Thank you! That's my car seat! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You still could! If your kids like each other they might not mind, maybe they would just pay a bit less. Since their first thought was private school they obviously aren't trying to isolate their children.

Yes. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I got a perfect score on every standardized grammar test and I never thought about grammar rules. I just read a lot of good writing and I knew when something looked wrong. It's probably helpful to learn how to diagram a sentence and to learn the rules, so that when you're wondering which one is correct you have something to go back to, but I think reading quality writing should take much more time than grammar study. Also, if you study Latin, suddenly everything about English grammar will be crystal clear. At least it was for me. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I really liked Hart of Dixie. Well, most seasons were good. You can try Heartland. It's a little cheesy sometimes but the characters are good. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I make eggs most mornings. It's no big deal, I use a cast iron griddle that just gets wiped and stays on the stove and the plates go into the dishwasher. I get grumpy if I only have carbs for breakfast. My kids are allergic to dairy which limits options. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's what I was thinking. Would they be mad if they bought the math curriculum you requested, their kid didn't click with it and they had to try two more?

I was thinking you could put a glass top on a dresser. Probably cheaper than a cabinet and countertop. If there's a coffee machine involved, you need something stain-resistant. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Skechers got me through walking six miles a day in college! And I have really high arches. They're still my go-to walking shoe. I guess everyone is different.

I have three boys. Right now they're 3, 2 and infant. You have officially terrified me. Anyone willing to tell me what your budget is? Now I'm rethinking my intent to have a couple more! What if we can't afford to feed them? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Even if he were extremely creepy on air, I would think someone interested in such work could give his kids a chance. It's not their fault. And he and his wife and children are probably very polite and pleasant in person, as that seems to be part of Mormon culture. And his kids might get a really hard time in school, or even be vulnerable to crime. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ours are weird. Looking back over the last ten years, it seems like there were two periods where housing prices universally tripled for 1-2 years then returned to normal. Larger houses are roughly the same price as 10 year ago. Smaller houses are 20%-50% more. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I agree, that is definitely a potential for these apps. Although the way we budget, I review every purchase at the end of the month on the credit card statement. So DH really has no idea how much I'm spending on everyday purchases. He takes out some cash every month and uses it mostly for getting lunch. So I guess neither of us is under the microscope. I don't use those apps partly for that reason, it just feels uncomfortable to me. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't think anything looks good underneath spaghetti straps. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My husband also loves the meat/starch menu, and my kids are allergic to dairy so casserole is difficult, but I grew up on casserole! For meat, you can use different coatings like bread crumbs, cracker and corn flakes. You can try different rubs and marinades and sauces and gravies. If you make roasted chicken, you can use your portion to make a little skillet or whatever you like, especially the next day. Same with steak. Compromise foods: spaghetti and meatballs. You mix yours, they eat it on the side. Chicken parmesian, same. Fajitas - you eat a fajita or fajita bowl and they eat steak strips with peppers on the side. You could make barbecue and not put sauce on their portion. You can mix your mashed potatoes with your chicken and cheese and they can eat theirs separated. You can leave their rice/grain/noodles plain and make sauce for yours. Anything can feel like a mixed together meal if you stir your main dish and side dish together in sauce. If you microwave it or put it in the oven that way it helps, even more if you stir in cheese and melt it. I guess get good at sauces? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Is this such a big argument because people have different opinions on how important Sunday Mass really is? How important it is to be prepared properly for the sacraments? Just wondering what's at the heart of this long discussion. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I wish we could take more nature walks. With 3 under 4, it's not feasible, although our neighborhood has a lot of potential. But I will get out the binoculars and bring them outside sometime. That's a good suggestion. I have a bird guide. I need a local plant one, I don't know much about plant identification.

Pulled pork Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

And meet with the priest 5 times, and the sponsor couple 4 times, and do an NFP class, and plan the liturgy... we had a lot of steps. But I am glad we did, I enjoyed them.

"The ability to sit correctly for the entire ride, 100% of the time, happens somewhere past age 5 for most kids, and not until 6 or 7 for many others." ...I still don't have this ability... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

About the mortal sin issue. No. The child is not in a state of mortal sin. But the precepts of the Church, of which Sunday Mass is one, are the really bare minimum the Church thinks every member should be doing to be living a basic Christian life, so she orders every Christian to do those things, under pain of mortal sin. So, no, it's not a mortal sin for a young child to miss Mass. But he's not living the bare minimum Christian life and his family may have no intention of doing so. First Communion is a holy initiation into Christian life. Why should he be solemnly initiated into something that he is not properly participating in, cannot participate in and does not intend to participate in? Because it would be cute to wear a suit for the ceremony? Because his classmates might notice if he doesn't? Because his parents, who have not been initiated and do not participate, want the child initiated? These ceremonies are supposed to be the beginning of a lifelong commitment to a way of life, community and relationship, and he is not able to make that commitment at this time.

You do tend to get a high concentration of the more zealous Catholics on the internet, compared to your parish cross-section. For instance, many Catholics may be on this forum because their devotion to the faith has lead them to homeschool their children. When I think of homeschoolers, "for religious reasons" is one of a few major categories. So the homeschool Catholic population would not be at all representative of the parish Catholic population. Just saying.

Yes. I had to wean cold turkey and it was a bad two days. But after that he was like a new baby. While losing weight he was very lethargic, it's different if they're happy and learning. I would much rather have a grumpy hungry baby for two days than obsess over feedings for months, which it sounds like OP is on the verge of doing.

I have only preschoolers, no older kids, but my suggestion is structure. Kids go crazy after just a few days without structure. Maybe you could do something like this: 7-8:30 breakfast, hygiene 8:30-10, time for learning toys/drawing/writing/workbooks 10-11:30 outside. I enjoyed bringing my newborn to a playground with a shaded pavilion to let the other boys run off energy, and the sunshine cheers everyone up. Try to get a friend to meet you there. 11:30-12:30 lunch. Make the older kids make lunch for everyone and wash the dishes. 12-30-2:00 screen time 2-3:30 free reading 3:30-5:30 play time 5:30-6:30 dinner After that, whatever Dad wants to do with them! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I just moved from 1300 to 2200 and it feels annoyingly big - it takes too long just to walk down the hallway, and there's so much to vacuum.