[DianaB]

My Mom did a lot of those things but still I didn't feel a lot of love from her. The only time I remember her telling me that she loved me was when our pastor had us separate into our family groups to pray together and then it was said with tears in her eyes. That was one thing that I do differently. I tell my kids all the time that I love them, no tears.

And Janet, my Mom has always given my brother more attention and still does. My kids even notice it now. I just don't let it get to me anymore. When I grew up I was always closer to my Dad than I was to my Mom.

When I grew up we went to church every time the doors were open. Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, and any other day something was happening. I grew up on all of the little kid's Bible stories. In my teen aged years I really resented it because sometimes my friends were doing something else on those days but I HAD to be in church. Now I go because I want to not because I have to.

I wish with all of my heart that my Mom and I had a better relationship but I've given up on ever being very close. Oh, we do things but it's never like a "girlfriend" thing. I have a lot more fun with her sisters, my aunts. That's why I go to see them. They fill me up with what ever it is that I need from my Mom and don't get.