One of the favorite teachers at the Catholic school my kids attend was let go today because she moved in with her boyfriend. On one hand, I get it and it was in her contract. On the other hand, she is a great teacher and we know many people who are living together. It isn't a big deal anymore. I'm bummed.

Idk what to do with this 11yo boy. He is high functioning autistic and has anxiety. I think the anxiety is the biggest issue. His go-to self-defense mechanism is rudeness. For example, today our priest was shaking hands with everyone and my son just stared at him and made a mean, grunting sound. Another issue is our neighbors. There are 2 5yo boys who are friends with my daughter. They 5yo's pick on my son. Anyone else would ignore them because they are just little twerp 5 yo's. But my son can't ignore it and makes threatening noises or actual threats (I'm gonna cut your head off! etc.). An 11 yo can not threaten a 5 yo!! People take that seriously! I've talked to the parents but nothing has changed. How do I help this kid not be rude? Yes, he needs therapy. But that is like finding a unicorn in this town. He's had other therapies but eventually refuses to get in the car and there is nothing I can do when he gets like that.

The girls working the booth today had someone steal their money bag with over $1000 in it. The two mothers working the booth chased the thieves down and then the police caught them so we got all the money back. My question is, would you chase down the thieves? I'm not sure I would.

Like I said in my other post, I'm sick today so I've spent all day on the interwebs. Lots of my uber-conservative friends are boycotting the new Beauty and the Beast movie because of a "gay moment". Afaik, no one has seen the movie yet, right?? What is this about?? FYI-I'm kinda conservative but my kids are aware that gay people exist and can be married so I don't give a darn about a "gay moment". We're excited to see the movie!

Forgive me, I'm sick in bed so I've spent the day on the internet. I believe I've found the end. I apologize for the Daily Mail link. So, the big news?!? Now that Joy Anna is engaged, she and her fiancé are officially..... Wait for it Holding hands! Joy-Anna Duggar moves relationship with Austin Forsyth to next level - Daily Mail https://apple.news/AatQBS9_RQum3sYNxIBYT5Q Such strange people. What is it like to go from holding hands (which every 1st grader does) one day to making tea the next?? That has to mess with your head.

Pinterest is full of the suggestion to drink a few tablespoons of ACV daily for fat loss and other health benefits. Is there any science to this or is it just a crazy Pinterest thing?

I had a long post but I'll cut to the chase--are dress codes that ban leggings sexist?

We've tried everything at CVS, Paula's Choice and Persa Gel. Before I spend the big money at the derm, what else can I try for DS's acne? He won't give up giant glasses of milk so don't suggest that.

I really wish the search function worked on this forum. We've had threads in the past that mentioned supplements for mild anxiety and depression. Can we have another one? Any advice? Exercise and diet are on point.

I'm about to start a Whole 30 and I want to take some before photos. These are not photos I ever want anyone ever to see. Ever! Is there a way to take photos and hide them?

I saw this HuffPo article this morning. Just using it as an example, not being political. I'm pretty sure my 8th grader can do better than this. Pence CAUSED an HIV outbreak?? If the media doesn't step up, what can we do? Where can we go for honest information? http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_58ab29a4e4b045cd34c3e0aa

I look at the crap women go through with very little medical assistance and I get bitter. I think, damn, if men dealt with this, there would 100% be a cure. Am I crazy to think this??

This is a total vent. No advice is necessary because I can't do a darn thing. I'm not supposed to even know there is an issue! Dysfunctional family. My father doesn't go to the doctor very willingly. It has been an issue many times. I know it is fear but, damn, the problems don't get worse just because a doctor knows about them! My mom called my sister this AM (my sister is a doctor) to ask about heartburn medicine. My sister is no dope so she started asking questions. Long story short, dad is waking up in the middle of the night with terrible heartburn and his meds aren't helping. Also, his blood pressure in the middle of the night is so high he won't give my mother the numbers. What?!? That ain't heartburn!! And, will my mother insist he see a doctor?? No because he will get mad. Don't rock the boat is the story of my life. Dad's sister died of a stroke two years ago so I get that he is scared. But, they have blood pressure meds! This is an easy fix! You know what isn't easy?? Being a farmer paralyzed on one side from a stroke. Or dead from a massive heart attack. Not easy!

