Nope, don't live there... We're in So Cal, but in 2 weeks my 17 yr old is going to Israel for 10 days. She is going with a group of seniors graduating from the local Christian school. I wish i could go!!!

The gun thing is exactly what I said. My kids have seen first hand what guns can do to different items (birds, deer, pumpkins, etc) and actually had a friend try to show off his dads gun by trying to hand it to my son. My 9yr old ds told him he was stupid to handle his fathers gun and to put it away. I think he went there with his friend b/c hes been taught to respect guns. I also agree with the above post and tell our kids they can't watch a movie unless mom or dad approve. There have been many times when they've been at a friends house and called home to check if a movie was ok.

I'm not so sure if there are actually questions you can ask that will make you feel 100% comfortable. Personally, I'd want to know their stand on certain things... but I think these are things you can only know over time and not by interigating the parents. I'd want to know about their religious beliefs, I'd want to know about pets & guns. I've had a son bitten by a friends dog AND being a gun family, I let parents know upfront we have them & they are locked, etc. I found out by a parent yelling at me that "I should have let her know her son was going to be so close to a deadly weapon before I let him in my house". And right off-- I want to know, since you've only met mom-- if dad, uncle or older sibling will be home when said child is over their house. We once let our dd go to a friends and the mom thought nothing about leaving her dd and my dd with the dad, whom I had never met- I didn't like it, but it was my fault for allowing her to go before I'd met the entire family. Sry if the above thoughts are jumbled, kids are making the dog crazy-- but I hope I answered your question!

I don't really think "disney" when I think of fairy tales. That may be the english major in me but honestly I think of stories such as hansel and gretel, rumpelstiltskin, & Three Billy Goats Gruff when I think fairy tales. My understanding of fairy tales is that they are like folklores or aesop's fables. Beings that Albert Einstein was a bit before Walt Disney, I'm pretty sure he wasn't thinking about the Princess Jasmine or Bell either. However, sidenote...did you know, whether or not you choice to like the story- that there is many different versions of Cinderella in many cultures, not just at Disney? just interesting....

My 9 yr old boy is exactly like this. He is bright at science & math but english & communication is tough for him. I've learned two things that seem to work for him. The first is to have him repeat what I said 3 or 4 times (such as above.. where are we going? where are we going? where are we going?.. ) and he tells me over and over.. the second thing is if we are running many errans or if I want him to remember more then 3 things-- I write them down and he marks them off as we run the erran. If I have to write it for him, I'll usually include tickle son or buy ice cream cone at drive through-- making the day not so long!

With the exception of the Disney vaca, we always stay at a holiday inn. Holiday Inns are EVERYWHERE and are clean. Hubby travels with work and stays in a hotel about 3-4 nights a month. Holiday Inn has their regular inn, the Holiday Inn Express & the Holiday Inn Select. They average about $100 a night and always include some sort of breakfast (more or less depending on which holiday inn you are in). They always have a pool and a washer/dryer set up. Rooms come with internet connection as well. In 3 years of ALOT of travel, we've never had a bad experience.

I mean this completely out of respect but... why would you live or um, maybe HOW is the better question, that you rarely pay attention to prices? Do you grow & raise all your own food? Don't drive a car? I 'm with you on the over population, pollution thought-- but there is no way to NOT notice that prices of everyday items (milk, eggs, gas) is really going up every week... I also don't get those that say they aren't effected b/c their spending hasn't changed. Well... neither has mine, I am still frugal at the grocery store but the increased costs of food & gas means less is going into my savings now, and that I've had to make a few adjustments on things I bake/buy... How can one NOT be effected at all...? what am I missing?

:iagree:Yes it does happen. PLEASE PLEASE though--- don't dismiss your gut if you don't find what you are looking for in the Megans law books. I have a relative that should be 6 feet under but isn't. He SHOULD be in Megans law binder but isn't. He bargined his crime down to a rediculous point. He isn't stupid and moved from California to Az. where the laws required less of him- ON PURPOSE. My sister and I have fought to make sure the police department keeps him under watch. PARENTS FOLLOW YOUR GUT!. As far as the original poster goes, a child that age should not be alone with any instructor and I'm make a comment outloud in front of the student & teacher that I'm watching every thing from the window.

:iagree:!!!! When its cold out, I dont' turn the heat on- I'm pulling sweatshirts, blankets and hot chocolate to keep me warm. I love the cold...but when the temps heat up-- I absolutely have to have the air on or I physically or mentally can't do a thing. Unfortunantely I'm in So Cal, its hardley ever cold and HOT seems to be the temps more days then not...

