Visiting the Doctor

I wanted to make sure that Chrystene did not have any medical problems that were causing her not to become potty-trained so off to the Doctor we went.  I made an appointment at my children's physician, whom I trusted and respected completely.   He did a thorough examination of her did some tests and told us he could find nothing wrong.  I told him about the tantrums and he seemed very concerned about her background.  Unfortunately, nobody could really give him much background on the child's mother.  Later on I would learn the mother had a history of bipolar, and drinking.  I kept telling my husband that something was seriously wrong with Chrystene.  All I got were denials and retorts that I knew nothing.  I am no expert Mother mind you but I do know children and normal behaviors and milestones.  Chrystene showed none of them.  She was incapable of even dressing herself even a little.  It was like a light was on, but nobody was home.  I was submerged in a world of self-doubt,  and loathing by all of my in-laws.  It was so easy to blame me for all these problems.  Chrystene was a perfect child until I married her Father.  I thankfully did not buy into this, with all my doubts that I now harbored about my parenting skills, I knew that this child had some very serious issues that had been ignored for a long time and I was determined to find the cause and the solution.  Isn't it wonderful how optimistic we are when we do not know the troubles that we face in the future?