Raising a boy can be especially challenging because of the obvious gender difference but raising a daughter can be difficult as well because of the ge...der similarity.So, for Sheila Winfred and Vicky Bellows, both single moms who lived next door to one another, they often shared with one another the ins and outs of bringing up children by themselves.Sheila was Greg's mom, now fifteen and beginning high school, and Vicky's daughter, Olivia, was in eighth grade fully awash in estrogen. The moms. Carol wasn't kidding. She's a damn good cook. Best meal I had in years.My instinct says to leave. She's going to cry again. Why? I don't get it. I can't leave her like that. I get in her head again, try to smooth it out. Instead, I trigger something else. I can't do the delicate stuff as well. Suddenly she's telling me things that are very private.How much she missed Dave, her ex; how lonely she's been without him; how she's not so much as dated anyone else after the divorce. I try to stop her,. He bought a stick ofdeodorant that was obviously for women, a few more pairs of panties, acheap tube of the brightest red lipstick he could find, and a cute yellownightie. As soon as he saw the nightie while he was working he couldn'tbelieve he didn't already sleep in one. It just made sense to him. Hechanged out of his work clothes and into a cute outfit, making sure toput on some of his new deodorant. He watched some television, had dinner,and thought about loading up a video on his computer. ..and then she was gone. I kissed my fingers and put them up to the glass where I saw Bea's face. When we were in elementary school Bea rode the bus. I would always walk Bea to her designated bus. I would help Bea to her window seat. I wasn't allowed to stay with Bea on the bus, waiting it until it left. I always stood outside and waited with her. When the bus pulled away, Bea would blow me kisses through the window. Boys didn't blow kisses unless they were sissies. I would kiss my fingers and.