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>>It will work out. Sooner or later. We have some success now with the 24 year old since she is married. With the smallers (I have a single one older and three ranging from 9-14) it's catastrophic. I'm happy if they find the way to there bed.
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>I've often wondered how things would be if Katy had a sibling, but that one wasn't in the cards.
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>Here was a conversation I had with Katy a few weeks ago when I was trying to get her to pick up her toys...
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>Me: "Katy, all I'm asking you to do is pick up a few things. It should only take you a minute"
>Katy: "But Daddy, that's chores!"
>Me: "Yes, but when I was a kid I had to do many more chores than that"
>Katy: "But daddy, you're an old-timer!"
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>It was hard for me to get mad, because the line cracked me up. I have a rule that I can't get mad at her if she says something that makes me laugh

One should have the kids if one is young. I had a good start, divorced and need some time to reboot. Now we had the one, the next, considered some power left over and the third (And time running out. I was clear to have the last one below 40). So for that two complete different sets. The good is, that one can be as hard as three.

I feel to be mad with the kids is sometimes the hardest. One have to keep them on track, but I remember myself very well. So I'm simulating it. I guess sometimes I would be more relaxed on it if I would not need to force myself into doing that job. And the clever kids are a pain.

Off topic
Do you know the differenc between a highly gifted and a handicapped kid?