Kathryn Casey:  

It's been a long time, with many years to cover. *lol* I had a fairly rough time over the years, but I had many blessings to count as well. After High School I moved out to Oklahoma to get to know my real father. (Big family drama there) I spent a few years out there, moving back to Ohio when my daughter started kindergarten. Educationally and financially it was the best decision. I hated leaving my father... he was such a positive influence on my life and we fought so hard to be together... but I had to give my daughter the best chances... and I didn't see many opportunities there for either of us if I stayed. It was very difficult raising my daughter as a single mom at such a young age.... (I was 16 years old when I got pregnant with her) but now that many of you have your own children... you can understand the determination to keep going. Tooth and nail... you pull to survive to make ends meet. You have too! I tried in a previous marriage to have more children, but found it was not possible.... so she was my main focus over the years.... and I spoiled her rotten. *guilty giggle* I had a great time raising her, and all the difficult times are forgotten (or at least subsided *lol* ) I miss the days of coaching, girl scouts, pajama parties, threatening her boyfriends, learning to drive, and her High School accomplishments, etc. But I was the mom who took all the pictures and videos to save them. *thumbs up* So I have the good memories preserved. She had everything going for her... I was so proud. She had so many awards through school and was doing some modeling.... I had deposits for her to start college.... then... she got pregnant. *insert the mental breakdown here* I felt like history repeating itself when she got pregnant her senior year. The emotions while trying to keep it together were something I do not wish on anyone.... bundle that up with a really nasty divorce, my father dying, and losing everything I worked so hard for with my business for years. It was not pretty. But... this is the time when she really showed me how well I raised her... because she was a strong young woman herself and pulled through.... pulling me back up along with her. We got through it together... once again. The first 9 months after my grandson was born she lived with me. He was born in Sept 2005, and she decided to return to college in February 2006. It was not a major college.... she decided to use her business skills applied to being a court reporter. A REALLY good choice! After the baby got over the colic and some health issues... I knew she needed the motivation to help her feel confident about herself. So.... I made a deal with her. I knew it was not easy to raise your child while living with your parents. So, if she stayed in college, I would pay her bills to live on her own. Yes... pushing my work obsession to the limits even more. *deep breath* The only thing I really knew though. I cried when she started Middle School and High School, and I lost it when she moved out of the house herself. *sigh* I could not walk past her empty bedroom... and had to move to a new house as well. It was a very difficult time... because at age 36 years old... it was the first time I was really "alone" since I had her! I did not know what to do with myself. I always looked forward to that day... *lol* But when it came upon me... I was miserable! By then, all my friends finally got married and were raising families of their own... so... no... it wasn't as much fun as I thought it would be. *rolling eyes* For a year I paid her rent and misc expenses while she went through college and she held a job to pay her own groceries and utilities. 2008 she had so very much on her plate by going to school, working and raising the baby and was not progressing as well at school.... it was a stalemate and I saw the toll it was taking on her... so... I told her to quit her job and I would pay all her living expenses so she could finish up and graduate. We got some loans to work on her credit as well, so she would be able to buy a house of her own in a couple years. It was important to me to turn things around to see that she would have the best chances and succeed from there. She should be graduating college this year.... and I know she will be okay since she has already been getting job offers starting at 85K a year. (Please ...Expand for more