I'm getting everything lined up to return to college next semester. If I plan to be able to support myself and the kids in the way, I want to, it's time to get back in the saddle of life. I need to further my education.

I'm interested in nursing, but the waiting lists for the nursing programs in my area are all at the very least, 18 months long. This is a bit longer than I want to wait before starting. With the shortage of nurses in our country, I'm surprised there aren't more programs open in the Michigan area. We're very limited on Licensed Practical Nurse programs, and the waiting list I mentioned is for the Registered Nurse Program.

I'm mainly interested in the medical field. I believe I'll try to pursue this field even if it's not in the nursing capacity. I'm also considering radiology, or possibly becoming a surgical technician. I'm not so sure of the latter; I don't know if I have the stomach for it or not.

When I was married, I always wanted to continue my education but for some reason or another, I always placed it on the backburner. My ex didn't support my returning to school. He didn't come right out and tell me not to go back, but I knew he wouldn't pick up any slack at home or help in any way.

Now is my time, and I'm going to go for it. Wish me luck!

My ex finally received his letter stating the amount of child support he is to pay for our daughter. I have my son from this union every weekend. He has not seen his daughter in a month. He also hasn't taken the time to call her or have any contact except for the few minutes it takes when we pick up her brother. Yet, he found time in his hectic schedule to call as soon as he received this letter in the mail.

This call was an attack — yet again — on me, trying to get me to respond in some way. I am happy to report that I did not take the bait. I simply told him to call them and try to resolve this matter, which I am sure is not a mistake. He earns four times what I do in a month. I hardly think the court will allow this to situation to continue with no additional support for my daughter. Nevertheless, he is free to call and check it out for himself.

I find it amazing the response many men have over child support. If circumstances were reversed, I would be more than willing to help provide for my child. I visit my son regularly and do not intend to stop that pattern. I would not change visiting my son for any amount of money in the world. Certain things just do not have a price in my opinion. I wish he were half as concerned about his daughter as he is his checkbook. Now that would make for a wonderful father-daughter relationship.

As we all have learned thanks to the whole Britney Spears thing, Dr. Phil is not really a psychologist. Nevertheless, I still value his opinion. I agree with his advice that before you leave the marriage you need to earn your way out. I did this by trying everything I could possibly think of before leaving. I wanted to be able to someday look back and realize I had made every effort possible to save this marriage. I wanted to do this not only for myself, but for my kids as well.

Things where very bad in our home for about two years before I packed the kids and left. When it became physical, that was the end of it.

I suggested and even begged for counseling on numerous occasions. I even sought counseling for myself, since he would not go. He felt this was my issue, not our issue. Therefore, I had my work cut out for me. I was married to the only perfect person in the word. Thus, every problem we had was about my imperfections.

I purchased the post-divorce home a year before leaving. I wanted him to realize I was serious, and to have a place to go if things became too unbearable. This turned out to be the best investment I have ever made in my life. It made the transition so much easier. I didn't need to go to family or anyone for help. I had all the pieces in place to make this move with as little stress as possible for my kids.

I am thankful I took these steps before leaving. A well thought-out plan saved adding a huge amount of stress to an already stressful situation.

The news of this tax rebate was music to my ears. It's been all over the Internet and television for days now. The plan would give individual taxpayers up to $600 in rebates, working couples $1,200 and those with children an additional $300 per child. I am not sure if there is a limit to the number of children or not. This is a little dream come true for divorced women and single parents.

The rebates would phase down gradually for individuals whose adjusted gross income is above $75,000 and for couples with incomes totaling more than $150,000.

I was happy to hear the Senate may try adding an unemployment extension. This would also be a wonderful benefit. Here in Michigan the economy is struggling to say the least. This unemployment extension would make a huge difference for many people. The Michigan unemployment rate for December 2007 was 7.6%. This rate is listed as "seasonally adjusted". I wonder what the difference in the number of agriculture workers vs. the number of those to remove snow in the winter is.

I hope they get all the details hammered out and get the checks in the mail soon. If all goes as planned, checks are said to be arriving sometime in June. I don't know about you, but I will be standing by the mailbox waiting.

I've learned a lot about myself over the past year. Probably more than at any other time in my life. I think this is because this is the first time in my life I've focused completely on myself and not on a relationship. I haven't been on one date since my divorce, and don't intend to date for quite some time. I have a few things I feel I need to work on before even considering a relationship again.

I want to become comfortable with being alone, and enjoying my own company. I've been involved in some form of relationship for the last 20 years. Whether it's dating before a marriage, an actual marriage, or being on the rebound. If I don't change this pattern, I feel any future relationships are headed for certain doom.

I need to raise the bar for myself and for any potential partners. It seems all of my previous relationships had a flaw right from the beginning — that one thing that we could figure out later, change later, deal with later. If it's not right from the start, I've learned I don't want to fix it. Why enter any kind of relationship that already has a few personality problems?

I want to be financially independent before adding anyone else to the mix of my kids and myself. I don't want to rely on my partner for any financial support, and he shouldn't expect any support from me. My next relationship will not involve community finances. I want separate accounts and split expenses down the middle. This will be necessary for the security of my kids.

I am sure this list will get longer as time goes by. I have no intentions of "settling" again.