There's no reason for her to feel guilty about not going. None whatsoever. If the dd is just being inconvenienced, then she can suck it up and go. If there's other issues--like not being able to handle staying up that late and then getting up early the next morning--then that's another story. Culture does not get an automatic pass, IMO, and I say that coming from a multicultural family. My dh grew up where the kids were expected to do EVERYTHING asked of them, no matter what. I adamantly oppose the idea that mom needs to be present just to satisfy the kids desire for her to be there. I don't think kids get to just skip out of obligations because mom doesn't go...mom is an adult and has different needs and responsibilities. Kids can and should learn that. Dad should be backing mom up so it's not a matter of, "Mom just doesn't want to go." Mom shouldn't be made to feel guilty for needing some time alone. Kids should learn that mom has needs, too, and that includes having some time alone, even if they don't fully understand. You don't have to fully understand something to acknowledge that someone has particular needs and to be respectful of them. That's something kids should learn at a young age, IMO.

We keep the wood stacked on a pallet and covered with a tarp. I prefer to use pinecones and starter logs to start the fire. I make a nice bed of pinecones, then put the starter logs, then smaller pieces of wood before larger ones. I don't skimp on the starters. I don't like to baby the fire. Once I start it, I want it to get going and keep going. And when I do this with properly seasoned wood, it does just that. But when I do this with new wood, it doesn't. FTR, my dh has a tendency to skimp on the starters. I fuss at him because he won't put down enough pinecones to really get it going and then I have to come behind him and redo it. LOL. It's his frugal side that shows through...except that the pinecones are free! I make the kids go pick them up for me.

I've done it all. Extra pillows, sleeping pillows...and occasionally, I'll fold up blankets to put in then. Blankets can fill a sham easily, and it gives somewhere to store them when you don't need them.

Can't watch the video right now. I will have to come back to do that, but as far as children arguing... All the kids have their moments (I have six), but two are constantly bickering. I finally just accepted that some of my kids butt heads more frequently and need more frequent breaks from each other. I simply tell them to cut it out. I don't even bother trying to figure out who started what...It takes two to argue, and I remind them of that and then tell them "stop arguing" and "enough" and "quit talking to each other." In other words, I basically shut it down. This most often happens during chore time, when they seem more concerned about what the other is/is not doing that what they're supposed to be doing, so I make sure that they are not working together and redirect them back to their task. (Not getting the chores done come with its own consequences.) If it gets real bad, and they just won't stop, I will send them to their rooms. If that means they're stuck in the same room, fine, if they want to be miserable, that's their choice, but the rest of us don't have to listen to them. I don't try to punish beyond that, because that just seems to give them more fuel for fighting against each other (because, you know, it's always the other one's fault!). If the bickering and arguing escalates to screaming and shouting, or worse, I will either make them apologize or I will spank them (or both). I don't spank very much, especially past about 4-5, but being really nasty toward each other is a spanking offense for me. That rarely happens, though, and I don't remember the last time things escalated to that level. I think that they've about learned that Mom can only handle so much, regardless of anything else. That's how I handle it, anyway.

I brought quite a bit inside to to dry. I also stacked up some on our patio where it gets full sun...we're supposed to have sunny, dry weather all week. I'm hoping that will help. I've considered cleaning out a part of the garage and moving all the firewood in there, but I'm not sure if that's a good idea. I also bought the 4-hr logs from the grocery store. I threw a couple of regular firewood on top of one and so far it's burning well and producing heat, so I think that will work for now. But, yes, I talked to my dh, and I think we will get some more come springtime and make sure it has all summer to season.

I have thought about using coals or the processed logs to help the wood burn. I may try that. Any fire STARTERS just don't burn long enough to really get the wood going. I've tried homemade and store-bought. And they work great if the wood is well-seasoned. Not for what I've got. Thanks for the tip on the Bear Bricks, but it doesn't look like they service the southeast. It IS frustrating.

I did think about contacting him and being honest about it NOT burning. We know this man. I would consider him and his family as friends, though not super-close. I think he would be willing to work with us. BUT, in the long run, I'm thinking I should be making firewood purchases a YEAR before I need them so that they could season before I need them. So, I should just keep this and let it season for next year. And then next year, buy for the following, etc. But what do I do in the mean time?

Fourth year. Fourth supplier. And STILL the supposedly seasoned firewood is NOT SEASONED! I'm beginning to wonder if/how I can find someone that sells the stuff around here. :cursing: Every year, my new firewood is a pain to get going, requires constant babying to keep burning, and it doesn't produce a very good heat. Contrast that with the firewood left-over from the previous year, which is easy to start and burns well. It's pretty obvious that the new firewood just needs more time to season. And this year is now, I'm thinking the truckload we just bought should just sit until next year...but what do I do in the meantime? We have heating, so it's not like we rely on the fireplace to heat the home, but I REALLY enjoy using the fireplace to warm up the living room on cold nights, or days like today where I have sick kiddos camped out in the living room and I'd like it a little warmer. I'm wondering if those fire logs they sell at the stores are worth it. Would they produce any heat or just show? Thoughts?

This sounds similar to something that would happen at my house. :svengo: What seems rude to one is politeness to another. (Asking is rude to one. Not saying how long you'll be staying is rude to another.) There are going to be a million, tiny little differences like this that could drive a person insane. You and your dh are going to have to make sure you're on the same page and present a united front. For me, this would be a "take a stand" issue. I would have to know how long I would be sharing a home with grandparent-in-laws. YMMV.

