Do what makes you happy. (I'm assuming a bit here, so bear with me...) You don't want a bunch of fuss or time-consuming details. Your kids want something a little more to be Christmas. Here's a few simple thoughts, some that's been mentioned before. Pick and choose, one thing or three. BUT DO WHAT BRINGS YOU JOY. For me, I'd choose one or two things the kids can do and then ooh and ahh over them. 1. Christmas tree. Let the kids be in charge of it. Let them do as much as they can. At 14, your dd can pretty much do anything. The only thing I would be worried about is the cost of decorations, if I didn't have them. I can see a 14 yr old going crazy and spending way too much on tree ornaments! 2. Pre-packaged Christmas themed cookies. Stick 'em on a plate for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, tree-decorating time, whenever works for you. (Hot cocoa works, too!) 3. Christmas music. YouTube or Pandora on the television. Do a quick search, and you're good to go! 4. Candles. Don't even need to be Christmas-themed or scented, but a few extra candles lit at night during the Christmas season is very simple. 5. A wreath on your front door. That's it. One wreath. Or one other decoration of your choice to sit next to the door. Just one. Let the kids pick it out, if you like. 6. Stockings. Let the kids each pick out their own stocking, if they don't have one. Get something easy to fill it with like their favorite snack foods or socks. 7. Christmas movies. Do you have any movies that you or your kids like that have a Christmas theme to them? Watch them sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas. 8. Snowflakes. It is a craft, but it's a simple as you can get. Give the kids plain copy paper and scissors and let them cut snowflakes. Tape them to a window where they can be admired. Throw them away after Christmas. 9. Let each kid have specific task. Be it something mentioned above or their own thing. Let them own Christmas and you sit back and enjoy! 10. Christmas lights. One evening close to Christmas, drive around town and look at Christmas lights. Make it a relaxing time! Get dressed in pjs, if you want. Take your coffee or hot cocoa or run through drive thru and just enjoy the show. Okay, I have been on the forums wayyy too long this morning...off to do actual work! :leaving:

It's Halloween. I don't think cultural appropriation applies on Halloween, because the entire point is to dress as something you're not: dress as something you'd LIKE to be, or dress as something you'd NEVER be. Just dress up and have fun. Can you dress up offensively even on Halloween? Absolutely! It happens a lot. Every year. But not from choosing to dress up as any person or character of a different race or culture. The offense happens when dress up is done with mocking. Like blackface. Or done in a stereotypical, non-authentic way, like the person dressed up as a scary, wart-on-the-nose, green skinned witch or the slutty, skimpily dressed nun. So, yeah, go ahead and dress as someone from different race. More points to you if you can do it in an authentic manner! Creative costumes that defy stereotypes are great for conversations on what x-y-z REALLY is. Halloween can be a great time for education, but it needs to be done in a positive manner, not in a negative, how-dare-you way. For the record, in a broader sense, I'm of the opinion that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and even poor imitations can be used to open doors to education. I constantly tell my kids that we are in the age of information. Go look it up. Learn about it. We are not in a world full of isolated cultures and societies. Learn, share, and give credit to original sources. My views on cultural appropriation are still developing, too, but generally follow that same line of thinking.

I'm glad that it was a lab error and not intentional on the doctor's part. I agree that patient wishes should be respected! Technically, yes, a test is just a test, but that's really not the issue. The point is that (1) the patient's wishes should be respected, and (2) tests lead to other things, so it's rarely as simple as just being a test. I had a physical a few months ago and my iron levels were low, so the doctor told me to take an iron supplement and come back in a few weeks for another test. I did. When I got called back about the second results, and the doctor went on and on about my cholesterol levels, how they were high and I'd need to take medicine, etc. Ugh. The thing was, I was supposed to be getting my iron rechecked, NOT my cholesterol! Cholesterol levels were fine the first go round when I actually fasted, but the second test was late in the afternoon after I had eaten at least two meals. Of course my cholesterol was going to be off! I was so flustered about why she was going on about cholesterol, that I forgot to get my iron levels. I didn't ask, and she never even mentioned my iron. <_<

Not a weird idea. Do what works for you. My oldest was born on Christmas Day. Mostly, I've tried to keep his birthday separate from Christmas, but there have been a couple of times in his 20 years that logistically that was just not possible. There were just too many things going on to try to do separate events. Sometimes, he was happy about doing something weeks away from his birthday, other times, he wanted something closer, even if that meant doubling up on events. I honestly don't think there's a wrong way to "do" birthdays (not talking about trampling all over people's feelings, of course, just in celebrating).

