Yes. My mom prepared me to come tell her when I had "a light pink stain" show up in my underwear. Well. I woke up middle of the night to bedding drenched in menstrual blood. Light pink stain my foot! My daughters swear by those period underpants, with tampons or pads too as needed. But in my day, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, it was thick bulky pads held in place with those awkward elastic belts and/or safety pins. And trying not to waddle when walking.

Bet they'd get interested if the alternative was doing their own meal prep!

I agree - spread out meal planning. Anyone old enough to demand a specific diet can do the research for recipes, and cook or help cook one or two main dishes a week. I'd flat out get a lot of freezer bags or containers and encourage folks to portion out and freeze their preferred dishes, so they can thaw and eat something when dinner is not what they want for whatever reason. And keep lots of nuts, cooked beans, hummus etc on hand - protein snacks they can use to supplement as needed. You are not running a restaurant.

If doing pavlova, I'd have a pan of brownies or a dozen basic cupcakes on hand, too. And the mango slaw thing sounds interesting - but also have a plainer basic salad or a veggie plate with dip as mentioned already. You do not know how adventurous this family is, food-wise, yet.

Few years ago went through this with my dad, researched and visited several care facilities near his home (so his significant other could still visit easily) during a couple weeks I was able to be out there (I live several states away). He lived with SO (she owned the house) and it took several months to convince her it was time for him to be in a safe facility - she still left the house to work daily, and he was starting to wander. Neighbors could only do so much, and SO did not trust having any "stranger" hired to be in the house with him. You are there with your mom, so she is safer, but it still is time to be investigating the options nearby for 24/7 care. You might not need it for months or more, but preparation is important (plus figuring out finances - Dad was lucky enough to have $ for decent care. Not everyone is that fortunate). It is very hard. Good luck.

Have a dermatologist check it out. Possibly a small skin cancer ...let a professional check it out just to be on the safe side.

Our dentist's office has taken all the precautions already mentioned, in addition to leaving each exam room empty and air filtering for an hour between patients. No one comes in the building until their phone is texted, and staff does the temp etc check as soon as one enters the office. We have continued our six month appointments - and an emergency filling for one son - during Covid.

Is it feasible to aim for community college first, to save money, and expecting the kids to get the grades to get a merit based transfer award for the last two years of college? This worked for my youngest. Was what I did back in the stone age, too.

He needs to be on a wait list for services including a group home, you can be guardians or let the agency that runs the homes guardian - but the time is now to get him on wait lists for services. What state is he in? Don't wait until folks are too old to care for him to make this happen. It can take years. He should not have to live with anyone worried about being "stuck" with him, btw (I have a 29 year old in a group home past 5 years now...daily life before he was granted funding and we found a good fit revolved around his needs etc. and it is a drain day in and day out). Good luck!

I buy waterproof kitchen aprons on Amazon - Ulster makes good PVC ones. I have same problem with getting water on my front while doing dishes etc. Currently the rooster one I have is less than $14...they have other patterns, too.

When I had plantar fascisitis and no, I can not spell it (spellcheck thinks I mean Nazis) I was advised to go for running shoes, as they have far more arch support. I had been wearing walking shoes for years - switching to high quality running shoes meant no more pain after the P.F. cleared up. I found a brand I liked at the local sporting goods store, and save money now by buying the same model on-line in last year's colors.

We were able to claim youngest dd on last year's taxes so she did not get a stimulus check. This year she is not on our taxes, and we in fact had her file a couple weeks ago so IRS would know to send this new check to her. Well, best laid plans...IRS is behind on processing returns, and today I got $1400 too much in our account - will verify with dd that she did NOT get it in her account when she gets home from work. So - do we give $1400 to dd, or hang onto it and assume IRS will eventually take it back and reissue to dd?

Yes. Probably is ruined already. If can afford it, I'd remove the carpet, toss it, and lay cheap vinyl flooring (no seams) to protect the under flooring. Figure once she moves out (college, job) the floor will need to be replaced. Meanwhile she has to deal with cleaning her own laundry, even has to buy any pet smell remover she may need once teammates etc tease her about the stink. Meanwhile I like the idea of a clothes horse/coat stand thing she can toss stuff on instead of the arduous task of opening a closet door and using a hanger.

