Thanks, Dotsie. We've actually been doing this for years, and it works. As I said, he unserstands how I feel. This wasn't even a problem until I had my emotional meltdown a few years ago and discovered in the course of my therapy that this is something I can't change and shouldn't have to cope with if I don't feel up to the task.

I wish I could love his famiy unconditionally, but I just can't anymore. They've hurt me much to often for me to open myself up to being hurt again.