Traveling with little kids is SO much work, and many times I felt it wasn't worth it. BUT, my kids have such awesome memories of those trips. They look at photos of them, talk about them fondly, etc. So, I just keep my mouth shut about what a PITA it was for me, because, well, they're happy with the memories! :) The best thing we ever did was vacationing for 5 years in a row with another close family. The kids played together, we moms had company when the littles needed to nap, the husbands hung out. It was wonderful! Still a PITA to get things ready and such, but while we were together it actually felt like vacation to me. Now that the kids are older, vacations are easier. Everyone packs for themselves, supervises themselves, eats what and when they want, and dh and I can actually go out on our own. Moxie, and others with little kids: hang in there---it gets better!!!

I wouldn't take anything personally. Plenty of people with one or two kids have a rough time and plenty of people with a dozen kids don't. Hard work does not = bad. What matters more is the interpersonal relationships between family members, and this varies regardless of the number of children.

:svengo: :scared: :willy_nilly: I have no words. I am so sorry. May God be with you!

Pretty sure Bill can handle it. :) An 8 year-old little boy? Well, that is generally harder.

It's definitely stress. I've got so much swirling around my brain right now that I keep walking around my house seeing things I need to do and I just can't figure out if it's a good time to do them (it is), or if it isn't (wait, maybe it's not). I find that if I just make a decision, any decision, it sort of jump-starts my rational thinking again.

Not for nothin, but I have noticed that stores like Target and American Eagle have TONS of boy's and men's clothes in lighter colors, like pink and light blue. Preppy is back. However, the cuts of the clothing are distinctly male. I believe that a boy or a man can wear clothes of brighter/lighter colors without purposefully wearing clothing that was designed to appeal to girls. I agree that all the navy/grey/olive green clothing for boys can get dull. So, direct your son toward some preppy looks to satisfy his desire for color.

I wouldn't ever let my son wear shoes or clothing that was definitely being marketed to girls. I think it's kind of mean, particularly if he doesn't "get it" himself, but would be hurt when other kids tease him (which they likely will). I would probably steer him away from the section with a gentle, yet matter-of-fact, "No, honey, those are for girls. Let's go to the boys' section and see what cool things they have for you there."

Spend time learning the vegan recipes that I've only flirted with over the years. Ditto on the beach cottage. Volunteer with at-risk kids, doing tutoring and educational counseling.

I can do it, especially if I'm with others, if the situation would be inappropriate to demonstrate my upset feelings, or if it would serve no purpose to display my true feelings (i.e. it wouldn't change anything). I do it by acting breezy and unruffled, changing the subject, or suddenly getting really, really busy with a super-important task that just can't possibly wait! :lol: However, I don't do it with my family because, well, they're my family! If I'm upset with something I don't think I need to hide it from them.

We're new-ish to scouting this year, so I don't have much btdt advice. However, I would strongly suggest that YOU familiarize yourself as much as possible with the handbook and encourage your ds to work through the achievements he can do on his own. The ones that require the troop will have to be done under the guidance of the troop, but there are plenty that he can do outside of that. The moms who haven't a clue about what's in the handbook seem to be the ones whose kids are not making much progress, particularly if they're in a troop without a whole lot of direction from ASMs. That's what I've seen, at least, and that's for the younger and newer scouts.

:lol: :lol: :lol: That. Was. Awesome!

Holy. Cow. So now parents are so desirous of insta-fame through social media that they'll humiliate their kids in order to achieve it. smh. What a tragedy.

Oh, man, I can feel your pain. I'm sorry, I really am. I think things will be better than you're anticipating. And, whatever does come up, you'll take it a moment at a time. Since there's nothing you can do about it now, the best thing is to just put on a brave and (fake) smiling face and move forward. You have my :grouphug: and wishes for a good trip.

With a small church, the fellowship and involvement in one another's lives can be so meaningful. When you're sick, or have missed Sundays, people notice and care. And not in a weird, checking up on you kind of way. Genuine, "Hey, I've missed seeing you guys, how've you been" sort of thing. Doing life with others at this level is hugely helpful, particularly in raising kids. We all care about and really know each other's children. That's priceless, imo.

