Emily, also known as the Emster and Cosbo is our youngest, and the only one still living at home.

She graduated high school a year early and moved to her sister Mandi's house. She had every intention of starting at the Community College and moving on to dental school from there.

Well, she stayed up there for several months and we all came to the same conclusion at about the same time... it was time for her to come home.

I have to admit, while Emy was at Mandi's, Deb and I had time to devote to each other without the distractions the come with having kids. We thoroughly enjoyed the time we had to spend with each other and we got along better than at any other time in our 31 years of marriage. We bought a motorcycle and spent a lot of time riding together, going on picnics, out to dinner and just having a good time with each other.

I was concerned that having Emy move back home would change that and cause problems between Deb and I. I talked to Deb and Emy before she came home and I made it clear that I was not going to let Emy's return interfere with the relationship Deb and I had been developing.

They both agreed that we'd play by different rules if she came back.

She's been home for about a month now and so far things have been going fairly well. She got a job at a dentist's office and is doing very well. The dentist loves her and has started training her as a Dental Assistant and has given her a $4.00 an hour raise already!

I'm confident Emy will do well in school and eventually be a wonderful dentist. In the mean time, we'll just enjoy the time we have to spend with her and do whatever we can to help her as she chases her dream.

I don't see how she can possibly support herself without dropping out of college, but she seems to think she can. She is currently working only one day a week and the paycheck from this job will hardly pay her rent, let alone any other monthly expenses. I hope it doesn't take her too long to swallow her pride and admit the grass is not as green where she is headed as she now assumes.

I will continue to worry about both her and Marlie, and I have to ask myself if the confusion and problems they are going through are a direct result of my being a bad father.