Might be a little early for final thoughts, but who knows. Maybe I'll amend this later. I came to NY to help with the kids and house after a health scare with my Dad. The purpose was short-lived as he came home the night I got here and promptly returned to work. So it was more like a normal visit. As usual, there were positive and negative moments. A few bonding/semi-bonding moments with Catherine and Valerie. Stephanie is still young enough to just love being loved. Daniel's the only boy here, so I've noticed that he gets away with more than he would if there were more boys... a little more than I can appreciate. Amy is a subject of her own. Shamefully, try as I might, she just refused to find any real attachment with me...at all. I genuinely believe she's happy when I leave. I use to have the same issue with Valerie. Actually, when I left here last time, I was angry/hurt over Valerie's blatant appreciation of my leaving. However, I understand more now as small comments about their mother slip out in conversation. Rosa put them through Hell, especially Catherine and Valerie. And, I imagine, my Dad. A few times during this visit, Valerie slowly and cautiously opened up to me. She even shared some of her poetry with me. The earliest of them were the most touching. The ones about her mother. It's been said that she could use therapy or counseling. And, sadly, it shows in her writing as the subjects change. There is, however, still plenty of light showing through. I'm confident she'll be alright, though she might need a little guidance along the way. Now, Catherine, I'm particularly proud of. Like Valerie, she's been through Hell because of her mother. She's 18 now and has had to grow up earlier than she should have. She's still a little young-minded, but sometimes I think it's really just her personality type. She's a lot more caring and responsible than a lot of other people I know of the same age. I guess, lastly, is Richel. Not too sure what to say. I love her as I do my blood siblings. I laugh and smile. I do what I can to pretend I don't know that she's about more than she lets on. I just hope she manages to grow up before it's too late.

IJR