For all of you in the medical field.. Do you know if I can use doxycycline hyclate 100mg for a respiratory infection? I have a bottle with 60 in it that was prescribed to me for something else that I haven't needed it for yet. I am just desperate as I cannot sleep at night from all this coughing.. I feel like there is so much gunk in my chest but it is seriously like glue and will not come up. I don't want to go into urgent care and waste a bunch of money for them to tell me I have a virus and to go home. I have only had this for 7 days but each day it has gotten much worse and it feels just like something I had 3 years ago which only went away with an antibiotic. I would love to start taking it tonight but called the pharmacist and he said it may or may not work but that most of the time this drug is not what they prescribe for respiratory infections. However when I look online I see that it is indicated for respiratory infections. Is it just for certain respiratory infections with a specific bacteria? Trying to decide if I should take it and see or if it would be worth going in. Would a doc really give me an antibiotic if it has only been 7 days and I don't have a fever? I really don't want to waste money because I have to pull the full amount for the office visit. Opinions?? Thanks in advance. <3

Thanks to everyone for more responses. I haven't had time to read them all yet, but I will! And just want to say again...no offense, but please no advice from people who go all out with Santa. I really don't want this thread to be about bashing people who choose to not do Santa. We as parents do things the way that we feel is best for our children. Magic and wonder for one family can be completely different for another family. Just as food choices, the way you live, etc. I really am looking for ideas of how people minimize the lying surrounding Santa and or other traditions parents use that create magic, wonder, and excitement for their families during Christmas. So if anyone else has ideas to share on that, I would greatly appreciate it. :)

Suzanne - Wow. Thank you. Your post was SO awesome to read. Made me want to have more kids too. :) I love the idea of letting kids create their own Christmas magic and being there to watch them think through it and see it all change and unfold over the years. Sounds like great fun for everyone, with no heartache in the end.

Wow, this is so extremely helpful to me and I just want to thank everyone for their time and for sharing what you all do in your homes. :grouphug:I would love to hear more if others are interested in sharing. And I might do a another search to see if I can find those threads you talk of (Chris in VA)..thanks for telling me. kokotg... your explanation of fantasy versus reality and honoring that process with your kids was SO awesome to read. It was a good reminder for me to honor where my son is at and to not try and control it too much. :) melissel- Thank you for sharing your similar feelings about not feeling good about lying..that is the part that is hard for me as that is what was traumatizing for me as a kid. My sister was just fine with it..and I wasn't, so I think personality of the child plays a big part in how kids react to it. And since he is a lot like me, I know for sure that we will not ever play it up. I guess even if he wasn't, I think I would still feel the way I do about directly lying and playing it up, but that is just me. Every parent does what they think is best for their family and even for each individual child. I judge no one on here for choosing differently and appreciate everyone sharing so much. Still pondering ideas..but for now, going to stick with the "What do you think?" as well as focusing on our values and what we want to teach him about Christmas, Jesus, being grateful, giving, etc. And after reading all of this, I hope we can also create wonder and excitement through our own family traditions. (Daisy - Christmas sounds like a blast at your house :) I would love to hear more ideas of other families special traditions, if anyone else would like to share. :001_smile: Thank you again to everyone who took time out of your day to post a response to me. I have been really struggling with this and hearing from all of you is so helpful.

I am truly on the fence about this and struggle every year with each year getting harder as my little guy asks more questions. I don't want to take away the special wonder and excitement that I had growing up with Santa, but I remember being devastated when I learned Santa was not real, and so hurt that my mom and dad lied to me all of those years. A friend told me once that if we teach them that Santa (who they can't see) is real and they find out otherwise..how can we expect them to believe us that Jesus is real? Looking for thoughts and ideas on how other Christian parents handle the Santa thing. Last year we just spent much of this season talking to him about what Christmas is really about and celebrating Jesus and we downplayed Santa and when asked if he was real...we just avoiding the question, turning it back around to him asking, "what do you think?" Christmas morning the presents were under the tree and he asked where did these come from and we just smiled and left it to him to wonder and enjoy the excitement and mystery. Not sure how well this will go over this year (he is 4 now). Any ideas/thoughts from other parents who do Santa alternatively? No offense, but I am not interested in hearing from parents who go all out with it, because I'm pretty sure that we won't go that route. My boy is very sensitive and a lot like me when I was little, so I really want to do it a bit differently for his sake.. Thanks in advance.

Anyone else here in Lakeville or the southern suburbs? Would love to connect with some other homeschooling mamas! :) Thinking that homeschooling is the best option for our 4 year old based on his personality, not to mention how much I dislike the public schools, but of course I am questioning myself. This is such a difficult decision! Also hoping to help him make some friends in the area. Anyone else have kiddos who love sports? Curious how this works if we decide to homeschool. Melanie

Hi everyone, I am new here and just purchased my first cirriculum for my almost 4 year old son! I am excited to start and excited to become a part of this awesome community as we begin our homeschool journey. :) I hope it is okay I post a random, off educational question here. I just thought with other Christian parents in this forum, it might be possible to get some ideas for a gift for my niece for her baptism. My husband and I were asked to be Godparents and I am hoping to buy her something nice for a gift. My first thought was to buy a Children's first bible and a Baby's First Cross Necklace that she could keep for years. Does anyone have any recommendations for either of these two items? Thanks so much for any advice. :) Melanie