the joys of family dynamics

[Tuckervill]

Ditto.

And then after I was stuffed with cake, I would sit down and write down everything that is good in my life and what I have to be thankful for.

+1!

Karen

[Tuckervill]

Ask him why he didn't tell you. There could be all kinds of good reasons why he didn't tell you.

And to what Mr. Silver said about not thinking much of it (although getting a second star is a Big Deal).

Maybe your mom is the one to blame? Maybe he didn't want a fuss, and she insisted on coming? My mother has done things that caused rifts between me and my older brother by doing stuff like that.

My oldest son is very private about his success, too. When he came home from Iraq, his commander ordered him to speak to the media that day, and he REALLY didn't want to, so he gave one-word answers even though he's very articulate. He didn't think he'd done anything special. He didn't want the attention. He thought his homecoming should be private.

Some people are just like that.

I doubt your brother's life was without struggle, either. Men don't always let people know their struggles. Give a little grace, and it will come back to you.

Karen