Would it help to call it the end of the school year and drop the formal schooling for now? The upheaval of the move must have been difficult. I wonder if a few months of less-formal schooling, such as field trips, might be a relaxing change for all. Now that you are in WA, there are lots of homeschoolers here with lots of activities. Have you gotten in touch with your local group? Do they have anything that would suit your family? My kids have been 'afterschooling' with PS this year-- after 1 yr of homeschooling. I don't see that as a defeat, at all, just a recognition of what suits our needs best for this point in time.

I grew up in a very affluent family and went to Ivy League with no debt, etc. Our family was incredibly sad, though, because of my mom's severe mental illness, so we never thought of ourselves as privileged. In DH's family hardly anyone went to college but him. DH would never do this, but sometimes my SIL will snipe at me if I inadvertently mention something in the course of conversation, not bragging, about my Dad's profession, or my college, or where I went to summer camp, or trips abroad-- I try not to mention these things around her, because she has a chip on her shoulder that I'm this spoiled rich girl. Though, I haven't heard as much about this ever since her own son got into Stanford! Yes, I had things most people didn't. But I certainly couldn't appreciate them at the time. It's not fair to blame a person for the family they were born into, rich or poor. My DH is grateful for whatever my parents do for us. That's the right way to be.

:grouphug:

First of all, it is called a pocketbook, not a purse!:001_smile: Second, my pocketbook's home is the left hand side of my desk. Third, the problem: all the miscellaneous stuff that has its home INSIDE my pocketbook!

OP, I saw your post about putting him to bed after you saw him put his head down on the sofa, and then after going to bed he would not stay there. If it were my kid, he would not put his head down on the sofa til he was already quite tired, and then by the time we did bedtime routine he would have waked up again and we would have lost the moment-- he'd be awake for hours. He would have got his second wind. I wonder if it would work to try to put him to bed earlier-- before he gives those signs of being sleepy. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but it seems like sleepiness comes in 'waves' and if you miss the first wave, it can take hours for another one to come along! Mine do best at going to sleep easily if we start their bedtime routines before they are even sleepy. If I wait for subtle signs like crabbiness, rubbing eyes, not interested in what we're doing anymore, we are pretty much sunk. I think I got this from a sleep book, but I can't remember which one-- maybe it was Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child.

:grouphug: This is really hard! I recall those times! Here are some ideas... 1. Keep him really busy during the day, make sure he gets plenty of exercise and fresh air and sunlight and playtime. 2. Lay down with him for a bit. 3. rearrange sleeping area so you can hold his hand and your DD's hand at the same time (I have done this) while they both go to sleep 4. experiment with putting him to bed earlier or later 5. experiment with getting him up earlier or later 6. reward chart 7. arrange some free time for yourself so you can take a nap!!!

I tried to read Canterbury Tales to my 2nd grader, I found a lovely illustrated edition, but I actually read only about 10 percent... it never occurred to me that the stories demeaned women-- but they were, well, too dirty for us... Sorry! Just our opinion. They'll read it later on.

I had one a few years ago. I was worried about it, and I was all set to have a friend there to read to me, etc. I thought I would be thinking, the whole time:"I'm stuck in a tube like a coffin! I'm stuck in a tube like a coffin! help! get me outa here!" Instead I decided to use a different coping technique: I decided to pretend I was not there. It turned out fine. It was loud, but like I said, I was pretending I was not there, so it did not bother me that much. I don't know if that's any help at all. But after having many panicky moments in my life (just before surgery, for example) I decided I just didn't have the energy to panic again. :grouphug:

Sunday Philosophy Club? Those books? if so, big :001_smile: from me!

Can you have him pay the mortgage for a predetermined amount of time, like the 3 years you mention, as part of your settlement? Will you be able to afford it once you are working, if it is refinanced? If you can afford it once you are working, and he pays the mortgage while you are in school, then your parents could help you with everyday expenses now, and they wouldn't be carping about the house? :grouphug:

:iagree: with Tibbie. Just figured out how to add a tag.:D

"Like" :001_smile:

PICC lines are good because it means you don't have to keep getting IVs placed over and over. It also means you require less medication, since you stay hydrated & nourished. There is a very small infection risk. But if it looks at all infected, they take it out right away & replace it & give antibiotics. I've seen this happen once with no ill effects.

If anyone wants to come by to visit and asks what can they do to help, tell them to bring you some FOOD and take full advantage of their offer-- have a task ready for them.:001_smile:

Clergy families live in a fishbowl-- that is hard. I'm not sure some of the PPs realize the extent of this. Even in the most healthy communities it is a balancing act which takes lots of wisdom. :grouphug:

Can you look at the caseat manual online & see if it can be adjusted?

I understand. You can't do anything which could look like favoritism. Chatting with the parents, during coffee hour, say, wouldn't be out of line, I would think.

A Mom just like you A mother's rule of Life (RCC content)

Well, anniversary presents are always nice, and usually hardly anyone remembers wedding anniversaries except the couple and their parents, so it would be nice to be remembered. I can't speak to the issue of whether or not to give them a present at the time, though-- that's your call.

Before DD went to kindy, I met both teachers at the open house. I liked them both. I found out afterward that they met afterwards and their own perceptions of which parents they had 'bonded' with did figure into what class the children went into. I think they also try to balance genders, and issues, based on the input from preschools. I felt like I could have a good relationship with either, but it was the crackerjack genius K teacher who chose us! I am grateful but I surely did not expect it. She also makes recommendations about which gr 1 teacher would be a best fit for her K students.

I've been in this situation a lot, re: kids disrupting service, though usually it's been younger ones. What helps me is to build some kind of alliance with the parents. Then when I get to know them a bit, the noise, however rude, does not bother me quite so much, because I feel fonder of them. I can still pray. What helped ME when I was the one whose kids were driving everyone crazy, was that another, older, mom shared with me how badly behaved her boy used to be in church. (He climbed into the bishop's chair and took off his shoes and threw them at the people!) That made me feel so much better about my own kids, who were not nearly that bad, that I was able to relax and think more constructively about how to reign things in, with consequences, etc, without thinking so much that I was on the spot. Honestly I think that sometimes, trying to talk to the kids just makes the parents feel bad ("she thinks she needs to take care of my kids for me because I'm a failure") so I try not to do that. I bet boy #2 does have some challenges, or that perhaps the parents think that if they pay any attention to his behavior, it would reinforce it. Maybe they are trying to ignore it. However, if there are activities at the church that would be good for tweens, like sports or Bible club, whatever you had, I would go up & make sure parents know about it. Perhaps if kids are more connected to the community, church will not be so dull for them. :grouphug:

:grouphug:

:grouphug:

Hun, I don't think you will get that much change out of people who think all that is OK. You might need to start your own troop.:grouphug:

Dear Hive, lately I have had occasion to make complaints about a particular teacher... as I volunteer with my daughter's K class, I read with the kids at a table in the hall, and I overhear another teacher screaming and yelling at her class. I mean, there's yelling and there's yelling... this was not "get out of the street!" kind of yelling. This was hollering, mean, hateful stuff. Not profanity, but bad enough. Not what you want your kid exposed to. I have spoken to the principal twice. He carefully noted down the times, dates, and exact words, which leads me to suspect that he is building a case. It is his first year here, whereas she has been here 10 yrs. He was alarmed that I had to go to him the second time. I understand that 'administrative leave' is being contemplated. The other teachers at this school have been great for my kids. I have watched them at work & respect them & my kids have grown & flourished. Anybody else faced this kind of problem? What happened and were you satisfied with the outcome? I understand this is the kind of thing that will drive people out of the PS altogether, but that is not where we are at this point.