Believe me after all of this, things are GOING to change when he gets back. And if he doesn't like it he can stay gone at work or where ever he wants to go. I have realized that these kids DO need me because they don't have anyone else. I had a really good talk with Avery this morning and I realized that he thought that his mother had kept his older brother and only left him. I had not known that. I guess she gave him up after she gave up Avery. He really did think it was his fault that she left and my fault and my husband's fault. I told him that she left because she wanted to and that's what makes her a bad person, not him. I really think he understood me. I told him that every day he has to remind himself that he's a good kid and he can be good. And anytime he thinks of doing something bad he needs to remind himself of that. So far he's been very tolerable. There hasn't been any disruption in the house at all. I told my best friends here that they are going to have to help keep my morale up because I am sure there are going to be good days and bad days but I am going to keep going with or without my husband because I don't think now that I can send him back to live with his mother. Knowing that he's not going to be taken care of. I am getting Avery back in counselling on Monday. I told him he doesn't have to be scared of his counsellor or me and he doesn't have to worry about being left alone because he's not going to be. It was very constructive and very beneficial to both of us. And I think that I have a better understanding about how he feels and how he feels about his mother. He said he doesn't want to go back to her because, his words, "she is mean to me". I do know that little boys go through a period of a few years starting at about the age of five where they feel this bond with their mother's to the point that sometimes they can be jealous of their fathers. In a normal two parent household that is. I also realized that Avery is at the age where he should feel that bond with his mother, but how can he if she's nowhere around? It is very sad what she has done, but hopefully I can put my energy into working with him now instead of hating her. I am pretty sure that my husband will "jump on the wagon" once he realizes how serious I am. And my kids are going to have to stop looking at this like a way they are suffering and instead a way to be a role model to the younger kids.