Huh. I would never have thought this. I suppose that's a function of your relationship with your spouse. My dh and I agree nearly 100% on matters of child-rearing and discipline, so on the rare cases that this has come up, it's always been due to the fact that one of us had over-reacted and wasn't proceeding effectively with the kids. We're always mutually grateful that the other spouse loves us enough to call a time-out and help when he or I happen to be banging our heads against a wall and completely losing our kid in the midst. And, wow, it's not a matter of "trying to get between me and the kids." It's helping each other in parenting, and I'm pretty certain nobody here gets it right all the time. Perhaps that's just a matter of what your relationship was like with your dh. The OP was asking how *we* handle it, so that's what we do on the occasions that it's come up.

When this has happened, priority one is making sure my dc is still engaged with us as parents. As in, not shutting down. So, I have gone to them and said, "I know you're upset about how Dad handled things. Here's what I think you may not understand about why he said what he said"... If Dad was being a butthead about it, or making a bigger deal about something, I would likely say, "I know he was pretty hot about it. He loves you and is worried about XYZ, but that doesn't mean it was okay for him to blah, blah, blah." To dh, I would say, "You know, I think a better way to have handled it would probably be ..." Or maybe, "I know how frustrating she can be and how stubborn she is sometimes. BELIEVE ME, I get it. I think in this case you need to remember blah, blah, blah." So, dh gets props for trying, empathy because I can relate, but also loving suggestions as to how to engage better next time. Dd gets to see that she is loved and supported, and that dad loves her but isn't perfect at times in how he handles conflict. We're all human, you fight with your siblings, everyone has disagreements, the important thing is to assume the best about one another's motives and to forgive, blah, blah, blah.

I always feel that way on Friday. Too many people around me with their neediness CONSTANTLY!!! I usually perk up over the weekend. Here's hoping you do, too!

My mom is 75 and is very pretty. People have always said that about her. Part of it is genetics, part of it is how she carries herself. She kind of acts like a duchess, which makes her look lovely but also makes her a pain in the a@@ sometimes, :lol:. However, I plan to go beyond that. I am more physically active than she was at my age, I pay more attention to my nutrition than she did/does, and have better access to more advanced healthcare than people of her generation. I used to get annoyed that whenever she left the house, even to go grocery shopping, she'd fix her hair and lipstick. But now I do that, too, and lemme just say, as I have aged I have seen the necessity of this little beauty ritual!

You would not sign up to take the regular SAT on the subject SAT test dates. The subject tests can't be used in lieu of regular SATs, but I don't think that's what you're asking, right? Schools will only see the scores you send to them on the College Board website. This goes for regular SAT scores as well as subject test scores.

How sad! Not only was he a brilliant man, he was also one of the few who has ever made a complete recovery from schizophrenia. A mind to be examined, truly. :(

Happy birthday!!!! Fwiw, I really don't like birthdays or Mother's Day. I feel too much pressure of expectation, and the inevitable let down. I'm always happy when the next day comes, lol! Way to rock that weight loss, though!

I agree with the bolded, in particular, which has kind of been my point in all of this.

Sorry that you took it that way. I wasn't lecturing you on anything. Many of us have had similar experiences, and forgiveness comes in different ways at different times in our lives. :grouphug:

Not really my point. I'm not saying in the strictest definition that he's not a murderer. I'm saying how should we treat that person who has repented? Do you hate your IRL friend because he killed someone 20 years ago? Do you call him a murderer when you see him? I'm guessing not, because what he did 20 years ago, doesn't define him if he's been a different person since. I'm assuming this is the case or else you wouldn't be friends with him now.

Well, they WERE a murderer. They don't get to say they've never killed, but they don't need to walk around for the rest of their lives broadcasting their shame and penance. It also doesn't mean that they can never legitimately say that murder is wrong, just because they murdered in the past. It's not hypocritical to say, look I did this awful thing, and I beg you not to do it, too.