Neither have I! :D (ours only went up the week before Christmas, so I'm good with having it still part of my world)

I'm sorry, hon'. Sounds like life just keeps on coming for you, huh? I'm like you in the sense that I have a few traditions (very few) to which I cling mightily. I'll be honest, though, and say that at one time or other, most of them have gone by the wayside for at least one year. Still, this particular tradition of yours isn't insurmountable. I'd slice it up like this: Plan A: Leave the tree up for one more week (or whatever deadline you want to set), and get everyone dressed and done for the photo Plan B: If that deadline passes and you still haven't done it, take the tree down, but set another deadline for getting everyone dressed and done for the photo. Plan C: If Murphy is working overtime in your life, and the dressed up and done photo doesn't happen by your deadline, let it go until the window opens on its own. Because, really, those dresses can be put on anytime between now and say, April. You'll remember that photo as the one that almost never happened, but finally did! And, the window will open. It will Good luck and :grouphug:

Since your child(ren) were homeschooled, perhaps you can discuss the idea of moving your younger son up a grade. I realize there are pluses and minuses to this, so you'd want to think it through carefully with regard to the social ramifications, if you are even able to pursue that route. Just an idea that hadn't been offered. A young friend of ours sounds similar to your son (she's in 5th grade), as is my oldest daughter (9th). My daughter's teachers seem better equipped to challenge her within the context of the regular class content than the 5th grader's teacher. Both of these children were homeschooled long term and have only just started back to school this year. Have you had a meeting with the school principal or guidance counselor (or both?) to express your concerns?

...but YES, we loved every moment of our break which lasted from Dec. 19 to Jan 5. It was so easy for us to slip back into our simple routines of sleeping late, staying up late (!), reading, talking. None of us was ready for the vacation to end, and my youngest asked, on the day school resumed, when Summer vacation begins and how long it is. ;) Given the choice, I think they'd still opt to go to school, if they could only start their mornings a little bit later!

Have I ever been where you are! Dd2 was a terrible sleeper, and a big screamer. It was so bad that dh, who handles lack of sleep less...erm...gracefully than I do, slept on the couch. For four months! And this was when baby girl was perfectly healthy. Colds and such? Well you can imagine. I don't tell you this to downplay what you're feeling now, but only to offer you a glimmer of hope that it will get better, you will survive, and this too shall pass. You've already been given great advice here, so the following list will mostly reiterate what's been said before. But, here it is, in a handy list that you can absorb easily. Take the little guy back to the doctor. Our girls have had ear infections that didn't respond to the initial antibiotic. He may need a different one. OH, and if it turns out he does have something else going on, DO NOT beat yourself up about it. It's all part of parenting. Focus on what is going well, rather than on what isn't. "Wow, Tiger slept soundly for a whole two hours today, and I got a load of wash done. Hooray!" Praise your older children for their patience, and ask them to help in any way they can because Mommy and Daddy know how big and capable they are. Sleeping in shifts is a bit like being on watch on a boat. When you're off watch, you check out. You go below, put on an eye mask and stick in your ear plugs, and you crash. Six hours (or four?) will feel a whole lot better than 2. While I realize, fully, that the job situation is terrifying, it is also a rather twisted mixed blessing right now in that dh is home with you to help you during this time. Try to view it as such. Do you have friends or a church member who can help at all? If so, now is the time to ask. The olders can go off and play, you and dh could slip out (or to bed) for a bit while someone else steps in to be in charge. I know you probably think no one else should have to (or could) manage the baby right now, but remember that they're at the top of their game, and they're glad to help Have you tried raising his mattress to elevate his head a bit (no pillows in the crib, of course)? Sometimes that helps with the stuck nose goo and post nasal drip Noise? Is there a white noise machine, small fan, or humidifier in use to help drown out other sounds? Nasal suction? Can you extract any of the goo for him? Diet? Is he eating solids at all, or just bottle/boob? Cow's milk products (cheese, yogurt, milk) seem to contribute to mucous production. Forget school. Forget the messy house. Forget that this is how its been since dh came home. Sometimes, routines get all out of whack, and that's just how life is. Don't let those things add more stress to you. I'm sorry. If I lived closer, I'd come help you. Hugs! ETA: I see that many of the suggestions offered won't work for you in one way or another, making a tough situation that much more difficult. Reading over some of your remarks, though, I had one additional thought to share. Again, I base this on my experience with dd2 in comparison to dd1. Say this to yourself until it sinks in: "This boy is not the same as his siblings and may or may not respond in similar ways to similar efforts." I tried to treat dd2 like I had treated dd1 in so many ways, but she would not bend in that direction. All that ended up happening, each time, is that my stress levels would go up because I felt like I had to reinvent my parenting wheel. I'd say, "But it worked for the other one!!". Dd1 took regular, 2-4 hour naps. Dd2 slept for 30 minutes at a pop for naps, and rarely more than 2 hours between feedings at night. Dd1 would barely cry when she was sick. Dd2 cried and cried and cried with a fever of 99°. Dd1 ate long and full, emptying both breasts, and going 4 hours until the next feeding. Dd2 wanted to eat every half hour and could only nurse from one side. Dd2 slept through the night at 10 days old. Dd2 took a full year to do this. And, do you know that many of those traits still exist in my kids? It wasn't about having a spoiled baby. It was about having a child who was totally different in make up than her older sibling. Best wishes, honey!