Just recently, I read an article about a rise in the copperhead population due to a decline in black racers. I wish I could find that article for you now. It was very interesting.

I didn't do Halloween when my oldest were little, but we do now, so it's a bit of a new thing for me. (We moved from a rural area to a neighborhood where Halloween is a big thing.) I love helping the kids get dressed up and go Trick or Treating, but man, I hate that they end up only wearing the costume maybe ONCE! So...this year I instituted a new rule, and I got this idea from my dd who decided to be Anna Beth Chase (from Percy Jackson books) one year and Regina Mills (from Once Upon A Time) another. Both times, we got real clothes and a some inexpensive accessories. Dd wore (and still wears!) those clothes. The Camp Half-Blood t-shirt is too small now, but man, she wore that thing out! So the new rule is this: whatever costume/character you decide on, it has to be something that can be done with real clothes so that you can continue to wear them! Dd11 is going as Wanda Olsen (Scarlet Witch) from Age of Ultron. I'm almost envious. She's getting a red (fake) leather jacket and a new dress! She needs another dress anyway, and I know she will wear that jacket until it's not possible anymore! She already has boots, and I can make or adapt things to finish out the costume. Ds9 is going as Ash from Pokemon XY. He's getting a royal blue polo shirt and using white duct tape to decorate it. He's getting a Pokemon trainer hat, which I know he will also continue to wear well after Halloween, and black fingerless gloves with a bit of red duct tape around the wrist. He's going to use a small Pikachu balloon (the kind that comes on a stick in the floral department) to put on his shoulder. Ds7 is going to be a thief. He's going ALL black. He's using what he has, and borrowing a mask from a friend. He's in this all-black stage right now. He likes to sneak. LOL

Personally, I like a good greige. I researched and chose Mindful Gray by Sherwin Williams to paint most of the inside of my house before putting it on the market, partly because I wanted a good color that would buyers would like, and partly because I was soooo SICK AND TIRED OF BEIGE. Ugh. IMNSHO I think that's why greige is so popular. It's a great neutral color that you can pair just about anything with...and it's not builder's beige. When we bought our current place ten years ago, this house and nearly every new construction in the area were painted with beige. I think people are tired of beige but want a neutral color that will work with anything, but not white! (cause, dirt, ya' know) Of course, greige may be the new go-to neutral, but if you don't like it, then why should you be stuck with it until you move? There are plenty of nice beiges/creams/whites that you could go with. I think the most important thing is having a lovely neutral shade of new paint...whether it's gray, greige, beige, or even white. But I'm no real estate expert...and I've yet to sell my house. :crying: So, that's just my $.02.

8 weeks pp is still early to be worried about not being back to pre-baby weight, especially if you're nursing. As someone else mentioned, it took nine months to put it on. You should be giving yourself at least that much time to take it off, more if you're nursing. My advice: Nurture your body like you do your new baby. It worked hard for nine months and then really went into overdrive to bring that new baby into the world. Don't focus on a specific weight or fitting into pre-baby clothes. Eat healthy. Exercise in whatever way brings you joy. And SLEEP (when you can, I know, ha ha!) :grouphug:

This really isn't about cameras and privacy. It's about an idiot who continued to harass a child when the mother said NO. The camera was the tool that they used, but it could have just as easily been something different. I know a lot of people from different cultures, and I can't imagine anyone who actually stopped to think would think that it would ever be acceptable to try to go around a mother standing between them and a child and explicitly saying "no." Not for any reason. Not in any culture. Anyone who uses their brain would know THEY CROSSED A LINE and they needed to stop. People get a camera in their hands and do stupid, offensive things. I think that goes across cultures. People kill themselves trying to get selfies. People kill themselves by staring at their phones instead of where they walk. An idiot really wanted a picture and let go of all common sense and basic courtesy. Again, this goes across cultures. I agree w/ the OP that the tourist was way out of line. I'm really surprised to see so many people trying to defend this person who tried to go around mama to get to child. Could the situation have been handled differently or diffused earlier? Maybe. But that does NOT mean what that tourist did was okay. Not by any stretch. Nope. The tourist was way out of line and should not be excused because she is from a different culture than the OP's.

If you really don't want to use it, I give another vote for re-gifting. Christmas is coming, and I don't think B&N gift cards expire. (September and the changing weather is always the trigger for me to start thinking ahead to Christmas.)