Hey! I've seen that restaurant, it looks FUN!! Hope he took pix! And btw, I"m with ya-- today I had back to back kids classes & games and then church~ I ate something sandwhichish today sometime between art class & game #1. This evening DH called from a nice hotel 3 hrs away after dinner & drinks with the team to tell me goodnite and that he misses his leaking showerhead. I want to miss my leaking showerhead!! :glare:

Oh my goodness you lightweights.... :tongue_smilie: California has been $4 for a while now.... We ventured to Az for the weekend and HAPPILY filled the tank for $3.55!!!! sick sick sick

I've got 4 kids on 4 different teams. Usually dh and I split and do what we can but yes, there is usually about 1/2 game per kid per week we don't get to. I keep close contact with the team moms so they don't think we're flaking. We have kids whose parents NEVER come to games, the rest of us kind of adopt the kid during the season.

this was us.. 17yr dd and I watch house together. This week she talked her dad into watching it with us. Nice he tells me... However... I also laughed at the Mah duh-duh comment, then I had to explain it to 17yr dd.

Oh please.. someone PLEASE tell me I'm not the only one who has a teenager that LOVES this song and a dh that thinks the video is totally funny b/c he remembers the ORIGINAL?????? :001_huh: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?vid=228937 (who would have ever thought a Michael Jackson song would be redone????)

Ditto that. My husband had 2 guns when turned 18 and many knives (actually has a great collection). My 9 yr old is already saving for the shot gun he wants when he turns 18. We are a gun family but I understand you get to draw the line at the weapons you'll allow in your home regardless of his age. I'm just saying, I dont' think its uncommon. On the flip side.. a friend of mine said it was VERY strange to come home and find beer in the fridge a few weeks after her full time student son turned 21. She said there was a note attached that read: Stay OUT mom! Just a thought for when hes a few years older! :tongue_smilie:

devils advocate here but honestly I dont' think this is the case, just bringing something up. * I've seen situations of the camping trailer and reactions from OTHER parents so I'm wondering.... is it possible your son, with his suggestion of repacking the camping stuff, or taking the lead with other situations, is stepping on the toes of some adults in the group? I understand scouts is exactly where you want him to step up- but I"m wondering if this woman or her husband feels like your son stepped on their toes with his questioning them, and the way she worded it was just a diplomatic way saying it. ?? Her saying the "other boys" probably means her own son. I've heard "too independent" as a term to explain in a nice way a child is full of themselves or smug.... I've also seen adults who may not be to sure of themselves, feel undermind by a confident teenager. Otherwise.. SHES JUST CRAZY! :tongue_smilie:

I'm wondering what state/county you've been associated with. I, 19 yrs ago, graduated from a private school in an influential area in Orange County California. There were knife fights on campus. Drugs & alcohol were as easy to get a hold of as a diet coke & popcorn from my fellow students. In my senior class, there were 5 girls who'd had abortions, 2 fathers graduating & a few engaged girls. This was NOT abnormal in my friends schools either. I can only imagine what 19 yrs has done to the schools. Although I haven't seen the movie, from what dd tells me (senior not homeschooled this year) and from what I read in the thread- this is "the way things are" in public schools across the nation. Resently, my friends husband (teacher) a high school student came on to him looking to get out of a test. He is constantly having to tell the girls to put clothes on when they come to class-- this includes his new rule- if a girl is wearing a short skirt, she DOESN"T sit in front of the class.

My dh says this to me often. If his wife is there to greet him with a smile for him when he comes in the door, thats all he cares about. He could care less about the house, the amount of toys in the yard or if the kids are unkempt; he says he does his 60hrs a week, help around the house, help the neighbor, etc., etc, etc. to make me happy. You can analyze all you want but I think (and don't ment this at all as a slam) that men are simple- and just want you happy. Its as if the saying "if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"... is TRUE! sidenote: Lucky for him (I think) that I DO care if the house is a mess, the toys are in the yard and if the kids are CLEAN! :tongue_smilie:

Besides ears.. what have you done? Was it before or after kids? :confused: I got my belly button done after child #4 when I was 35. After 1 1/2yrs, my body rejected it. I have had my ears and cartilage done since forever. I'm currently trying to gather the courage to get a tiny nose dot.

Great nose job!! Reminds me of a certain twightlight zone though..... Happy Birthday!

yes and yes.. however-- i heard this trick and since then my baseboards have been clean! Whenever my 12 yr old & resently my 9 yr old,answers me with attitude in his voice, he has to wipe the baseboards with a clorax wipe... -- it worked so well that when the 5 yr old doesn't listen, she uses the wipes for door handles and light switches I have never had such clean baseboards & light switches!!! Just a thought.....

Well I'll go with what ALL the other posts seem to be saying.. its YOUR car, tell her to put it on.. and um.. yeah the ticket thing..?!?!? Thats a $500 to the DRIVER. Think it would go over well with her mom if you told her you'd tried to tell her dd to put the belt on but she didn't so now she has to pay the fine?!?! Buckle up or fine another ride...

:iagree: No can of worms here.. I was reading the replys to see if someone already said this. My 17 yr old wears board shorts & a tankini & blends perfectly well with all her board short/tankini friends.... On the to modest thing.. I've actually known a few women whose parents & religious convictions kept them SOOO um.. modest & such, they had sexual & intimacy promblems when they got married (felt weird about their bodies....) I'm just sayen....'

Ohhh I didn't know they had this sauce!!!!! My children will LOVE our next Costco trip b/c I usually have to go to the Greek market for it! Thanks for the tip! corb