In life we all come up with a whole heap of problems but it is how we deal with it that determines whether we succeed or fail. Sometimes our pride can stop us from getting the best out of a situation, therefore that pride puts us in a postion of weakness.
Children need the balance of two parents but what they usually get is one parent who is overworked and burdened down with extra responsibility and that becomes the defination of a strong woman.
It's all about responsibility.
If one person don't do their share, it's left to the other parent. If the other parent don't, can't or won't and relatives are not willing to step in, then those children get put into the system.
My parents were married but I had a weak father, it was all about him and his wants and desires, when in reality he should have been looking at the bigger picture. When a person has children it is about self sacrifice, it's about doing the best for that child. It's about overcoming obstacles. Children make both men and women together, responsible caring adults.
If we don't invest and care for our own how can we expect anyone else to give to ours what we ourselves cannot or won't give?
My relationship with my father? If I see him in the street I walk past and feel no way. I'd like to do worse but he is not worth me going to jail!

Sargaco - I'm a firm believer that your life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you respond - just at that stage now where it's for others to adopt the same philosophy. It's a bit like religion, it only works if everyone practises the same.

Many people ask me whether I saw it coming and I say as much as I never saw it...in that I treat the negative and positive as equal potentials. I ended the relationship once, way in the early days of the mission, and she didn't take it well so I kind of felt sorry for her and knew from then if she's staying on she'd better know what for and if it is going to end again, she'd have to be the one to do it. So really, from that point on, I had nothing to question, you're either with me or you're not. If you're not, it will come to a head one day....it's not necessarily my way or the high way, it's more the case t hat I have to like your ways....before I can think about sacrificing mine.

She's lucky, she's got her kids out of the deal. If my pride is in place to make sure I'm not a slave and even worse get manipulated by one then I'm afraid pride it is. African pride everytime.