I know that there is a lot of trauma there, and doing the best everyone can is important, but I think it is okay to not be perfect. I think it is even better to not be perfect. I want my kids to know that it is okay to be a person, to have struggles, to learn, and to grow. I frequently apologize to my kids, and I don't hide that I'm just another human. The result seems to be an openness and willingness, even an expectation, to work on relationships as a routine thing. I share with them the things I am learning, and what prompted me to learn it, which is fostering a growth mindset in them. Since no one has to be perfect, and the purpose of communicating is to understand each other, we can be very patient with each other as we listen through the frustration to the core of the other person's meaning. We become a team against tension and argument, and work together for clarity. Also, my experience with teen boys says they are really sensitive and will change what they say because they don't want to hurt anyone or be forced to commit to their line of thinking. They are developing confidence and need a lot of space to speak before they think and not be required to commit to or answer for all the things they say. It is so important to let them learn to talk instead of demanding they communicate clearly. The clarity will come with security, practice, and growth. Listen through his words. The truth is in there, and most of the time, he probably isn't even talking about what is actually coming out of his mouth.

I keep thinking, "A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush." If they hadn't opened up the position you wanted, what was your mental timeline for quitting? Why are you quitting now? Nothing has really changed. You were waiting for advancement, and you still are. Now you just know it isn't likely to be at this company. I wouldn't rage quit, or revenge quit. It seems like that is actually hurting yourself. I'd make it a priority to move on, but I wouldn't burn any bridges or lose any income in the meantime. It isn't toxic positivity to set yourself up the best way possible, and that is probably going to involve being content in your current position while you arrange things to move in a different direction. I wouldn't even ask for new title or raise, just accept the information I now have (which is that advancement there is unlikely), and look for something else.

I often take deconstructed salads, and eat them without salad dressing. Then they don't get mushy and can be finger food. So, maybe just a handful of spinach, pecans, raspberries, and a cheesestick (or cubes of cheese or a babybel). Maybe some sweet potato chips on the side. If I can't find fresh raspberries, I'll just put some frozen ones in my drink and eat them when they thaw. I find I can eat smaller amounts, feel more full, and don't upset my stomach when I eat this way on the go. Another combo could be cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, a few leaves of romaine, rolled up ham slices, and applesauce. Could also add a banana, cheese, a boiled egg, or a muffin. Spinach, mandarin oranges, wonton strips, slivered almonds, pre grilled chicken slices. An apple, handful of grapes, handful of walnuts, maybe cheese or grilled chicken pieces. If you buy packages of mayonnaise, you can just squeeze some into your bowl and stir this all up. Eat it on a leaf of romaine lettuce. Salads like this can easily be kept cool enough in a lunch tote, and no need to heat. Actually, most of the components don't need to be kept cool at all. Just the cheese or chicken or egg. And there are lots of combinations so you won't get bored. ETA Sometimes I feel munchy later in the day when I eat this way, and I've discovered I need something crunchy and some salt. A small handful of sweet potato chips, popcorn with a little extra salt, a couple pieces of bacon, or sometimes a rice cake or Ritz crackers. Also, a well timed small piece of dark chocolate in the afternoon is a nice boost.

We just recently let our older kids go back to wrestling. I'm so upset that we will probably have to pull back again.

I've lived where we need to drive lot, so that part doesn't seem bad to me. We just have a car routine and incorporate that into our week. I regularly drive 300 to 400 miles per week for activities. That said, I don't drive for things we don't like, and I'm very particular about the experiences my children have. I'm always watching very closely to be sure the kids are being treated well, the instructor is a good example in all ways, and my children are engaged and happy. I expect hard work from my kids, but I expect their instructors to be good leaders. I would want to know if this gym membership aspect was shady, or not. Is it possible she has decided to break up her fees this way because local families would use those facilities more, outside of lesson time? We have had to find workarounds for activites we needed to stop, but didn't want to loose completely. Could you pause lessons for a while and save a few months worth of fees? Then, do lessons more frequently for a month so you have to pay the facility fee only 1x every now and then? If you did lessons 3x a week but only every 3rd month, then the facility fee would drop to about $10 extra per lesson. Is there an activity your other children could also do at this gym that would allow you to maximize your membership? If you couldn't do it every 3rd month, could you save up and sort of create a season for this sport? Do 4 months of lessons 3 or 4 times a week, then break for 8 months. Also, why do you have to have a membership when only your daughter is using the gym? Can you get a waiver to be a "free observer" or something?

I'm also wondering if that's 90% effective against paralytic polio/other severe outcomes, or of contracting the virus in general? Trying to gauge risk to maybe modify my behavior for a time. ETA I read again, and it is 90% effective against paralytic polio. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/polio/hcp/effectiveness-duration-protection.html

Oh, this one says IPV does not stop transmission. Well, that's not great on a population level.

Did you see anything about how long it takes for that immunity to build post vaccination? Is a 4 month old baby who has received 2 doses on schedule 90% protected by, say, 5 months?

Yes, but I'm not asking if a recently vaccinated person can spread it. The answer is yes for OPV, and no for IPV. Asked differently, could I (fully vaccinated as a child), be able to contract polio from the current environment and then give it a baby. Not could my vaccine shed, but could I be a carrier in the current outbreak.

