[Marie]

When I was a teenager I got into a *lot* of trouble. I smoked, drank, stayed out all night, ran away, etc.

But I always managed to keep myself out of the *really* bad stuff.

I tried to keep my body relatively "clean" because of simple biology. I'd learned that I was carrying all the eggs that I would ever have. Every potential child was half-way formed, just waiting for a father. I felt that I was already sharing my body with my future children and that I had no right to endanger them.

I've taught my own daughter this lesson. "You're already a mother. The babies are there. It's your responsibility to protect them now by protecting yourself, choose their father wisely, then keep them from killing themselves until they're grown." (I love that she "gets" me!) ;-)

[diamond6]

Marie, that is a really great way of putting that; thanks for sharing.

:)

[murdoog]

Your children are very blessed to have you as a mother.

BTW, I love your tagline. It shows you realize that "smart,educated" is NOT redundant.