If you can have an afternoon, I think going to one of those paint your own pottery places would be really fun and you wouldn’t have to pack anything. My daughter loved those at that age as a special treat.

I’ve hunted everywhere and finally figured it out for me. I cannot do any of the things that are supposedly for sensitive ears…until someone got me a pair made with surgical steel. Surgical steel has never bothered my ears. I buy them on Amazon or Etsy for usually in the $20-$30 range. It’s been really nice to get to wear earrings again. edited to add: they do come cheaper than that, but I’ve never bought the cheaper sets. I’ve only done individual pairs of studs, hoops, or (mainly) dangling.

Seinfeld Parenthood Sherlock The Crown I Love Lucy Survivor Great British Baking Show At one brief point: Trading Spaces 😊

You posting that on Facebook could ruin their business. I would never do something like that with the amount of info you have. You just don’t know who was actually preparing the food, what sink they have in the truck, etc… I’d just let it go and move on. The most I would do is not eat there myself.

We do thermoses all the time here. My daughter has done pancakes in them and brought a side of syrup. My son has brought nuggets with a side of ketchup (when he was younger). There is really no end to the things they have put in thermoses. Pasta is the most often brought lunch.

Yes, I do have her on a leash. She has never been on a leash or harness before yesterday. So I do work on keeping her moving but her first instinct is to sit and then fully stretch out on the ground. I keep moving her around. We started her on a harness for walks yesterday and she’s done incredibly well for it being totally new to her. This mornings update: I took her out every 15 minutes (leashed) starting at 6 and kept her leashed next to me inside. No dice. I took her for a long walk and she both peed and pooped at 7:45. We had a party. 🤣 We will get there for sure! She’s also never had a schedule for food so I’m starting that in hopes that will help us establish bathroom habits.

It’s definitely normal and I know anything can happen with a new dog! I guess what has been different compared to previous dogs is that she holds it while outside, trying to get inside to go. Being a little older than a tiny puppy, she can really hold it a long time, longer than I’d expect. We’re taking her out every 15 minutes…she just sits down and stares at me with an adorable expression and that’s it. 😊 No sniffing, circling, etc…She saves that til we get inside. So I immediately take her back out and she doesn’t go. It will all work out with time—it’s just had some differences than I’ve seen before and I’m trying to think it through. Thanks!!

Hi there, I’ve house trained dogs before, but not quite this scenario and I’d love the Hive’s advice. We adopted a 6 month old rescue (20ish pound mini Australian shepherd) last night. She has been in a foster home for the last 2.5 months. She needed a medical procedure (reason breeder dumped her) and then needed to recover. Her foster mom is a nurse. So when she was home she left the dog out as much as desired with her other dogs( fenced yard) but when she was gone on 12 hour shifts she used pee pads in a small gated area. The dog had struggled with anxiety in a crate. We have been keeping her right with us when inside and taking her out a ton, both in the backyard and on the walks. She LOVES the outdoors. But she just doesn’t go to the bathroom when we’re out there. With my last dog, I had a cue I said, she went, and she got a treat. With this one, she just doesn’t go. We were just out on a half hour walk, then in the backyard for a half hour (after eating). Did not go. As soon as we walked in, she did. This has happened three times now. She has peed outside three times but seems to be saving pooping for indoors. I can’t tell you how much we are taking her out but she just doesn’t go. We don’t know her well enough yet to know a lot of patterns. Any advice on helping her see that outside is her bathroom when she’s been able to go inside for 2.5 months? We have literally no plans the next four days and would love to make some process. Thank you!!!

Yes, this is clearly (and understandably) very traumatic. Paint could help…and I sure hope it does. But are there other things that you could also try that would be doable for you? Here is a random list of ideas. None are amazing, but just things to change the feel: —have music you love playing at all times. —have beautiful smells (cooking, candles, etc… —change where the furniture is placed. Change a few key pieces of furniture if you can to things you love. —add accents you love (pillows, artwork, blanket, plant, etc…). Anything that makes you smile. —put up pictures of family you love. —new pet?? —do one thing you love to do as a family each day to try and build positive associations. —look for other small upgrades that could one day bring joy. Like: funky knobs for kitchen or bath cabinets, beautiful dish towel, new area rug or throw rug, different color bath towels, etc… If painting helps, keep going. Just trying to think of small things that, if added together, could make a small difference. sorry if that’s not helpful!!

He’s so cute!! I think Hagrid. Not that it goes with Rocky! 😊

I know there are countless reasons you will share why this is impossible, but I feel like you would greatly benefit from a job. I certainly do. Now, we need the money. The option is not there for there for me to be at home, to travel, to take a lot of time for hobbies. And that’s okay! While there are times my job makes me crazy, I love the social aspect, the good that is done, the sense of accomplishment. Most of the time…I love going to work. It often seems you’re bored. A job could help with that if you were so inclined to make changes that allowed that. If not, serious volunteering when you’re available could mimic a lot of that.

I really can’t imagine saying something other than “You look great!” Because I think my kids are pretty cute 🙂 and I’m not going to make a comment they remember for years just because they might do something that is not my style. If it doesn’t end up being a good cut for them, it will grow out, and they’ll choose something else.

I just sit unless it’s obviously gross. Then I’m using a different stall. I just wash my hands as normal. The only time I’m careful is AFTER I wash my hands. My goal is not to touch the door if I can help it. All the other stuff—I’ve honestly never considered—and it has never been a problem. (I’ve been all over the world and work in a school—it’s really not been an issue for me). Until this thread I would have considered myself pretty germ conscious. I guess not! 🤣

When something somewhat similar happened, it turned out to be the bathtub on the second floor, which had an issue with the pipe below it. It only happened when someone took a bath (generally only used for showers). For us, it turned into a larger repair, but all has been good since.

We’ve had it done before, all different sizes, no issues.