Oh I am sooo sorry! Sometimes moms get stressed too and say what are the sharpest, meanest words around that cut you seep into your soul.

I can understand to a degree what you feel... I know nothing of your disease, but I suffer chronic migraines. Enough that at least one day a week, I am flat on my back with an ice pack and some serious drugs flowing through me. If I go three or more days without it breaking, I go to the hospital and get a shot of Demorall (yep, the stuff they give pregnant ladies to deal with the pain) So, yes, I understand the pain and not being able to control it. Mine too is brought on by stress... and other things. I had a job that I loved, but the stress just about killed me (anybody thinking of becoming an interior designer can PM me and I'll tell you the realities of being one! ) Anyhow, I left my job to start my own busines - a lifelong dream - so that I can suffer my migraines without worrying about annoying my boss and coworkers. I am so excited to do this, but its harder than it might seem. If I have a truly depressing day, my husband will lift me up, but as you say, sometimes mom is the one who does it best. So I cry to mom how hard it is and she suggests to get out and look for a "real" job. grrrr.

Only you know your potential. the great thing about potential is that only you can live up to it... most often we exceed our own expectations when it comes to realizing our dreams! Ignore mom... she's just scared that you're putting yourself through so much stress that you'll end up hurting yourself in the long run... but she doesn't know how much giving up on the dream would kill you even more! Better to go through this young than middle-aged with three kids, two car loans, and a mortgage! Talk about stress!

So smile, know that you are THIS much closer to finishing school - - even if it takes another five years to get your bachelors - who cares? As long as you are doing it!

PS: Statistics? OMG! I was sooo bad in that class that I confused my tutor!