When they're old enough to cook for themselves, then they're old enough to decide what they will/will not eat. Within reason, of course. This doesn't apply to allergies/sensitivities. For the most part, I try to be accommodating, but... Here's an example: I have one who HATES fish/seafood. Before 5-6, she loved fried fish. Then, one day, that suddenly changed. (I think it had something to do with Finding Nemo.) For several years, I would insist that she would have a small portion and then give her something else to eat. She learned how to take a few bites of something she didn't like. And she also learned how to behave when something she didn't like was served. She also had ample opportunities to grow out of that phase, if that was what it was. She didn't. She's 15 now. I don't insist she eat fish, not even only two bites. Either I fix an alternative for her, or she does it herself. Her little sister is 8, and has decided that if Big Sis doesn't like fish, she doesn't either. :glare: Fine. Same rules apply to her. She has to take a couple of bites, then she can have something else. Surprise...Little Sister likes shrimp. If I'd let her just follow her big sis, she'd still be thinking that all things that swim are evil. The point is, when kids are still young, their tastes are still developing and likes and dislikes change, often a lot. Also, learning to eat something, even just a couple of bites, of something you don't like is a good skill for kids to learn. In this particular instance, I would point out how rude I thought the other little boy was being and tell my kid I hoped HE didn't behave that rudely. And then, I would tell him that when he's old enough to cook supper, then he can decide what he wants to fix. Until then, he has to at least TRY what I fix for him...every time......The only exception would probably be bacon, since that is really more of a treat. If he REALLY didn't want to eat the bacon, then someone else could have his.

I agree that the toddler is not going to be the problem. My dh is of a different culture than I am. In his culture, the oldest usually gets their way at the expense of everyone else. If grandparents came into a home, then the home changed to meet the grandparents wishes. This is all a way of showing respect to elders. In America, usually the one(s) who pay the bills is the "master" of the house, no matter how old anyone else living there is. These two cultural differences can cause huge issues. You can end up with two people (or sets of people) vying for control. You and your dh really need to sit down and set some clear boundaries. Make sure to let the grandparents know what those boundaries are before they come, and then again once they've arrived. Who is going to be ultimately in charge of the toddler? You and your dh? or the grandparents? And even then, there are certain house rules that always apply, like the no eating on the couches. JMHO

:lol: I was cat-sitter to my sis's cat for a few weeks. This crazy cat was the CLUMSIEST cat I've ever seen. For the entire first week I don't think he touched the floor: climbing from shelf to table to counter, knocking over everything possible...except the one houseplant he used as his litter box. Said plant is no longer with us. Neither is the cat, thankfully.

LOL...interesting you ask this right now. I just officially promoted my ds10 from one of the "kids" (my youngest four) to "one of the older ones," complete with a later bedtime, extra privileges and extra chores. :lol:

Suggestions for a Wholockian... Psych Leverage Warehouse 13 Once Upon a Time Merlin Eureka Probably in that order, too.

I know your question was directed toward Joanne, but I don't understand what you're asking. Truth is God, I believe. And I THINK that's what you're saying. Are you asking how you can find this (God, Truth) outside of Christianity?

I always thought the word Christmas comes from Christ mass, and over time it grew into one word with the pronunciation we have now...so in other words, no grammar rule, just evolution of a phrase. But I could be wrong on that.

*sigh* Ok. Thanks. :glare:

My dd really wants to cosplay as an elf for the opening of The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies. But we can't go on opening night (Wednesday), so she's thinking that she's not going to cosplay at all. I've tried to tell her that there will be people cosplaying on opening weekend, not just opening night, but she doesn't believe me. So....for those that might be in the know or have Facebook and can ask around...will there be cosplaying on Fri or Sat night of the opening weekend of The Hobbit?

Ziplining sounds like something ds would love! Also rock climbing, and particularly rappelling. I'm going to look into those. Anything else? I'm not sure about skydiving. That's more his sister's thing.

I've never been to Boston, but Atlanta traffic is bad. It's also very fast on the interstates and highways. And ds hasn't been driving long enough to be ready for those kind of conditions. He hasn't even had his license for a year yet. (We were late getting his learner's permit, so that pushed his license back, too.)

Ds is turning 18 soon. We're thinking instead of giving a physical gift, of doing something. But we're having a hard time coming up with something. We don't have a lot of money, so anything overnight is out of the question. We're within driving distance to Atlanta, though, if someone knows of something. We'd like it to be fun but also reflective of his becoming an "adult." We don't necessarily have to do it with him...it could be something he can do without parents along, depending on what it is. He is still in high school and he's not ready to drive in Atlanta! Any ideas?

I think it was very poor customer service. The photo ID, I agree with on keeping it with you, but it's not really the point. I would be pretty frustrated, too, and probably wouldn't go back, either.

This is what I do, if I must. But yeah, we had this last week. It was BAD. The sooner you get on antibiotics, the better it will be. I was able to get one dd started almost as soon as her symptoms appeared because we knew what was coming, and her throat never got as bad as mine and my other dd's.

Thanks, y'all. I was wondering how common it might be.

bump for gardenmom