Daisy you definitely need time to yourself, away from the kids and the ferrets. You shouldn't feel bad because you think you need a break. You have some major stress events going on in your life. A divorce, a new job...those are going to drain you, along with being very depressing and demanding. What you need to do is put all the furries in a cage or bedroom and close the door, then send the kids out for pizza or to a babysitter and then do something you enjoy. Take in a movie, go shopping, read a good book in a tub filled with nice warm water. Do this for you because you are important and you come first. I can sympathize with your frustration over the ferrets potty habits. I learned that if you give ferrets reign over the whole house, they can take the easy way out and not bother to do their thing in the litter box. My first ferret Hun-Hun had the freedom to roam the house and even after constant training he would go in his favorite corners. So I placed multiple layers of newspaper in those corners. The house was never featured in Home and Garden with almost every corner draped with newspaper, but what the heck I loved Hun-Hun and he enjoyed his freedom. With my two wild men ferrets, they roam the carpeted basement area. Even though they are restricted to an area they still will not use a litter pan. They also have their favorite spots to relieve themselves, so there lies the newspaper. With my new fossil four (older ferrets), I had to put them in a extra bedroom that is carpeted, about a 14'x 14' area. I had 5 litter boxes but most preferred the soft, absorbent carpet rather then that old rocky clay. Finally after much tip-toeing around wet and brown spots, I reduced their area to half the bedroom. Now the majority go in the litter boxes or on newspaper. Fred is the exception. He is the 5 1/2 yr.old male who never seeks a corner. He even goes by the food dish which I thought unusual. However, the fact that he came to the shelter in a filthy cage leads me to believe that he never learned good bathroom etiquette, he probable just went where there was a clean spot if any. So narrowing down their space has helped me alot. They still get turned loose every day to romp and explore the house. This is after they have used the potty and when the cat is in the garage. The cat is not the favorite of the ferrets. And yes, several of my ferrets have relieved themselves while in the tub getting a bath. I think it is because it is such a shock to hit that water that they just can't contain themselves, poor little babies. Since you have so much on your shoulders, taking care of five ferrets and kids to boot can be too much for anyone....take some time out for yourself for ferrets sake! Restricting the lovable furries for awhile doesn't mean you don't love them. I hope things lighten and brighten up for you. Judy and the wild bunch, Weezul,Teebone,Fred,Sable, Faucett and Boo. [Posted in FML issue 0699]