@Much2learn: Daughter dragons…Yes!
@CTTC: In furtherance of my answer about what happened: The kids all graduated together, developed respect for one another, I have cheered (and still do so for one of them) their progress, achievements and growing into themselves.
Last holiday season, we spent what must have been the coldest NYC Thanksgiving ever with one of the families whose student was involved, touching base, taking note of how much each of the boys had grown, and trying to enjoy the sights.
All in all, the re-direction helped us all to get over the bump in the road. (The kids had plenty more to come as hormones kicked in, girls came into view, and then the college application process and where to live for the next four years came into view.)
And we don’t even live in Lake Wobegon.