No Kris,

Can you resend it?

There is a good possibility that my daughter will be staying at my mother's house Monday-Friday which is about 1 hour away from where I live. This will be in effect once I start fall quarter in late September. Just the thought of it makes me sad...makes me doubt that I am a good mother.

I'm sure that there are plenty of other mom's who have or will experience this. If my daughter does end up staying at my mother's is it normal to feel TERRIBLE? I think about it everyday and at times, it gets to the point where I develop knots in my stomach.

I'm wondering if I will be doing the right thing...

Annie

Mimcat,

I will be leaving in 3 weeks to attend the post bacc program at Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr PA.
My husband and 8 year old son will stay in Minnesota. I will be away for one academic year. I will be coming home on breaks about every 6 weeks. I know it will be very difficult for me and my family. However, my husband and son are VERY supportive. We are in this together. I you let you know how it goes.
I wish you luck.
Shirl

Thanks Shirl,

Good luck in your program and keep us posted with how things are going for you. Maybe you should do one of this site's diaries. Those of us who may be "leaving" to attend school would appreciate hearing about your experience if you are willing to share the ups and downs.

Mimi

I can't give any words of wisdom concerning the time away from family. However, during my undergrad in Civil Engr. there was one woman who stayed in town during the week to attend school and then commuted home on the weekends. Her children were around the ages of 7 and 10 (I'm guessing from what they looked like when they attended class with her a few times). It was VERY hard for her family and after a year and a half her husband left her and sued for custody of the kids. He won....on the basis of abandonment.

Goodness...

Thats the worst case scenario I would imagine but, oh my....

annie

It sounds to me like there must have been deeper issues there than just her attending school away from the family. He probably was the type of man who just expected his wife to do whatever he said, and stay at home to look after everything for him.

Very depressing story....

I met him once. He seemed like a nice guy. Their marriage was strained from the beginning I think. Several times during the year she would comment that her marriage was having trouble. The kids, on the other hand, spent a LOT of time with their father. He had a job that allowed him to spend half his hours working from home. He chose to be away during the hours the kids were at school and then be home with them. I think it was difficult for him to understand how anyone could leave their children for 5 days out of every week. She seemed like an attentive mother during the time I saw her with her kids, but she just wasn't there so much of the time. I don't know any more than that, except that a judge upheld the abandonment charge and granted custody to her husband.

Wow!! I just have to think, that of the many many households in which the father works away during the week, and is home only on weekends, no judge would consider that abandonment.....

It just seems so unfair!

Thanks for the heads up though about this possible scenario. I guess if I decide to do this I should at least get a legal opinion about what my rights would be if the marriage broke down (not that that is even on the radar, but you just never know what the future will bring....)

BTW, I don't think I would even consider this option if my husband wasn't 100% behind the plan. I think there are enough obstacles and challenges to face (especially when there are children involved) to do so without the support of your partner. :rolleyes: