Unfortunately, I doubt many will see your post in this obscure photo sub-forum. Also, I am a little uncertain about some wording in your post, but I think I understand the general idea. Trees can often cover over their wounds if they are growing vigorously and are in good health. You mentioned that your tree has been "pruned to be very sparse". That sounds like you are making it much harder for the tree to successfully recover. Starving the tree of food by limiting it's foliage and forcing it to overcome pruning wounds would certainly present obstacles to the tree's recovery. It is unlikely that removing a section of trunk would be the way to go. A bridge graft might help, but is probably not worth the trouble. Again, what you need to do is to increase the tree's vigor, and the best way to do that might be to leave it alone for a while! And, yes, the plaster cast is a crazy (bad) idea.

Well, as im reading, all of you have such great input on what the actions i should take, but im not sure everyone understands the situation, i can suggest counseling and some other types of help we can get, but it doesn't seem to matter, because if i suggest it, she will say "your right YOU do need it." just like the other day she was telling me that i needed to back off on our son, MY argueing is affecting him, as if she never done anything wrong, its not just my argueing, its hers too. but she doesn't see it. that way, another thing, our son backing her up in the situation of our argueing she doesn't see anything wrong with that, even though she knows our son is in the wrong, and for her to admit that shes wrong would crush the whole essence of her being right all the time and she couldn't live that down. Thats why i say im in a NO WIN situation anymore. I can admit when im wrong, she cannot, even if she knows she is. and that alone is affecting me. Bottom line, no matter what happens, between anyone in our family, no matter whos fault it is, SHE SEES THAT SHE DOES NO WRONG no matter what, and the blame goes to me. I rather just not even talk to her anymore, its pointless, i can't win. she is also emotionalless, i mean that to the extreme, she has no emotion anymore, but she also doesn't see that as affecting our lives. In fact her quote was " i don't have to have emotion to show that i care about someone" if im not mistaken, isn't caring an emotion. Im so frustrated, and i honestly don't know what else i can do. In her eyes, im root of the problems.

I would never want that many children myself but I have great respect for this family. The children are taught responsibility and family love and that is what is missing in so many homes today. I see nothing wrong with the older ones taking care of the younger ones. Both of my parents came from large families and this technique was used. The siblings grew up close and I have never heard of any resentment expressed by any of my aunts or uncles. In fact, the memories they told intriqued me and made me realize that they had their priorties in order. They did not need or have the frills of today but what they did have, they appreciated and respected. Older children taking care of younger siblings---isn't that how it used to be done years ago and somewhere along the line, families started giving children less and less responsibility. And today, many people do not know how to take care of themselves much less anyone else. I don't think the mother is very often given the credit that she deserves. She homeschools those kids so her time is not just sitting around on her butt while the older children babysit. It also said on one of the programs that the mother exclusively takes care of the baby for several months while baby is still breast feeding. And, it also mentioned that Jennifer, the next to the baby, was just moved from the parents bedroom to the girls room. I just think that the parents are not always given a fair shake and NO, I do not want that many children but this family is not relying on the system to take care of these children so more power to them. The Duggars have income other than the reality show and to me, I have no problem with them earning extra money with the show. I find the values and beliefs they express is a wonderful example when so many families today are dysfunctional.

Bless their hearts!!!!! There should be more people in the world like them!! DB & DSIL have a little boy living with them right now. He is about 19 months old. Long and sad story, but I give them credit for taking him (he's a relatives child) She is DH's age. (56) I am not sure I'd have the energy to do it. I don't know the legalities of their story, eventually the mother will have a chance to get the little boy back. I know there will be some hearts broken in the end (theirs & the little guy) if/when he leaves.But they have done the right thing for the child.