[billyb]

Kathy, like others have said people deal with emotional stresses differently and dont really comprehend how it effects other family members, some times the withdrawl is a form of easing the mind into thinking if death was to occur it be easier to handle but the truth is it isnt. Maybe you could pull him off to the side ( if you see him ) or call him and simply say I know your effected by whats going on and if you ever want to talk about it im here and if you dont ...thats ok... also we just want you to know we love you... what ever your decesion is on how you want to deal with this....that way he wont feel preasured or backed into a corner. My wife has a 16 year old daughter from another, she lives with her father, my wife is dealing with 2 termanal cancers, the olny times she seems to come around is when she needs money, when my wife was in the hospitol about a month ago she visited her some but thats about it...our 9 year old son stepped up to the plate, helped me grocery shop, cleaned up, did excellent in school that week his mother was gone and so on, her daughter on the other hand we barley herd from her, thats how she deals with it, but she is doing great in school, good at sports and is holding down a job, so for now even thou she isnt doing everything I think she should be doing, I have to look at the good things she is accomplishing in her life and hope she will change before it to late and she has to live with some regrets...best of luck to ya"ll....Love and Prayers....Billy