Yes, I know my rules may not fit everyone. But I know what has to be in my life to keep me on the straight and narrow and following my rules does that for me. Some of my 'guidelines' may sound strange to others. For instance, I have the personal opinion that the only people out and about on the streets after dark are either on a specific mission, in an emergency, or up to no good, so me and mine are indoors after dark unless it just has to be. Anyway, works for me. Kathleen was the wife of an ex-stepbrother of mine. His name was Mike. Mike got out of prison and came to me asking for help in getting his life back together. We lived in Oklahoma City together. His wife, Kathleen, Kade's mama, was in Florida and was making plans to come to be back with Mike. Next thing we hear is from a judge in Florida advising me that Kathleen has been arrested for a bank robbery, the judge is of the opinion that she is crazy and does not want to send her to prison and if something can't be worked out he will have to put her in a mental hospital. Coincidentally, he has also heard about the program I have designed and operating here in OKC, a program to rehabilitate prisoners who have served long terms in prison, and wants to know if I would consider enrolling Kathleen in my program. Kathleen had been in the care of the Florida mental health system and they and I had communicated about Kathleen several times, so I think that is where the judge hear! d about it all from. Anyway, I already had a file a foot thick on Kathleen, information I had received from Florida when I was trying to get her up to Oklahoma to be with her husband, so I knew some of the elementary facts about her. I did not know about how severely mentally ill she was because the mental health people in Florida didn't tell me due to confidentiality issues. So here comes Kathleen, compliments of Florida, along with a seven year suspended banishment probation for the bank robbery. It was me, Mike and Kathleen. Things went along just fine for awhile. Kathleen has the ability to mask her illness when she wants to, and when she first came here she was on her best behavior. She and Mike wanted to have a baby. When it didn't happen Mike got tested and found out he was sterile. I also had been wanting a child to raise, so we all worked a bargain. I would impregnate Kathleen, she would bear me a child, I would take care of her as long as she was in Oklahoma, and she would let me raise the child. As soon as it was confirmed that Kathleen was pregnant she started showing out. She showed out so much that she was put in prison when she was three months pregnant. Kade was born while Kathleen was in prison. I picked Kade up from the hospital when she was 18 hours old and have had her ever since. Mike and I decided we would raise ! Kade until Kathleen got out of prison. Then Mike was going to move into his house with Kathleen and Kade and I would live in my house. Sounds like a strange situation, but it worked for us. Basically, I contracted with Kathleen to produce me a child. While still in prison Kathleen started causing me trouble with Kade. When Kade was 5 days old she got Kade taken away from me on the allegations I was having sex with Kade. The juvenile judge investigated me and Kathleen both for a week, then sent Kade back to me with full custody and the advise that I should never let Kathleen ever see Kade again. I talked to the judge and said every child needs a mother, so how about me letting Kathleen visit under my supervision, and the judge said OK, but whenever you want to cut off contact its at your discretion . Then Mike died of a heart attack, so it was just me and Kade, with Kathleen in prison. When Kathleen got out of prison she stayed in my house until her parole was over, then wanted to move out because she couldn't stand the rules. She moved into her own house, and the rest is history. My mother always told me to never tell anyone the story of my contracting with Kathleen for Kade because she said they would all think I was crazy. I feel sure some reading this story will not find it to their satisfaction. But so be it. Kade and I are happy as a pig in clover, our live is good, we are happy with things and that's that. One thing about it. No wife will ever drag me into court and take my child from me. I have claimed parentity, a juvenile court has given me full custody of Kade, Kathleen has lost her parental rights, a district court has appointed me her legal guardian, so hell or high water will not separate us. Jack Childers in OKC

"JACK CHILDERS" <jaxone1234@msn.com> wrote.... >.... When Kathleen got out of prison she stayed in my house until her parole was over, then wanted to move out because she couldn't stand the rules. She moved into her own house, and the rest is history.< But... where does your son that passed so young fit into the picture, Jack? I'm confused! Of course, it doesn't take much to accomplish that these days! :-\ Best, SueB