be there for my daughter as long as possibe . She is not group home material , I have looked into that so this is a worry over my head all the time . I am hopeful I wont have to send her to her sisters because that would not be a good thing for anyone . Any ideas out there ? Someone suggest I leave my house to a mental health company to use as a group home with the requrements that they also take my daughter but I am not to the point where I want to pursue that course . I guess I am holding out for some magic answer to the problem . Are there more of you out there with these situations ? I would welcome suggestions or ideas .

I guess thats about all for now , I can't think of another thing about me to say at this moment . Look forward to your responses .

How did you get to where you are now?

Wisdom to know that time is not my enemy . It makes everything better , even the traumatic things that happen over a life time . It doesn't make them go away , it just makes you remember with less pain .

How do you see yourself differently now than you did 10 years ago?

Options have narrowed , but I look back and all things considered I didnt do too bad as a single mother with two girls . I raised two kids that I can be proud of and I have nothing in the past to be ashamed of so I think thats pretty darn good .

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Hope to be living in the same house , still cutting the grass and able to walk without too much pain .

Nancy , you did good girl , you will have some huge problems to conquor but all in all they will work out so never give up and never feel as if you cant solve all those problems .  I love you , You