> I can't imagine dealing with that at 13.
> Your probably didn't deal with it at all;
> just tried with all your weakened and broken
> might to survive.

Yes, it was a matter of just surviving.

> My father in law lost his mother to cancer
> at 13. From what I've observed and gathered
> from my mother-in-law and his step mom, he
> became very closed off and still has a hard
> time being sensitive or compassionate. He's
> very critical and reclusive. I was thinking
> one day how loosing his mother effected him.
> It's with our mothers that many of us
> learned to deal with emotions, the little
> things, learned to communicate and know
> mercy. He has very little of those
> attributes.

I would think that losing a parent at a young age would have a different effect on each individual. But, I, too, was emotionally aloof for many years.

> I know that the relationship I have with my
> children is very different than George. Both
> important, but very different. You din't get
> those late night talks, and rich
> understanding conversations and the girl
> stuff. That was all lost to you. You'll find
> it in your children.

My dad married a woman half his age about two years after my mother passed away. We had girl talks, but how much do you really learn from a 21 year old. She was nearly a child herself. She didn't really have much wisdom to offer.