text: I think a lot of teens feel pain due to lack of a father.  I think a lot of them don't even know what is missing.  But a father is very important.  \nI know one boy who had a lot of trouble and was in Juvenal Hall and drug rehab.  He was telling me one time about the "weird" thing the therapists were saying in group therapy.  They were saying that a lot of the boys' problems were related to their fathers.  He said to me, "How can my father have anything to do with my problems, when I hardly ever see him?"  His mother also thought this was a "weird" idea.  I said that it was the fact that his father wasn't involved in his life, but spent most of his time drunk instead, that the therapists thought was harming the son.  Not to mention the abusive stepfather.  The boy and his mom just couldn't see that this was a problem.\nI agree that some kids handle the situation better than others, and so do some mothers.\nMy own daughter was raised without a father, and I think this had a negative effect on her despite the best I could do for her.  I think she was always looking for male affection, and would do anything for a guy.  Anything.  I feel so sad that she feels there is only one way to get a man's love.  By the way, she did pretty well until she was fifteen also.  \nBut like you said, everybody's different.  \nThe sister of the boy I mentioned, same mother and father, had her problems but determined to have a better life.  She's in the Navy now and has a nice boyfriend.  She's a very responsible person.