I would suspect rats. They have a habit of chewing seedling, especiall corn, melons, sunflowers, peas, beans. This happened to me last year. I was suspecting rabbits. So I make a rebbit trap. But what I catching were rats. I let them loose in the beginning; I was saying to myself "I don't want to catch rats but rabbits" haha. I kep sprinkling my garden with rabbit repelents, salt/pepper but something didn't give a damn and kept on chewing off my seedlings.This was not definitly a squirrel habit. Squirrel dig up the seeds(corn, peanut..) but do not eat or chew greens. After some internet search, I found out that it was the rat not the rabbit. From then on I went after the rats. Rabbits generally eat the top of the plants, if they can reach it. But rats chew off stems. leaving the top behind. I know this, because I almost eradicated the rats last yar and this year I have some rabbits eating the top of carrots. With the peas on trelis, since they cannot reach the tops, they eat those laying on the ground and the lower part of the rest. So I think, If your father lives in a rural area, with wooded area nearby, then it is most likly that rats are the culprits. Best thing is to get a Mouser cat that can go after rats. It has to be a big cat, rats are much bigger than mouse. The other options are placing all kinds of traps and baits. But be aware of the birds and cats not to eat the poison baits and get caught in the traps. For further information, google rats in the garden. I am sure you will find a lot of information. Good luck!

Karen, if your family is anything like mine, until you lost your Dad, you hadn't seen a lot of loss or grief for someone. It's hard to watch it (and experience it!) I think I'd probably just call my Mom, if I were you, and ask her to your house to eat, to go out, to watch activities that the kids are involved in, etc. Let her know that it's okay to not be in the mood to do anything. Also let her know that you really WANT her to be involved in whatever your family is doing. My Mom has spent the night at my house two nights since my Dad passed away. Get this, I had to break my ankle and have surgery in order to get her to do that! LOL I kid her that having surgery is the only way she'll stay at my house overnight! LOL We live 80 miles apart and I call her everyday - usually twice a day. We've talked more by phone in the last four years than we'd ever talked in our lives. My DH and I and our kids and grandkids make it a point to at least spend part of every holiday at her house. She likes to stay home, so we go to her. I DO feel sometimes at her house, when everyone is there but Daddy, that there's the proverbial "big gray elephant" in the house that no one mentions. You know what I mean? Everybody is highly aware of the fact that he's no longer with us, but nobody wants to talk about it for fear of upsetting somebody else! Now, when it's just my Mom and me together, we cry (and laugh!) when we feel the need to. That's something else that I haven't thought to mention. Let her cry when she feels the need to cry. I guess you don't have to say a word, just be there for her. She and I both have talked about the fact that Fathers are the HEAD of most families. Then, as women, we both agree that the Mothers are the HEART of the family. Maybe you can reassure her in that way that she IS a vital, needed part. ((Karen))

i am 14, my dad died unexpectadly too about three weeks ago, my birthday was three days preceeding the funeral. i have five siblings and a little sister who is eleven. i am my familys stronghold too. you can talk to me because i know what you are going through, honestly, and its really rough. but your dad wants you to be strong for your family. He loves you and is very proud of you for taking this sacrafice for him as a subsutite of his absence. He is your gaurdian angel, if ever you feel like just collapsing, dont collapse in on yourself, please just facebook message me, i can honesly relate to what your feeling. if ever you feel lost or hopeless, just pray to your gaurdian angel, and he will be there for you even when you feel completely independent and you are enduring burden all by yourself, he is right by your side, tracing every step you take and picking up the pieces you dropped or just couldnt handle anymore, and he takes care of them for you, because he loves you and wants you to be happy, if he is with you in flesh or not doesn't matter anymore, now he is with you always, looking down from heaven with a smile, pointing you out to all the saints that pass HEY LOOK THATS MY DAUGHTER!! he is so proud, and he loves you more than you will ever comprehend, and he just wants to let you know that he is there for you, even when you think you don't need him, he is still there, holding your hand walking you all the way through pace by pace, taking baby steps all the way, not excluding any single miniscule detail and leading you through every obsticle you encounter with ease. if ever you feel hopeless, alone, frusturated lost, or worthless, just give your daddy a call, and he'll be right over, before you even ask. this is how i talk to my dad, this is the first prayer he learned, and he taught this prayer to me and my siblings before we even knew how to pray, and thats where our faith started. i suggest you pray it to your dad, it will really be useful during your grieving process and throughout life in general. Just know that your daddy is on your side, and all he wants to do is guide you though what you can't get through alone. You will never be alone again, your dad will always be with you, just recite this prayer while thinking of your dad, and he will listen, and he wants you to talk to him, because he loves you and misses you. Ask him for advice anytime, or just talk to him and tell him how your life has been or something exciting that has happened recently. Nothing with your relationship has to change from what it was like when he was in flesh, except now he can help you with everything you need assistance with, and he will share his expierence with you. He is very proud of you and he loves you, and if you ever want to talk to him and plea for help or just catch up and say hi, just say this prayer, and he will listen and guide you and protect you and ease your burden, afterall, that is what gaurdian angels do! its his new job, and he couldn't he happier with it! Now you have someone to talk to Jesus for you and ease up God when you make a mistake or sin. He will listen, remeber he will always listen and he really does care. Angel of God, My Guardian Dear to whom God's love commits me here. Ever this day be at my side to light and guard and rule and guide. Amen. *if you ever want to talk to someone with expierence, im here for you.

To everyone posting on this subject... Be sure to check out my thread problems with my 19 yr old daughter.... Where theotherside once again flip flops on her beliefs... she is a total hypocryte!!! Here she is ready to lynch this man and in my post she makes it very clear that my daughter is not mature enough to handle her life and I should do it... She even states that a child is not an Adult until they are around 30!!! So therefore this man is not responsible for the affair!!! He was just immature and his parents should have stepped in and DONE something! right? :) :) Oh the isanity goes on. :)