... and I so grateful that I didn't even have to ask H to not have the skids this weekend. I did NOT want them at my party. SS is so clingy and narcissistic I know that he would just effectively make the entire day about him - or else. Also, he would be so far up H's ass that I would be a skid-widow for the day, NOT something that I want on a day that WE are celebrating our sacrifices and hard work to get us to this point. Also, the two skids together are a freaking nightmare and I did NOT want the drama. Well, clearly neither did my H, because he never even asked or mentioned having the skids here for the weekend.

It amazes me that he can look at his kids and KNOW that they aren't "right," yet he does little to change it. I don't get it. Why throw in the towel on your own child BEFORE you've even tried? I love my H so much, but in this aspect he has such a weak character...

I honestly think that H is TERRIFIED of his son. SS is a MASTER manipulator. He has no compunction about withholding his love and telling his father that he hates him and then will just be all kinds of nasty in order to get his own way. My H is just so gentle and loving, he gets so hurt by his own kid doing these things to him. So he caves and gives the kid whatever he wants out of fear of losing his own kids love. SS will drag something out for HOURS, screaming obscenities and insults, stomping around, "running away," and just frankly being a little turd. My H can't stand it - it really hurts him. He's getting better at not catering to the behavior, which is half the battle, but the other half of the battle is to show the kid a different way of behaving. In doing this, my H sorely lacks.

Oy. Anywho, enough about the skids. Today is my day. I get to let my hair down and ENJOY the fact that I have no papers to write; no assignments hanging over my head; no looming deadlines; and no "next semester" to prepare for. I crammed 3 years of education (92 credits) into 5 semester and I am graduating with honors with a 3.82 gpa. Hell yeah. H gets to enjoy the fact that he supported me through this whole thing, it's over, and I will soon find a real job and be able to financially contribute, in a real way, to the running of the household.

Oh yeah. Today marks a new beginning. Today is good.

Enjoy your weekend everyone! I know that I intend to! }:) }:)