I know this will sound offensive but I don't mean it to be. Really. I read people post on this board about issues with kids, husbands, MILs, etc. and SO OFTEN the response is therapy/medication/counselor/anxiety/executive function issues, etc. Can't kids just be lazy? Can't MIL just be a bitch? Can't a husband just be an ass? Why is every issue a disorder in need of specialized help? I get that sometimes that is that case but, imo, more often than not, the kid is just a lazy turd trying to get away with being lazy and MIL is just a bitch because bad behavior gets attention.

How do you know if you are depressed vs just worn out by life?

Can I give up??? She is in 8th grade and she is going to public high school next year (insert much dancing and fist pumping on my part). She is a generally pleasant person except when it is time for math and then she totally looses her mind. Like, exorcist level shit. Screaming, slamming doors, throwing things, blames me for all her problems. Really, it is exhausting. She has been this way about anything that frustrates her her whole life. Math frustrates her. We've switched math programs several times thinking that she just needed to find one she likes. No. She just hates math and has no self-control when she is frustrated. She is about a quarter of the way though algebra 1 with Derek Owens. She is taking Alg 1 in high school next year. She is currently refusing to do anymore because I haven't organized her pages correctly (just an excuse, they are printed, in a folder, in order and labeled). She is working on Drama homework that isn't due until Friday. Honestly, I do not give AF anymore. I'm so over this child and her shit. I want her out of this house. Do I keep fighting with her to get further knowing she probably won't finish the book? Do I throw in the towel knowing that she will struggle next year?? Can I run away to Mexico until she is grown???

I get invited to a lot of plays and performances put on by children we know. My own DD does a lot of theater and we're always encouraged to invite everyone, hang signs, etc. I don't do that. Does anyone actually want to watch a child, that is not related to them, perform?? I go to my own children's things because I love them and I'm proud of them and I have no choice. I don't go because the play will be great. Am I a monster??

I was asked to update but I'll be a monkey's uncle if I can find the original thread. I received a LE shirt for Christmas. I wanted to exchange it for a different color. I took it to LE in our Sears. Even though they had a rack of the shirts sitting there, they said they could not do the exchange and I needed to call LE. I called LE. They assured me that the store absolutely could do the exchange. They gave me the order number and said to take it back to Sears. I go back. Same story. They can't do an exchange, but they can send it back to LE and have a check mailed to me. I thought that was strange since I did not buy the shirt which they knew. They took my address and assured me that the check would come to me. You all know where this is going, right?!? I just received a call from my MIL wondering why she received a check from LE and did I return the shirt she bought me. Grrr.

Hugs to all my fellow work widows. Being married to a workaholic sucks.

I have some ugly chalkware (basically plaster of Paris) fruit that was my grandmother's. I want to hang them but the hooks that are in the plaster are rusted and broken. Command strips don't stick. Any ideas? I'll try to put a link to what they look like. They are really ugly but I love them hard. https://www.google.com/search?q=chalkware+fruit+face+plaques&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari#imgrc=_PfdR3zR0J2M_M:

Gaga did great!

I'm such a FB idiot. When someone posts a photo and at the top it says "Joe smith with sue smith" how do they do that??

My mil loves to shop at LE online. She also thinks I'm several sizes smaller than I am so I usually need to return her gifts. I went into the LE dept. at Sears yesterday and was told I need to call LE and be sent a mailer to return a shirt?? They wouldn't accept it even as an exchange. They have the same shirt sitting there! Annoying.

DS has his own set of towels because he can't seem to wash all the acne meds off his hands with soap and water. One of my good towels accidentally ended up in his bathroom and was destroyed in one morning despite me asking him 1.3 million times to not use my good towels. I love my son, I love my son, I love my son...

I bought a table/chair/bench set off Craigslist a few years ago. There were only 3 chairs but the guy was hopeful that he could find the 4th in a storage unit. He can't find it. I've done all I know to do. I even called Coaster and they no longer make the set. I really want 4 matching chairs! I don't even care about the fabric. This is the tag on the bottom of one of the chairs. Shoot, how do I add a photo? It says it is too big?? The brand is Coaster and the item number is 101012. Any ideas?