Good point. While my husband can and does take care of our kids in whatever form is warranted (day, night, weekend, etc), I must admit that I only ask him to do so under specific circumstances. I have some regular (non-mandatory) groups with whom I meet, so that's one. Overnights or more that have particular importance, those too. And, if I asked him to be there so I could toodle off to a friend's house for the afternoon, he'd do that, too. I just don't generally ask.

I appreciate *your* history here, and I understand, I think, the gist of what you are asking. Regardless of whether I agree or disagree with it, I wonder, do you think your request is realistic? Should those who disagree [strongly] with a sweeping generalization about the Ultimate Failure of Public Schools just sit quietly by in non-reply? And, even if they should, will they? How often do you stand up for or against a particularly strong opinion with regard to parenting styles? Do you sit quietly by in non-reply? Maybe it's a little like natural childbirth. You don't want someone offering you feel-good drugs right when you hit transition and are apt to sell every last word of your birth plan along with your laboring soul to the highest bidder. You need all those people to just shut the...up. Often - generally - they don't. So, you're left weighing the odds at the worst possible moment. Hopefully, though, you're smart enough to look to those on your team who will help you stick to your plan, the one you committed to paper when the going was good, despite the fact that there are more conventional voices in the delivery room. We are a diverse population here, with an array of experiences. This site is dedicated to being "A Guide to Classical Education at Home". It remains so whether there are proponents for public/private schooling or not.

But, I can't help but have the same feelings about most of the foods we eat. :glare: Sorry. Hope his book gets there soon!

...a Black & Decker. I didn't realize how mediocre it was until I was given a KitchenAid (with mini-chopper & whisk attachments). What a revelation!! I love the new one, have had it about 3 years, and use it and its attachments regularly. So, I'd recommend a KitchenAid

Our class is not age segregated at all. Everyone, does every thing, at his/her own pace. Of course there are age-appropriate levels of expectation, but no one is given different lessons or special treatment, per se, because of age. One of our black belts is a 75 year old man, another is past 60. Our recently retired sensei is around 60, and I think I'm the next oldest in the class at 46. I'm also one of the few adult females. The youngest student is around 7. We're all in class simultaneously, which I enjoy.

First off, ((((mamapjama))). I'm sorry for the frustration you're feeling. It's tricky when we feel as if we're the only partner who gives a rip. To answer your question, I think we've been all over the map on this one. There are times when I feel that he couldn't care less, and although it's harder for me to see it, I'm aware that there are times that he feels the same about me. Second, the key seems to be in how we express our care/love/concern. Very few people share the same love language, even in long term relationships. So, while you may *think* he's not interested, he may think he's doing plenty. By bringing in a paycheck. By taking out the trash. By playing Scrabble. Look hard, and try to be open minded about what it looks like to show concern. Chances are it differs greatly from what *you* would do. Finally, it would be valuable to find a way to broach this subject with him. Maybe not all at once. Certainly not in an accusatory way. But, try to let it out, for what festers within can turn to poison. Again, I'm sorry. Sending peace,

My daughters and I started taking karate classes 7 years ago. Dd1 was 8 (barely), and dd2 was 5 (2+ months shy of 6). I have said for years that the youngest would never have survived the initial month had I not also been in the class with her. Older daughter would likely have been just fine, even if she'd been only 5 when she began, but "little bit" is too distractible. Coordinated? Yes, quite. Able to follow instructions well. Absolutely, and better than her older sister! Attentive. Sure. To a point. If she's really interested in it. That point, in that class, was/is about an hour. Pity that it's a two hour class! You get where I'm going here. We are still members of the same dojo, but since the kids started in public school in August, it's been nearly impossible for us to manage our schedules in such a way as to continue attending. I'm really sorry about that, and so is dd1. Dd2 really has very little interest in going back, and frankly, her interest has been gone for well over a year (she's now 12). I wonder sometimes whether she'd have had more extended interest if we'd waited until she was older to begin. It is a very discipline intensive practice. For some kids, that works very well. For others, not so much, in which case there are probably many other suitable activities "out there". Good luck with your decision,

Thank you for sharing with us, Dana. I have to admit that your post creates a bit of anxiety in me. We all do the best we can with the tools we are given to use. Sounds like you've used yours very well. Hugs to you and your daughter. Sending you continued strength and patience as you work through the layers of all that has transpired.

