To my daughter, the lessons you need to learn about treating others well.

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Dear daughter, When you were growing up, you wanted to live with your daddy, so against what my heart said, I let you go. I never told you that I paid support to your dad and step mom, even though it wasn't necessary. I paid them $100 to 150 a month so you could have extras. Today, it almost seems like it is a vendetta to get even with me for "giving" you away. You have never asked me for my side of what happened. Yet, you call and ask if the "family" could come and stay with me for a few days last year. Your few days turned out to be nine months. For me it was nine months in hell. Things started out wrong when you called and asked and then informed me that it would be you, your husband, my grand daughters and your husband's uncle. I gulped and said yes everyone could come. On your way up your car engine blew so I was called to come get you, the family and your cats. Then, the next day it was could you borrow my car for two weeks. It was 8 months of two weeks, 44,000 miles of two weeks, it was a destroyed catalytic converter and a huge hump that was made in the rear passenger floor board of two weeks. I bought that car for myself for Christmas the year before last. I loved that car, it was the fanciest car I had ever bought myself and I figured it would last me five years. It cost me $6,000 and by the time you were done with it I sold it for $800 because of the damages and mileage. It had been driven off road-that was confirmed by three different mechanics, it was a luxury compact car that you drove out in the fields! I had to buy another car because I couldn't use the car I had bought!!! I changed necessary doctor's appointments so that you could have a car--you never thanked me!!! You didn't say a word about it, you just kept driving the car day and night and piling up the mileage!!! In the 8 months you had the car I got to use it 8 times. I even had to reschedule surgery so that you would have the use of the car. I made a few rules for the girls to follow. One of the most important ones was before you play with my dogs, ask. It was an easy enough rule to follow. My dogs weren't mean. You knew it from the last time you stayed with me. Yet your oldest daughter couldn't follow that rule and December 21st she came in crying that Hannibal, my rottie, had bitten her. Hannibal was the sweetest dog you could have ever met. He helped foster kittens that were 3 and 4 weeks old. HE NEVER HURT THEM!!!! He was so gentle with human babies- he'd never been around babies yet he knew about them and was so careful. Hannibal was the last gift I had given to my Mother for Easter the year she died. She was so thrilled with that puppy. When I set him on her bed he went up to her soooo gently and covered her with puppy kisses. It was the first time she smiled and laughed in a very long time. When you found out that your daughter had been bitten, you ordered and demanded that I take the dog in immediately and have him MURDERED! There was no compromise. I ended up having to take both dogs in and having Hannibal killed. He died in my arms and I got to cry over him alone. You couldn't even have someone go with me to help ease the pain of the loss! And to add the icing to the cake your mother in law has a dog that is a registered biter. It's bitten every one including me...yet you don't have to guts to look that woman in the eye and demand that she take that little malteze int and have it killed. You wouldn't dream of it. I hope that you are proud, you destroyed the holiday season for me for years to come, I won't be able to think of Christmas without thinking of Hannibal. I cried all Easter day because of the fact that that was the day I got the dog. I made a death bed promise to my mother-your grand mother- that I would take care of the dog until he either died a natural death or he was so infirm that it would be kinder to put him down. I didn't expect that my grand daughter would torment the dog to the point of biting. I know that she says that it was unprovoked, but no one who knows Hannibal believes it. I realize I will never know the truth, it doesn't matter now...the deed is done and the pain is in place. There is more to be said, but I need to start the discussion so that I can keep posting. YES, THERE IS MORE!