Hi all and thanks to everyone who so actively discussed this with me, making me feel confident about dealing with my DD.

Just wanted to give everyone a little update on everything.

Ariani didn't make any real effort to find a job over the last month or so and she and I agreed that if she hadn't secured something by the first week of January, she would return to Year 11. She was very unhappy about this but it still didn't motivate her much. She admitted to not knowing what she wanted to do, which at 15 is understandable, and I convinced her that until she had a better idea, perhaps she should keep her options open by staying at school.

Well, as it turns out, the person who has bought over my parents cafe (where Ariani works part-time) spoke to her late last week and has offered her full-time work at adult wages. He believes she's good at what she does and is willing to pay her the same as the other full-timers, on a 2 year workplace agreement, on a 38 hour week. He is also going through the process of getting his business approved by the Education Dept for her to be employed full-time there, and has received conditional approval already.

She has negotiated with her employer (at my advice) that, if she wishes, that she is allowed to go back to Tafe in 2007 to study to be a chef, and to do her work placement with him. He has happily agreed to this as well.

While this is not my ideal scenario, she ended up fulfilling her end of the bargain. When I spoke to her over the weekend, she said she felt that she would have to eventually look at further studies, and I hope that she means it and will follow through with it when she's ready.

I can only cross my fingers from here that her life turns out okay. I can't help but worry about her, but your stories have made me feel better about her choices.

Thanks everyone for being so supportive and wonderful.

love
sushee