There were both good and bad results. She was cutting, drinking and engaging in very dangerous activity by the age of 12. We were going through a terrible divorce and I was diagnosed with ptsd- the result of 15 years spent with an abusive and controlling husband. During the separation he engaged in stalking, property damage and other forms of harassment which of course affected our children. The best thing about having her in a residential treatment facility was that she was away from her father and his abusive behavior. She also was monitored so she could not engage in the self harming behavior. I was in no condition to handle her extreme behavior, and our separation made us appreciate each other more once she returned home. On the other hand, she was exposed to children older and with much bigger problems than her own. To this day she still has separation anxiety and fears that I will send her away if things get worse again.

I guess I can afford to be a little naughty this Christmas.


"Christmas-negligent" retailers — marginalized use of "Christmas"
Barnes & Noble
Bed, Bath & Beyond
Best Buy
Borders
Circuit City
Dick's Sporting Goods
GAP
KB Toys
Kmart
Toys "R" Us



"Christmas-offensive" retailers — apparent abandonment of "Christmas"
American Eagle
Banana Republic
Bloomingdale's
Lane Bryant
Old Navy

If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. - Gal 5:15,16

As the collector of Proverbs warns,

If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?
- Proverbs 24:12

It is wildly inappropriate for professing Christians to participate in spreading vile slanders against anyone, especially against prominent leaders in our democracy such as Senator Obama.