Question: What events or situations have been the source of your greatest life losses and suffering? I really want to know as I want to engage with only those capable of true empathy lest my worst fear is made manifest: This loving joyous, optimistic girl becomes bitter stone.

My mother death when I was 17. 32 years ago. I still miss her.

As I wrote the other day about my husband and stupid advice about just remarrying to 'move on' from more conventional people than I? There is no time limit on grief. Mother/child tends to be a particularly complex and difficult one across most of the natural world.

Yep, there are no substitute. I have a wonderful mother in-law which I love dearly but I just can't call her mom. The sad thing is that I know I hurt her but I just can't.

Do you explain it? I understand. I kept my father's name despite everyone else changing it to my Mom's. I kept it after marriage too. If she's hurt, What about another motherly type nickname she might like that would not cause you pain?

We talked about it but feelings are feelings...