Can you adopt me? I am trying to put together a plan for what to do if the economy does collapse. I would like to be self-supportive with animals, etc- but that's just not feasible where I am now. I do have family where it would be possible to be self-supportive... I need to visit more and show how useful I am. ;)

So do I- where do you live? I'll take 'em! ;)

In your situation, I would try to calm the neighbor down by telling her I would discuss this with my children ASAP, and tell her that I agree my children should not be using that kind of language. Then I would talk to my kids ASAP... about how the neighbor is not a very nice person, and they should avoid her at all costs. ;)

LOL! I was thinking you should realize that by now...

I don't understand why some people want to use these expensive machines to brew a cup of coffee at home... (Just kidding! I think they are fantastic. Just trying to start a kerfuffle for you...)

I was exaggerating... ;)

I don't think people ask this question because you need a good reason to homeschool. That's a good question because if you homeschool for academic reasons, and now you are unable to do a good job academically (too much else going on in your life, need to pursue full time work, etc)- then maybe it's a good idea to send your child to public school. But if you homeschool to develop your child's character, and the public schools are horrible for social development- then you would want to keep your child home at all costs.

There's no hope for a child whose parents think he "never lies to me, ever." (ETA- I'm exaggerating here. I think kids can recover from all kinds of mistakes parents make, including my own mistakes.) All teens stretch the truth at some point- it's part of growing up. If his parents think he's perfect, he'll keep pushing the envelope to see how much he can get away with. I've seen it with my dds and their friends. If a parent gives serious consideration to accusations, their children are much better off. Even if I believed my child, I would give the other parent the benefit of the doubt. But it seems more and more parents think their children are perfect. I'm sorry this happened to you and your son. He needs to decide if he wants to be friends with this boy one-on-one and just avoid him in group settings, or if it's not worth it.

I think this is a bit offensive. Helping kids with cancer is not helping himself in any way, shape, or form. Maybe his life experiences brought to his attention a group of people who need help and support. Maybe he thinks he can help more than the average joe because he's been there, done that. Two people close to me died of cancer relatively young. I do make myself available to talk to people who are caregivers for someone who is dying. It's very difficult for me to do, but I know how much it helped me to have someone to talk to who had traveled my path before me. Does that make me selfish? Please.

Not to mention that steroids are often part of chemotherapy regimens. I think it's a witch hunt. Lance's foundation does so much good, just leave him alone. I have a friend who was a high level cyclist. She was totally clean, but everyone she beat liked to say she was doping.

All that works for me is low(no) carb, high fat. Everything else I tried, I felt like I was literally starving after about 3 months. Now I feel great, and I'm never hungry like I used to be. I've been over a year on this plan now. ETA- I went to a local diet place for accountability a few years back. Worked great for 3 months, then I was starving.

So, my dd is taking a gap year. Does anyone know how liberal the use of a college savings plan is? She has quite a bit of money in her plan, and I'd like her to be able to use it for assorted educational expenses that will come up for her this year. I'm thinking dance classes or a trade school. Any info is helpful! Thanks.

Thanks for the info, ladies! My plan right now is to send her down Sept 1st, let her get the lay of the land and try doing public transportation to see the area for a couple weeks. Then I will fly down in a couple weeks to help her get a car. Her room-mate will not have a car, because she is enrolled in a college that is close enough to ride her bike to.

No, you're not. I enjoyed the books, as did both of my daughters. We were all looking forward to the movies. I could not believe how disturbed I was by the movie- it literally made me sick to my stomach and mentally agitated for the rest of the day (we saw a matinee.) My dds were not bothered. I think because they don't have children of their own. They wondered why I was so bothered, after all I knew what was going to happen... The visual stimulation was too much for me. In retrospect, I would not have gone and I would not have taken my kids.

How is public transportation in this area? Could someone get places like Sea World, Disney World, a job, etc. via public transport, or would it be best to have a car?

I just had baked parmesan crisps with salmon and pesto. Yum!

I think gluten is a small part of the problem for me, but my main problem is blood sugar control... so even a gluten free cheat messes me up. But I suspect most people could handle gluten-free carbs pretty well. I just messed my system up too much in my first 48 years.

I attribute all kinds of weird improvements to eating low carb- high fat. Definitely less anxious and calmer I sleep deeper, and don't need as many hours of sleep skin clearer- rosacea has faded No IBS symptoms any more Not hungry all the time- I can go 6-8 hours between meals (and often do.) No cravings for any specific food Don't sunburn as easily No brain fog Better muscle tone while working out less (I'll add more as I think of them.) Thought of another one- my moles are a lighter brown. Some have even become the same color as the surrounding skin.

This alarms me. Dietary fat is extremely important for brain development in children, and dietary cholesterol is not linked to blood cholesterol levels. OP- do your own research before eliminating fat from your child's diet. (There's another thread about a child's cholesterol that has more info if you're interested.)

It isn't so.

I notice Rosie the Riveter is your (little picture thing by your name? The word is escaping me...) Anyway, ask yourself- what would Rosie do if someone called her self-centered? What would Rosie do if she felt someone was treating her like a doormat? I have a feeling she would not wonder if she was really self-centered, she would do the job that needed to be done, and not worry about the person laying a guilt trip on her. Also, that person telling you you're falling short? That's her way of getting you to lie down and be her doormat. Be Rosie!

I have lowered my blood cholesterol and normalized my blood fat ratios by eating high fat / low carb. Many studies have shown that eating refined carbs raise your blood cholesterol levels. Your liver can produce way more cholesterol in a day than you could eat. If I were in your shoes (trying to help a 9 yo dd who is on medication for various reasons,) I would search for a doctor that does not believe in the food pyramid. I think I saw a list on dietdoctor.com once, or maybe the Wheat Belly blog.

Awesome, Beachy! When I started, the weight just fell off as well. I've been doing this for a year now. Whenever I start not feeling so great- tired, hungry, craving, etc.- I re-evaluate and discover I'm slowing increasing carbs and lowering fat inadvertently. I get back on the wagon, and become a fat burning machine again! I find I am much more alert when I'm burning fat. I don't even miss carbs when I'm eating enough fat.

A patient, kind, understanding person volunteers to help people out as it fits her schedule, so she can still take care of herself and her family. A doormat is a person (usually a woman for some reason) who other people know will do whatever is asked, especially if a little guilt is thrown in, when asking for multiple favors. Start saying no to everyone who asks you to do something for them, and seek out people who need help but don't ask (or hint.) I don't mean turn down true friends or family members- just ask yourself if this relationship is a two-way street, or if you're doing all the favors.

Nice to meet you! Technically I'm an agnostic as well, because how can one really know for sure? But the term feels too wish-washy for me personally, so I go with a stronger label ;).