Being Thankful For My Daughter's Growth

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I sometimes marvel at how much my daughter has grown over the last few years. She was born with the cord wrapped around her neck several times. She has a learning disability that is slight enough we hadn't been able to get her much help. People didn't really believe it was there until my grandson's PSR(psychological rehab worker)was with us long enough that she saw it and documented it. I have been my daughter's advocate all of her life. I am the one who talks her into the PSR's, counselors, etc. I was the one who made the appointments, got us to them, kept her going as long as I could and went with her to explain her history. In the late 90's my daughter and I were estranged for a period of time. She had not yet been correctly diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and was coping with life as best she could.I was doing some tough love at the time and had removed myself from her life for awhile. She had married and had two children close together. The girl I had bonded with, the boy I hadn't. Her husband was not much to speak of. A doper who came home at the beginning of the month just long enough to get some money and then he was gone. He came home one day in particular and they had a horrible argument. After he left my daughter mistreated the children, a neighbor saw it and called the police. They were taken from her. This is when I got guardianship of my granddaughter. The boy went to a open adoption. I just didn't feel I could be responsible for both of them. It was not an easy decision to make. My daughter has lived with me for most of her life. She was finally correctly diagnosed in the late 90's when H&W made her see a psychiatrist and be evaluated. She tried to work, found a boyfriend and lived homeless with him until she had her son. The nurse who came out told her that she needed to find a permanent address or she could have her son taken away. She came to me and has been living with me ever since. I have promised her I would help her. In 2009 she had an extreme manic phase that lasted about four months. I promised her then that I would stay and help her to raise her son. I know she cannot do it without me here. I am the cement that holds it all together. I do the dirty work and state the facts when she can't. She doesn't have the strength to stand up to her son and so I have to step in sometimes. I keep us on a routine also. It would be chaos if I wasn't here. My daughter has come a long way. She has had the PSR she now has for a couple of years. This PSR is wonderful. She has helped her alot. She has also helped me to realize that my daughter can't do it alone. That I have to be here to see that things run smoothly. Sometimes I feel put upon and wish I could travel and even live on my own. But, then I realize I would worry and things would be in chaos. I couldn't do it. It is rather tough at times with her manic phases and my grandson's outbursts(ODD) but it has gotten much better over the last three years. The manic phases don't happen as often and my grandson is doing better due to growing up and the correct meds. I am thankful.