We had a ladies group "adopt" our grade 2/3 classroom and send us stuff we needed like glue sticks but also things like little knitted hats and mitts which we kept for kids who lost their mitts. They also included things like little knitted dolls that my class adored playing with for indoor recess. Maybe there is a school near-by that might welcome your little crocheted animals?

(((Hugs))))). I am sorry you are having such a terrible day. It is such a hard thing to lose a pet you love.

I hated it. Some classes were wonderful, others were just dreadful. Some kids will really do their best to be as difficult as possible when a substitute was there. Sadly so did some of the teachers. Everyday was a different grade and different school and different rules at each one that regular staff were surprised I didn't know. They seemed unaware that every school had different procedures for attendance, detentions, lunch orders, bathroom breaks, where to line up, etc. Some staff were quite friendly, but that was really a hit or miss thing. But in our board , they only hire from the substitute list so it was a necessary evil. I was very glad when I finally had a classroom of my own.

Agree with this!

I know I am not the OP but thank you for this post. It is a relief to know I am not the only one. I want to write a whole bunch of stuff but don't want take over someone else's thread. But thanks.

I am going to echo this! We live in a rural area and had to move into assigned housing that had been unoccupied for awhile and had a huge mouse problem!! Those ultrasonic sensors REALLY help keep them away though. And no having to dispose of dead mouse bodies later which is a plus!

I am an idiot and completely read this wondering how a book could get a rash? 😂

The fire near us is now at 1600 hectares. I can't seem to find an air quality rating on the map as we are too obscure but we are under a "Special Air Quality Message". If I can just finish getting the house packed up, I can fly out of here. But I am too tired to pack any more tonight.

It is lovely and sunny today, without being too hot, and without being too smokey thank goodness. Internal weather of the house: one very grumpy teenager who is tired of helping mom pack up the house to move. Possibly storm ahead, with internet outage likely due to mom tucking it somewhere hidden until she gets help.

Oddly chilly for summer. About 12 degrees Celsuis. Kind of strange since the fire is still going like crazy so you would think it would be hot just from that. Last week sweating like crazy, today I put a sweater on!!

Good morning! So far, I have dropped off my friend and his family at the airport and begun cleaning my kitchen cupboards. Yesterday was the last day of school, so YAY for that! However, I had to move classrooms and managed to throw my back out, so I am moving very carefully today. And I am moving houses finally and get to go be in the same city as my husband again. Feeling very intimidated by all there is to do this weekend. Plans for today: Finishing cleaning out food cupboards. Clean out fridge and freezer. Help teenage son finish 2 drama assignments that need to be handed in. Apply for another job as the one I started keeps trying to add random things to my original teaching assignment. Finish packing up my bedroom. Tackle son's closet with his help. Tackle the back bedroom and pack up sewing supplies and whatever is in closet. Pack up tool area. Possibly take pictures of some bookshelves and post on local buy and sell to get rid of them. Sort through what I brought home from school to see if it really needs to come or should just be thrown out. I am tired just thinking about all of it. Good luck everyone with all your chores for the day!

I saw it and wondered if it was all a joke? So bizarre!

This issues caused huge communication issues for my husband and me at the beginning of our marriage. I am a huge visual thinker and he is hugely words only/ non-visual. We would have the most frustrating conversations as I was often using "visual" oriented words that he simply could not relate to. So for example: What do you see us doing this summer? What do you picture as the perfect house? What is your vision of a job you would love? Since he couldn't picture ANYTHING, he often just answered "I don't know." It drove me crazy because I just thought he was shutting me out or not trying. It drove him crazy, because he honestly couldn't even figure out what I was trying to get at. We were years into our marriage before we realized that that kind of terminology will generate zero useful information in our conversations. I don't think I have found the perfect terminology yet, but I try hard to steer clear of any terminology that implies he will need to "envision" something. Whereas if I think of the future or the perfect house, or the ideal job, I get an instant stream of images and movie shorts that need to be sorted through to find the one that "feels" right. I have a hard time putting all those images into simple , understandable words. I still picture emotions as colours and have the hardest time trying to name what emotion I am even feeling. I had no idea everybody else's head wasn't a constant stream of movies, images and ongoing dialogue. It is so interesting to see how different we really are, right down to how we think.

I always feel bad cancelling gym. The kids look forward to it so much despite everything. Today we just pulled out some balls and scooters and let them mess around a bit, so it wasn't so active.

((Hugs)) Telling someone about their sister's death is going to be hard no matter what. I think maybe even harder because she is so young, and that makes it so unexpected. ( both your daughter and her little sister) I have no concrete suggestions on how to tell her, but do very gently suggest you be prepared for a wide range of possible reactions in dealing with the news: from numbness, to disbelief, to anger, and of course sorrow. The loss of a sibling, even one you didn't know very well, still leaves an empty place. My thoughts are with you and your family as you go through this.