My adult son who lives in a group home got his second Pfizer shot Tuesday, along with the other dudes and some staff from his group home. He was very nauseated, vomiting repeatedly and had the trots Wednesday, to the point where the house protocol was to take him to ER for evaluation, IV hydration if needed. He was not admitted, but sent home after ER doc confirmed what I suspected - just his way of reacting to the second shot. He is reportedly fine today. Of the five other dudes he lives with, one had a headache that was much less today, another had a sore arm. One staff was queasy but not nearly as bad as Joe. I'd say, be prepared for anything after second shot!

When I was in hospital they used these cap things that fitted over the scalp and used a special shampoo that did not need rinsing to sort of clean hair. No-Rinse Shampoo Cap by Cleanlife Products (Pack of 5), Shampoo and Condition Hair with no Water or Rinsing - Microwaveable, Latex-Free and Alcohol-Free. Cut and pasted that from Amazon. Since usually older folks don't need to wash hair all that often, this can work fine.

Does the skin there feel at all warmer than the rest of the hand? I am thinking of celluitis.

My adult son with autism is set to get his first shot this week, along with the other residents of his group home, as Cook Co, IL has arranged with a local pharmacy to give shots to all the disabled residents of group homes, etc. I will need to drive 45 minutes to wait outside in case I am needed - Joe tends to fuss at injections, and only Mom can make him cooperate sometime. If he doesn't get the shot then, odds are he won't get it at all for quite a while. It will be the Pfizer shot.

My insurance didn't cover it until I turned 60...I got the first shot two days later. Each time I reacted feeling like I had the flu for a day or two, drat the luck, but better that than shingles I hear.

First Christmas after we were married, MIl gave me a wrapped bottle of Heintz apple cider vinegar. I did not know what to make of it, so said nothing. Couple years later, cleaning cupboards, found it again and then noticed two raspberries in the bottom of the bottle. OK, so she was NOT making a statement by gifting me Heintz vinegar, but had made (or attempted to make) flavored vinegar. But keeping the Heintz label on the bottle was taking thriftiness a tad far, I would have at least slapped a homemade gift label over the Heintz label noting "Raspberry vinegar". I do not remember if the vinegar was wrapped or still in a shopping bag - MIL tended to not bother with wrapping paper. I feel compelled to note, MIL was a great and gracious lady, they just were not a gift-giving family, really. Hubby takes after her - yet this year he WON Christmas. I am into 1000+ piece jigsaw puzzles during the pandemic, and asked for several on my gift list. One of the many I got was one hubby had the idea to have made by Shutterfly from a collage of photos of my kids! He had one dd help select and arrange the photos, but she swears the idea was all his.

I vote for CAKE, having read other comments. Before i would have voted for the wreath, as it lays flat, but see folks have noted a pavlova may not travel well. 🙂

Odds are it is a reaction to the shots.

We have wooden Ikea shelves (holding coffee mugs) over the pod coffee maker, we just line up butter cubes on the lowest shelf, and leave the coffee maker on, and ta-da - perfect soft butter for baking. As butter is used more is set out - we go through tons this time of year.,

Damaged.

All sound the same and are said the same - like Mary. From California...but raised by Kansas-raised parents, if it makes a different.

We have breakfast - cinnamon rolls, bacon - then I go into the closed living room (our 1906 house has a door on one wall, pocket doors to dining room) to turn on tree lights, holiday music, etc. Santa stockings are out, and gifts (we do not put under tree in advance due to pets). Pocket doors open - everyone floods in and carnage ensues. We have dinner later in the day. Last couple years, the kids have filled stocking for Mom and Dad, too - oldest dd puts them in the living room just before I go in. We each are on our honor to not peek at stocking until everyone comes in. This year we are having to change things up a tad - son with autism has to stay in his group home. I have via Skype promised him that since Santa is not allowed to enter his group home (no one but staff may do so thanks to Covid) I will collect his loot and get it to him Christmas morning. So we will go there at our assigned time of 9am* to go into the garage and stand six feet away as Joe gets his sacks of presents. All of us in masks. Delivering his fav pizza etc, too. Since the forecast is below zero that morning, doubt Joe will want to linger or open any gifts in the garage, staff will have to send us photos. Then we will get to our Christmas a little later when back home. I should mention, I have four kids, oldest fraternal dudes are 29, girls are 26 and 24....and we are all pretty sure (staff is too) that Joe still believes in Santa. * to be safe, families had to be assigned times to come by for a few minutes.