If he made his needs known at the time of his hiring, then I think he is well within reason to push to keep that. But if he has changed it since then, they might not be willing to make that change. It wasn't what he was hired to do, and it may not be what they need. Either way, though, it really depends on management. How much are they willing to work with their employees? How much do they like him and want to keep him? Those that they want to keep, they are generally willing to do more for. Sometimes, though, this is as much a popularity contest as it is based on the employee's work ethic.

That is one I've looked at. I've got it on hold at the library right now. It's four and half stars with almost fifteen hundred reviews! What did you find difficult about it?

My oldest is, and has been, one of the worst about jumping in and telling his younger siblings what to do or not do, generally as I am opening my mouth to address the situation. "I do not need help being Mom!" is my standard phrase. That and, "I'm sitting right here. If it was a problem, I would have dealt with it."

I am trying to find good resources, preferably including at least one physical book, to give to someone I know. Her mother is involved in a relationship with a controlling, emotionally and verbally abusive spouse. I don't think it's more than that right now, but I am afraid that it could quickly evolve into it. "Suzy" is 18. Her father was verbally abusive, but while her mother left him a good 7-or-so years ago, she still grew up in a dysfunctional family. Even then, she knows that her mom's current husband is a dirtbag, and she's worried about her mom, which is understandable. So am I. Suzy's mom "Sheila" married her current husband, Dirtbag, only about a year ago. Dirtbag was controlling even before they married, but it was manifest more towards the almost-grown children. He took the facade of "I'm trying to be a good dad." :ack2: Suzy really did not put up with much of that. She is a strong woman, and soon as she could, she moved out. Now that all the kids are out of the house, Sheila has become the sole focus of Dirtbag. Suzy is really being cut off from her mom. There really is nothing anyone can do until Sheila is ready. Currently, she is making excuses for herself and Dirtbag. I know this. Suzy knows this. And boy, is it frustrating! :banghead: Especially since Sheila was strong enough to walk out of the toxic relationship w/ her first husband, and if she would just really stop and look at her situation, she would see that she has allowed herself to get sucked back into another toxic relationship! (And yes, I know Sheila very well.) So...with that background, I'm looking for a good book or two and/or websites that will help Suzy understand the dynamics of a controlling and abusive relationship as well as how to be prepared to help her mom, once her mom wakes up. (Which I do think will eventually happen.) I'm in contact w/ Suzy and trying to be encouraging, but I just feel like something that Suzy can read and study on her own would be helpful to her. I'm perusing Amazon and the internet right now looking for stuff. There's certainly no shortage of resources! I just need some help narrowing it down to something that would be best for Suzy's situation.

Yep. My fave, too. :hurray:

I have not really had an opinion on Taylor Swift, but after reading this article: Taylor Swift Takes the Stand in Groping Trial: "He Had a Handful of My @$$" I'm definitely impressed! She did not allow herself to be backed into a corner and took a very firm stand against victim blaming...which it sounds like the lawyer was trying very hard to do.

:crying: This is so me. I HATE confrontation. Unless it's with my kids. I have no problems telling them to shape up or do the job right. Sometimes I have to consciously put myself in "mom mode" when dealing w/ contractors, etc.

I do exactly that. I keep a hard copy of websites and their passwords. I don't carry it with me, so it would only be of use if someone broke into the house, found the mundane place I keep it, figured out what it was and how to use it, and so on.

:thumbup:

I trust that it wouldn't work for your yard, but I don't understand the bolded. Is that your personal opinion or some legal definition or something? I didn't think of it as hostile. You're creating a barrier, that's all. Just curious.

Actual electric fence, if you don't have an HOA or something barring their use. Use stakes and put it just about the height of the dog's chest. Get one that's safe for birds, etc. I used a battery-powered one in a part of the yard I wanted my dogs to stay out of, but I didn't want to run an extension cord. It worked very well. Once they got used to it, I didn't even have to keep it on.

Thank you! Is this the book: https://www.amazon.com/Nolos-Encyclopedia-Everyday-Law-Frequently/dp/1413313213 The school system has been friendly toward homeschoolers, so I'm hoping that trend will continue with this.

So it sounds like I need to get an evaluation of some type to make sure that I'm getting his specific needs addressed. I can do the Barton pre-screen (which I will try to do tomorrow) and in the process of getting an evaluation, I need to: make a list of every area that he's struggling with list the programs, etc. that we've used to address his issues (RTI) contact the school system to set up an evaluation Sound about right?

Still working through some of those resources, but new question: in filing the Declaration of Intent for this year, should I mark special ed for him? I live in Georgia if that makes a difference.

Thank you all. My brain is still half asleep, so I'll re-read these and check out some of these resources and then get back to you.