I’m not putting him down. I’m stating my opinion that the country was a much greater priority than that book. Had the secret Service agent whispered in his ear that someone in his family had just had a heart attack, he’d probably have told the school kids, "I’m sorry, but something very important has come up and I won’t be able to finish this story. Thank you for letting me come read to you." and then left.

There really wasn’t anything Obama could do at Ft. Hood. The chain of command was sealing with it. Dignitaries showing up only took resources away from other tasks in order to provide security for them. Since they were still determining whether the gunman acted alone, do you really think he belonged there just then? Bush either?

"Senators John Glenn and John McCain were cleared of having acted improperly but were criticized for having exercised ‘poor judgment’."

Did you really want a President know for his poor judgement?

McCain lost any chance for my vote when he picked Gov. Dingbat as his running mate. Not only is she getting loonier as time goes by, but every candidate she has backed has lost. Besides, she’d probably have quit by now.

I had the same thoughts as Margo on both. (1) Is the old guy going senile? (2) I’d tell her that I won’t drive unless everyone in the car is wearing a seatbelt. And encourage the coworkers to say the same.

How fat IS this woman? My husband is enormous, but still fits into a small car with no extenders!

He’s made up his mind he’ll never love - her. It’s possible they could go their separate ways and he’ll later come back, or he might never. Either way, she’ll have a better future moving on.

My own husband and I dated when I was fresh out of high school. I’d decided I was too young to get serious with anyone, and he’d recently been divorced and was convinced he’d never get seriously involved again. About a decade later, we reconnected, and it was magic. But I had to grow and he had to heal, and neither of us could do that effectively together.

Lots of children with European ancestry have blonde hair when they are younger, which darkens as they age. Sort of like the spots fading on a fawn as it matures.

In our family, one parent has always been swarthy (olive skin, dark hair and eyes) and the other what Hitler would have called Aryan. Only one child of many had dark eyes, and only always have had dark hair. Even though darker genes are usually dominant, it’s still a crap shoot.

Personally, those comments - esp around the kids - are rude when they put one child above another in come way. A comment like, "My daughter looked just like her at her age!" is a compliment, and doesn’t take anything away from the others. Implying that the parent wouldn’t or shouldn’t want one or more is uncalled for. I know plenty of foster and adoptive families, and a comment about the kid not looresembling the parent only adds to the uncertainty some kids have about whether they are really wanted where they are.

Letter 1: All of these are quite rude, and should be treated as such, except for "you have your hands full." I’ve heard people say that my entire life (being from a large family myself.) If they are smiling when they say it, it generally means "You have a fine family" or "I admire anyone who is able to manage with so many children." I’ve heard that said to families with only 2 children, so don’t take it personally.

If the person is NOT smiling, the phrase usually means something like, "Please deal with your kids, as they are creating a disturbance" or worse, "Why would anyone have so many and why do I have to be subjected to anyone’s kids (no matter how well behaved)?"

I think by deciding on NO relationships with men, you have deprived your child(ren) the opportunity to learn from your interactions. You, as a mother, are in a prime position to see that you can have fun with a man and demand respect from a man, without having to be someone that you are not. They’d see how you can resolve disagreements in a positive manner with a man. If you have a son, he’d be an example of how to grow up to be a good man. They shouldn’t meet every man who catches your eye, but it’s good for them and for you for you to be in a healthy, serious relationship with someone.

Granted, a mother or father who remarries needs to be positive that this person will be able to care for their child(ren) and protect them no matter what. My kids have had a step-father since the youngest was 3. He was there when they were sick or sad or frightened, and was able to be there for all of their joys, as well. Their "real" father missed out on a lot, by his own choice. He’s trying to reconnect now, many years later, but at most he’ll be a nice guy they met as adults. The step-father is referred to as "my Dad", and is the one who had the privilege of walking our daughter down the aisle.

I’d tell those men the same thing I tell women who don’t want to deal with another woman’s child - Don’t. Seriously. If you can’t at least appear to care for the child of the person you profess to love, then DON’T GET INVOLVED with someone with kids.

I know people who married people with 1-7 children, and the kids would tell you their step-parent loved each one at least as much as their real parent. And I know "real" parents who shouldn’t have been responsible for a dog, much less a vulnerable human being. I even know some bio parents who abandoned their children from previous relationships, and the step-parent sought and received custody.

So keep the baloney about men "can’t" love their any who aren’t their "own" in the fridge where it belongs.