Poker Mom you sound like a wonderful mother your son is lucky to have you. I still play poker just at a different level. Did you see the movie rounders? I used to call that the story of my life. At an early age I started and sold a company. I was called "gifted" in math as well and was and obtained 2.2 million dollars at age 22yrs old... I decided to live the life of a professional card player after growing up in a bridge playing family and having a love of cards from my mother like Stu Unger. Gin was always my favorite game...however, anythhing qith odds fascinated me andthe thrill of hitting or beating the odds was what made me feel alive "risking it all"... I eventually ended up with drugs as a result of my vegas lifestyle and woke up one day in recovery and broke... I found God again at age 24 (after being born again at 17 which was the greatest time in my life as Stefanie has pointed out above) I found business and personal success with Gods help and turned away which led to a hufe downfall and my parent's were thwere for me all the way. After I got "clean" and stayed clean for 16 yrs at which time I got married...had a son with a christian woman and became a nurse. I continued to pursue my dream of winning a bracelete and played cards regularly but a limits I could control and have made good money over the years...but just never broke through to get to a final table at WSOP... No matter how good you are the odds flip at times and well the cards didn't go my way. I never got back as close to God as I had been and always felt guilty for turning away. I am 42 now and quit playing tpurnament poker about 6 months ago and I have focused on getting back to people that care about me and away from the rush of "winning" and back to the great feeling I got from helping others which is why I wanted to be a nurse. I still play low limit cash and for fun. I am a Intensive Care pediatric nurse and take care of very ill children when they go home from hospital with critical illnesses and this helps me. I got divorced in 2000 and last year my ex wife took my son and moved away (without telling me) and I have only spoke to him a couple times via phone... We were very close and this has been my toughest loss by far. I have been trying to fill the void left in my life by helping others and have always been fascinated by Stu Ungers stoy and stumbled across Stefanie here and she has been a great help to me. I am just trying to get my faith back and put one foot in front of the other right now. I have found there is much more to life than winning. Thanks again for your comments and tell your son I wish him luck (even if he doesn't think he needs it) it can be done. Just ask any Pro Some times it just comes down to a turn of the cards like the flip of a coin I hope it goes his way... with great discipline and the support of a great family. I hope he realizes he is already a winner to have you for a mother. God bless you. Kent