Cloud 9...standing strong...

So...such a long story here....but I am going to try to shorten it down as much as possible!

My oldest daughter ran away last February...Tough times...heartbreak...anger...s
adness...fear...all emotions I dealt with on a moment by moment basis! My oldest is only 17...

Through the last 8 months, I have done what I thought was best for us...her and me. I backed down, didn't fight with her...basically, I knew where she was, but she was still considered a run away. I know that sounds so irresponsible, and believe me, I have been told that more times then I can count...my parents barely speak to me, my husband's parents don't speak to me, and my church family...well I have been 86'd from their group, and nixed off their prayer chain.?! My husband doesn't even agree with my parenting decisions...but, she is my daughter, and I raised her thus far, single handed...(I just got re-married 6 years ago, and Jazzy, was not going to let anybody else help parent her...believe me..she is strong willed!) So with a couple of amazing friends, and and amazingly honest (and supportive) husband, I made it through the last 8 months...

Jazzy, has been staying about 30 minutes away from me...I work about 15 minutes away from where she is staying..in a gated community so nobody can get to her that she doesn't want to...anyway, not the best situation, as she is living with her boyfriend and his parents, and brothers, and one brother's girlfriend, and their baby...irresponsible family...3 addicts (heroin), and the entire family has no money, no food half the time, no gas, etc...but she chose to go there...

And yes...everyday I was scared for her. Every day I prayed fervently for her...Everyday I cried.

So, she dropped out of high school...dropped all her friends from her "old life", and secluded herself out at her boyfriends...Sometimes she would respond to my texts...never answering a phone call...Before all this, she worked as a "temp" at my place of employment...during this time, I made sure that she worked at least once a week...most of the time more...This way I was able to one, know she had some money..and two, I could see her...see that she was okay...know if she was not, as she was living in a scary situation from my perspective...

Two days ago she asked me at work if I would sign her back up at her old high school, and if she could "stay" with us during the week while she went to school?! Are you kidding me???!!!! I was floored...So, starting next Tuesday, she will be back going to school and as she says "staying" with us during the week...

Can you see me walking on the clouds?! I am so happy! AND, maybe my parenting skills aren't what others think they should be, maybe I handled this all wrong...but the outcome seems to be what it should be?! The way I see it, I could have folded, and drug her home every night, only to have her run away, and not know where she was, how she was doing, etc...and have her not be able to come back when she was ready, as she is strong willed, and her anger would have caused her to never come back! BUT, I was strong...for her, for me...and...she is coming home...one step at a time..but at least she is headed back in the right direction...

I got one smart kid!