I've gone through this in my head for a few years now. It started when a friend texted me something random (not urgent) around 11pm and I wondered why she would bother me at a time she knew I'd be in bed. Slowly I realized that 'I' should be the one managing the controls on my phone rather than be at the mercy of anyone who might text or call when I didn't feel like hearing it. That includes my nap times or rest times during the day too. I have family all over the world, so texts can come at any hour. It's up to me to set the phone controls to suit my situation. I do agree with OP about the 'after 9pm rule' and wonder how that rule came to be. My mom passed it to us growing up. Times are changing!

That's so wrong :(

My 12 yr old just made the best chocolate cupcakes with buttercream icing. Let me find the recipe....

I've never heard of Natural Calm, and now I'm intrigued.

Thanks, friends, your encouragement really helped me out today. For real.

What does it say when I turn to the Hive for support regarding a life issue (as opposed to someone in my family or friends). :) I do love this group, and at the same time I am disappointed in myself that I don't have the people in my circle to give me this support I need. Basically, I've found myself in the middle of a very demanding lacrosse season with four kids having practices and games each day, overlapping, and in all corners of the state. I have 2 teens, a 12yr old, and an 8yr old. I mentally prepared myself for the rigors of the season, put on my good attitude about the chaos, and so far am doing ok juggling it all. I knew we wouldn't be having family dinners or even eating as much home cooked goodies as usual... that's ok for a couple of months. It just hit me yesterday that I don't know other families with 4 kids in a similar situation. Some who do have 4 kids are a few years behind me and still have young kids. They still haven't reached the emotional drama that teens bring (struggling with one of my teens right now). They aren't juggling family issues that are specific to the ages that I'm going through. And most people don't homeschool either... so... I'm needing a little HIVE support here. I know we signed up all 4 kids for the same sports season. I know it will be a little over the top in time commitment. I don't need that dad-of-two-kids to say "I don't support that" when I was sharing how our weekly schedule is. Yes, it IS too busy, but you don't understand. (and by the way, you have your kids signed up in 2 or 3 activities after school, too, so your wife is also driving your kids all over town) My lacrosse family has been supportive, and we share rides when possible. Mentally keeping everything straight takes energy, as does keeping up with regular family work, so even with carpooling it's still a lot to keep track of. Anyhow...needing to hear that moms of 4 or more kids feel pushed to the limits too. Any tips of super busy sports schedules are welcome. (yes, I use crock pot or instant pot when i can) (and I've tried a few recipes from here recently too) (picky eaters)

OP, my ferritin has been anywhere from 6 to 16 this past year, and my doctor says 50 and above is 'optimal'. I'm taking daily iron, avoiding taking it with calcium or coffee, going to acupuncture, and eating beef and red foods. It's not going up. I wonder if some people just tend to hover at low ferritin and still function well. I am in a super overstretched time of life right now, especially with spring sports. I'm running from early morning till bedtime, so I can't make sense of my 'low ferritin' either. ( I am also anemic from the other blood counts.. low iron and rbc)

Thank you! I'm trying the Mongolian beef today.

Hake Grammar level 5 can be used with your 4th and 5th graders.

Beautiful pictures of both of you!

Congratulations!

I just opened Facebook to see a headline that Joseph is courting!!!

Lunches can be hard to figure out sometimes. Would they like rice topped with varying foods? Toppings could be shredded BBQ chicken, taco flavored chicken/beef, Asian seasoned beef, salsa, beans, cheese.

Oh wow. How rude.

I loved your reply OP. I'll also be stalking this thread for an update!

Acupuncture really helped me with my cycle. With kids as young as yours you might not easily find the time for an appointment, but if you can it is worth it. I went three times a month for a few months then once a month. I can now skip and go every two or three months.. been going for 2 years.

I've thought about Rose and her son, too.

My doctor just wrote me a prescription for a mild antihistamine she says is so gentle they use it for 6 month olds. I never picked it up (because I never asked her for the drug, she decided I needed it). But I know one exists if you feel like asking a doctor about it.

A friend had a 3rd grader in the big yearly school play. She said her daughter would love for my dd to come see the play, so I said yes (thought it would be good exposure for dd to see a play and to feel like she is supporting a friend). Once I confirmed the date and time and asked about ticket prices, my friend told me she already bought our tickets for us and that it was her treat. I bought the tickets the next year, and I still wanted to go for the same two reasons, 1) to support the friend and 2) to expose my dd to theater. Now this year, lots of casual acquaintances told me about their kids performing in The Nutcracker and one other play in December and I just didn't have time or interest in making time for those. So I guess I'd go to support close friends. Others, not so interested.

I'm sorry for your loss.

We have around 4 inches and it's still coming down. It's beautiful!

Muslim, hijab-wearing woman here... nothing offensive to me about others wearing hijab as a sign of solidarity at all. And I'm thankful I live in a country (USA) where I can choose whether I want to wear it or not.

Ok thank you all so much. This is exactly what I need to hear.

Thank you all for your input. Logically I know I should do it... i've been suffering a lot for many years, and no amount of iron therapy has worked. Pills and both IUD's don't help. I think I'm being a scaredy cat.

Two years ago my ob/gyn told me I should get a uterine ablation b/c of my anemia due to difficult menstrual cycles. I've tried all other options. I declined and sought treatment from an acupuncturist who has helped with pms and the cycle itself, but my iron levels are still severely low. This week, my family doctor told me I should probably get the ablation since my ferritin is not going up even after a consistent iron regimen (and acupuncture). I'm totally freaked out by the thought of getting an ablation. It seems so wrong on so many levels. However, every single person I see online has loved it, wished they done it sooner, no regrets. I know only one person IRL who got one and she loves it too. My concerns are about disrupting the natural system of menstruation in general (surely it is part of our whole body thus something else must be affected by shutting that down), and also by the freaky part about nuking the uterus. So... anybody want to share? On paper it seems like an easy YES to getting the procedure, but ever since two years ago when my doctor first suggested it my heart says no.