I would try adding some pumpkin in with her food. It can help with anal gland and stomach issues.

I am 100% for it. If they are free kids are more likely to use them. Unless you're buying condoms for your kids, I don't at all see this as parental interference. ETA: I don't think kids should have to ask the nurse for them. They should be in the nurse's bathroom and kids can just take them.

It usually takes the gift card balance first, so you should be all set if it's been loaded on to your account.

Hello! We are interested in taking a trip next month to the Grand Canyon. Any tips on places to stay, things to see, experiences to have? Thank you!

This is bizarre to me. This kind of behavior does not happen at our public schools in any level class.

You could be right, but you could also not be right. I watched my oldest son's graduation last year. I saw all the honors kids getting awards and accolades - and I know exactly how they treated some of the kids who weren't popular, who weren't the "right caliber"...and I'd be ashamed if any one of them were mine. If you're simply looking for your child to get into an ivy league school, by all means force the honors classes. But don't do it because you think those kids are the best kids in the school - they may well not be, and the department head wouldn't know the kids' hearts. They might know their test scores though.

Being in a position to know doesn't mean she actually knows. I'm just saying...most parents don't really know what is going on with their own kids, never mind the classmates of their kids.

At our high schools there are a bunch of levels - Honors and College Prep are where you want to be; the college prep classes are fantastic.

Honors classes do NOT at all guarantee a 'better' caliber, or more desirable, friends. Seriously. There tends to be a higher socioeconomic level in the honors classes, but that just makes drugs/alcohol more accessible, generally speaking.

Lots of high school kids here don't work during the school year, so those jobs (grocery store, ice cream, etc.) often are summer jobs. We also live near the ocean, so there are a lot of kids who do the more typical summer jobs too. It's a mix for sure.

Happy Birthday!

Thank you. I am feeling much more hopeful, and calm, today.

Do you get "cookie dough" (a gift card) in your council? In ours, the girls receive $0.20 per box to use toward camp, activities or in the GS store. By taking 60 boxes from you, she'd actually be losing $12, which isn't a small deal given how hard girls have to work to sell!

He sounds similar to my DS at that age. It was the start of depression. I'd be concerned about the headaches too. I think a check up and a check in with a doctor is a good idea.

After a really traumatic week last week, my DS is looking at a Bipolar 2 diagnosis. It does run in my family and I'm not questioning the diagnosis really, but I am desperately sad. Any positive stories anyone can share? Things that help? Thanks in advance.

It makes me further horrified that we don't have insurance for everyone in this country. This should never be an issue. Ugh.

Does your family have insurance? Do you and your son? If not, then I guess it makes sense his son didn't have it through your family. But if you DO, then you not covering him is just as bad as his stepdad being uncooperative.

This is one reason why I can't believe Scarlett's DH doesn't carry the insurance for his son himself.

Why doesn't his own dad have the insurance for his son?

Maybe he's paying so much out in alimony and child support that he actually CAN'T afford to risk it.

If you are involved in a relationship like the guy in OP was with "a keeper" - yes. Maybe dating multiple people, the end game is fun. But if you want a long term relationship but not marriage, being in love is enough, or maybe companionship is enough. I'm sure it's different for everyone.

Scarlett, You've said before that your religion doesn't value dating for the sake of dating, that it is really intended to lead to marriage. In that case, the end game is always marriage (I'm not sure how 2nd marriages are viewed by JW religion - I think not well?) In the lives of people who are not religious, or are less conservatively religious, the end game is love...the marriage piece can be much less important to BOTH partners. Many people simply don't care to get married.

Does that mean he cheated or is an alcoholic? Either way, i'm so sorry your wedding was taken up with worries about either of those things. 😞

DD9 asked for and received an Ancestry kit for Christmas. She is anxiously awaiting her results!

Our little dogs are not crated at all. Our 2 year old lab mix does still use a crate, both occasionally during the day and for sleeping. She also chooses to go in during the day for naps when she is not locked in. Our older lab is never crated.