Apparently, I need a booster course. I keep that stuff, like, forEVAH! I think I've been working on the same bottle of Whatsthisheresauce for as long as I've lived in MD (14 years!). Oh, my, that is really frightening. Why'd you have to bring this up right before bedtime?! I'm bound to have nightmares now.

Sprouts went to that seminar with me. Notice, Bill, that I said it was a free coupon...not a free seminar. But, I know you want it. Just to add to your collection. I'll PM ya'!

I think your box is plenty big. ;) Here, I have a free coupon to a seminar on compulsive hoarding. Go on. You can have it. I'm all done with it. :lol: p.s. I save mine as text files, too. Sorry, since I already know that option really doesn't work for you I was trying a different tack.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/holocaust.asp Snopes is great for sorting out fact from fiction from part fiction. You might want to save the link and send it to your friend.

...it is letting go of having to be in the mood. Do I wish I could be rarin' to go more often? You betcha! Am I? Well, no. But, I have been working on the premise of "fake it til you make it", and it has made some real differences. Honestly, the longer you abstain, the greater the disconnect between you and your dh likely becomes. So, you set up a negative cycle. I'm not suggesting that you go against your will, or fake the whole encounter. Not at all. Just letting you know that sometimes I have to get in the mood in the process of getting in the mood, iykwim. The other suggestions here are excellent. Go back and read the infamous "tea" thread, too. There were some good ideas in those pages, not to mention a few good laughs. :)

Truly, there are studies showing that nearly everything we drink could potentially cause some problem. Even water. I'm aiming for balance. :001_smile:

I had not heard that before and appreciate the tip. I've spent a portion of early day reading about this, and as is typical in my investigations of this sort of thing, I find conflicting evidence. However, there does appear to be one constant, that is the use of the words "heavy consumers" alongside those with increased cancer risk. I finally found one study that described "heavy" as more than 1.5 liters per day. That at least give me some level of comfort regarding the quantities that we have been consuming, which generally falls in the 12-24 oz./day range (not quite 3/4 of one liter). Still, it give me pause to learn these facts and nudges me toward the green tea that loved before our more recent switch to mate. Thanks!!

I'd put money on it being a combination of economics and values, with the former (many homeschoolers are also living in single income families) tipping the scales just a bit toward smaller homes thus the need for room sharing.

...here are some combinations of words I've thought of. I may have focused too much on the partnering of the two, and some may bring in people that have no intentions of being there (:001_huh:), but creating pairs is what seemed to help me generate the most interesting ideas. In each instance, I'm thinking of the first word as those at the beginning of the journey while the second word is for those already underway. Spinners and Weavers Kneaders and Bakers Fledglings and Fliers Excavators and Builders Earthshakers and Changemakers Activators and Innovators (there were actually other terms that worked for that last set, so play around with any of these additional words in combination: Generator, Cultivator, Initiator) Hope this helps get your creative wordsmith juices flowing. :001_smile:

Our girls were in separate rooms until they were 10 and 12. It just worked out that way, even in our little farm cottage (less than 1000 sq. ft.), there were three bedrooms, one for each girl, and one for me and dh. When we moved from there in April '07, we took a rental home with only two bedrooms. We thought we only stay here about six months. Clearly, things did not happen that way. :001_rolleyes: So, our girls, now 12 and 14, are sharing a room. If they had an opportunity to have separate rooms, I think they'd jump at the chance (certainly the teenager would!), but they are also doing quite well as roommates. Almost surprisingly well, I must say. You just never know how it will go until you try.

Karen, you are such an opportunist! ;) I haven't seen in mentioned, though I have also not read every post. Dh and I switched from coffee to tea about a year ago, and yerba mate is our now our choice of beverage in the mornings. We didn't know anything about the "celebrity" endorsements, we just liked the taste and the fact that a local coffee house has a ready brewed mate all the time. Good stuff. Otherwise, we enjoy genmaicha (green tea w/ brown rice), as well as some herbal teas such as rooibos and a handful of the Yogi and Celestial Seasonings teas. The only teas I generally dislike are the Zinger teas. Not a big fan of citrus tea, although I did try a cup of Acai berry and something or other (I think the name ended with zinger) and found it surprisingly enjoyable. For those of you who listed it as your favorite, what's great about PJ Tips? I'd never even heard of it until this thread.

Janie, I can't imagine how warm you must feel inside just to have her home again. I also can't imagine how hard the reentry must be for everyone. Please know that there are many, many of us who are grateful for what your daughter and your family have given to us as a country. Sending gentle patience and complete healing to all of you. Enjoy being together as a family again,