This is long, but the background is important. I grew up the youngest of three and I came much later, so I was practically raised as an only child. My sister dropped out of high school her senior year and ran off with her bf (got married, had 2 kids, divorced, married again, divorced and now lives with and mooches off of me and my parents with no education or career). My brother made my parents pay three years of private tuition for him to become a pilot and then he dropped out (never repaid them, in fact went on to rob them blind of all their savings in a failed business attempt). I went to public school, got a full ride to college and graduated .. then got 2 master’s degrees. I started supporting my parents (and my sister who lives with them) when I was 22 and still in college and I still support them today by myself with no help from my brother or sister. I got married when I was 29 (im now 32) to my preschool-sweetheart … and I know for a fact that my siblings envied that.. but everyone loved him and so did I. We’re going through an emotionally horrific divorce right now where we’re both still very much in love with each other, but I can’t forgive him. The problem is that my brother and sister are now treating me like $hlt at the most vulnerable time in my life. When she left her husband, I was there and when he went to jail I was there. When her son had cancer, I was there (even though she wasn’t) and when his fiance cheated on him, I went to bat for him even though no one else did and they all took her side. This is the first time in my life that I have needed to know that they have my back if I need them … which I haven’t … but they criticize me, ridicule me and put the blame of my failed marriage on me. Why are they acting like that? I don’t understand why they can’t be supportive … growing up, my brother was the favorite and my sister did everything in her power to get attention … I pretty much was in the shadows and I was fine with it… I’ve been a loner since I was an infant and I love it… are they upset at me that for once the attention is on me? I can’t fathom why two people who have been so nice to me over the years have now turned on me … it’s not because they’re sorry he’s leaving, it’s like they’re gloating … I just need help trying to understand this. I’m trying to be rational and mature about this whole thing and I hate that for the first time in my life I’m feeling victimized … I have NEVER felt sorry for myself until now .. I guess what I’m trying to ask is, why are they treating me like this?

so my boyfriend/fiance has a 1 1/2year old,hes a very strick person to my child but not his…he says he doesn’t know how to parent a child…he lets everybody else do it for him. do all single dads do this?

My friend is in debt up to his eyeballs and cannot afford what the outgoings are as he has small child and fiance to care for- he is private renting- stupidly wont accept benefits as he says it "too much hassle" and don’t understand the forms, he gets no support from the government whatsoever even tho- I’m sure he is entitled to something? Working tax family credits? Council Tax benefit? I don’t know what to suggest- should he go down and sit at Council and get Council flat (if possible) or CAB adviser- would they help him? I am really worried about him, he is like family and he has been suicidal in the past. Please help me give him some advice. He also (to add to his debt woes) received a letter yesterday for being in arrears with Council Tax and bailiff’s are being sent?? He cannot get another loan to cover these debts as he has bad credit and i seriously dont know what to tell him before he does something silly…..please is there abnyone out there that can advise what to do- he dont want to pretend Lisa a lone parent even tho i feel that would be the best option. In this day and age it seems lying is only way to survive!!!!!!!!!!! HELP

I am a single mother of 3 and I am 30. My ex fiance, as of last night, is a father of 2. His girls are teenagers, my kids are 7, 4, and 2. He left because I told him that if his 16 year old was going to live with me then she would talk to me and my children in a respectful manner. That she had no business bossing my children around, I am there mother. And I mean, this girl is very disrespectful, she went up to the jewelry counter after I purposely lost her to buy his engagement ring on fathers day, and asked how much it costed just as an example. She is just rude constantly. Anyhow, I love him, but he left me, but, was I wrong? Also, I said that it is not healthy for her to lock herself up in her room constantly. And I don’t think it is. I think he should be a father to her. The girl never smiles. I don’t know, was I wrong for demanding that? That she speak to me in a respectful manner? Is that to much to ask?