It is difficult to find much info about the efficacy of the polio vaccine, and how quickly a person develops immunity. There is SO much out there discussing the development and history of the vaccines, but not a lot of information about how they work. A lot of information tends to focus on the differences between OPV and IPV. I'd like to know a few things about IPV (America) specifically. Firstly, a baby is vaccinated first at 2 months. How quickly do they develop any immunity? (Like, a covid vaccine has x% immunity after 2 weeks). How does that immunity change, and how quickly is it developed after their 4th vaccine after their 4th birthday? Can a vaccinated person spread polio? I think the answer is yes.

London is going to vaccinate children for polio, even if they have already been vaccinated. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-62492784

https://www.yahoo.com/news/thing-spreading-first-georgia-woman-224213482.html

How do you teach college level math and science courses at home? I can find lots of textbooks and lectures, but not with problem sets with answers. MiT has some exams with answers, but the problem sets don't have an associated key, and I feel we need more practice.

I have a 7yo boy with the same description, and I am also very tired. Using my free time to think up more things for him to think about is only slightly less exhausting, but feeding his brain does buy a moment's peace now and then. Does he have siblings? I also assign my kids to do things with him throughout the day. If I have to wait at their activity, they can play a game with him on the way. Even better if I can think of something for them to teach him, like how to tie a knot or a card trick. Then he will keep working on it for a while. I'm also not above passing out snacks and cranking up the volume on the radio. Full mouths are quieter, and the music drowns it all out for a short time. And if I'm really done? I'll download a movie on my kindle fire and give it to him with earbuds. I'm not fan of a lot of screentime, but sometimes we just need a break.

Or just TwoSixNine or Two Six Nine.

I don't have a favorite from the options, but I wouldn't do corvids. Too close to covid.

I just asked my dh what the problem was. He said the vacuum hose was dry rotted on the end. He just trimmed off a little for a temp fix, but will get another hose soon.

Wow. This is fascinating to ponder. Is it possible we touch less (or less variety) than we once did? What effect does this have on humans, especially from a mental health perspective? I've been really focusing on making sure my younger children get as much stimulation as my older ones did, and this is an area that does take more effort. When my older kids were young, I took them outside all the time, and really encouraged lots of tactile play. Now that I have big kids and little kids, we are inside much more so the bigger kids can do their schoolwork. There are many things to touch inside a house, but it isn't quite the same as touching something to complete a task or to explore. With so much automated and with the feel of metal or plastic under the finger, the day to day sensations of life are lessened, and activites designed for tactile exploration are limited in scope and purpose. I'm thinking through things we touch, and I think food is a huge area of indoor tactile experiences. But think of how a plastic spoon feels when you stir, compared to a wooden spoon. And how you feel neither if you dump in the ingredients and use your kitchen aid. How many little moments to touch and be touched, and to feel our environment responding to us, do we miss each day because of the rise of technology?

Thank you! I'm not sure what my husband did, but he sent me a message to say he was able to fix it this morning! Hopefully, whatever he did holds and driving to kid stuff today will be ok.

It's a van van, so yes, probably something like this. I'm annoyed because I have a lot of driving to do and it is so hot outside. Maybe my husband can fix it this weekend. @gardenmom5I don't know when it was serviced last because my husband takes care of all that stuff.

I'm sitting outside in the van waiting for the kids, and the air conditioner isn't working correctly. It wasn't blowing correctly when I first turned on the van and left the house either. For about a year, it will occasionally stop blowing, but fixes itself fairly quickly. It hasn't happened in a long time, but it happened a few weeks ago when it was idling for an hour. I just started driving again, and within 5 minutes, it was working normally. Right now, it is blowing fairly cold air, but on the windshield instead of the vents on the dash. My first thought is that something is blocked, but why would it be fine sometimes and then sometimes not? Anyone know an easy fix while I wait?

I think I would spend some time thinking about what I could or should have done, because I would be a bit shaken and would be grasping to find some action to blame so I could prevent it in the future. But, accidents happen to the most careful of people, and it is better to be thankful everyone was okay. Once I could accept the randomness and give up wanting to be in control (which is normal!), I think I would be able to move on.

I think we are on the same team. My focus just is on the societal expectations of achievement and inspiring intelligence, which isn't fair to kids, and I think yours is on the reactions to this particular circumstance. If all kids were supported for who they were and what they needed, then this whole conversation wouldn't exist. It wouldn't be noteworthy to be the youngest to do anything because it wouldn't be some weird competition, so there wouldn't have even been an article.

As the parent of a gifted child, I think what bothers me is the focus on achievement instead of development. The level of experience or academics required for a gifted child to have what they need to grow and develop may also involve impressive achievements as a side effect, but that shouldn't be the goal. Also, I don't understand why this type of thing is "inspiring". It isn't inspiring to be smart, or any other static quality. No one ought to desire to be like this child, or for their child to be. A parent with a similar type child might become aware of opportunities their own child would enjoy, but achievement for achievement's sake isn't healthy. It isn't that I don't believe she is quite capable, and my reaction doesn't really involve her, her family, or her path. I'm just uncomfortable with the tone and pressure surrounding the whole thing.

@wathe Do you it is possible it has been transmitting for years and people just thought it was herpes?