[Deleted]

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.

[Earrings for extremely sensitive ears]

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.

[What are some of your favorite tv shows of all time?]

Seinfeld 

Parenthood

Sherlock

The Crown

I Love Lucy

Survivor

Great British Baking Show

At one brief point: Trading Spaces 😊

 

[Wwyd]

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.

[Lunches]

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. 

[House training advice]

26 minutes ago, Pawz4me said:

I'd take her out on leash and make her walk around.

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.

 

[House training advice]

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!!

[House training advice]

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!!!

[Sorry]

Just now, prairiewindmomma said:

Generally people pick deeper or more dramatic colors for bedrooms and bathrooms and go lighter and more neutral for open shared spaces.

That said, I dont think that should be the focus here. I think we need to find something that feels different and safe for you and that you love. You need to reclaim this house for 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!! 

[Summer fun! Help name our new puppy!!]

He’s so cute!!

I think Hagrid. Not that it goes with Rocky! 😊

[That is all]

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.

[If your kid gets a haircut you hate]

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. 
 

[Public bathrooms: help my OCD self. TMI.]

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! 🤣

[Any idea where this leak is coming from?]

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.

[Have you ever had wood cut at Home Depot?]

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

[Help me think this through (vacation/house selling)]

Will your realtor make sure the house looks good for the showings while you are gone? Especially when shown by all different realtors? Before showings, I’d always make sure all the window treatments were open, all the lights on, everything exactly as it should be.

I can’t tell you how many times the realtor would turn off all the lights, close blinds, or just do things that make the house not at its best for the next showing. I even had a couple times where I came home to an unflushed toilet, toys moved, soap and towel messy on the counter. 😞

All that to say…I would struggle at being any distance away and not be able to check that the house was always at its best. I also know that once showings start, there are so many phone calls with offers/questions. I would want to make sure I was somewhere I could fully concentrate and also have good reception. 

[How to handle a poor/terrible quality Mother's Day gift when someone is sending it remotely?]

1 minute ago, Halftime Hope said:

Yep; eggshells for now.

I would let the poor quality flowers go and just give a response as if they were the most beautiful ever. Even though they’re not, even if it’s last minute, and even if you’d prefer something like a nursery card. I just don’t think it’s worth potentially causing offense (even though none is meant) when the relationship is tenuous. If there were no issues, I would go with your husband or a sibling saying something—I think that’s the best option if you do address it.

[Fun thread: great restaurants in various cities...share your faves (Edit: still waiting for the Denver/Ft Collins/Loveland peeps to make recommendations... :-) )]

5 hours ago, Halftime Hope said:

 

I had fantastic "Mediterranean grill" food at Fadi's in Houston last weekend with a relative. It was wonderfully memorable and a delightful adventure, because dh is not an adventurous eater. Great and plentiful food with all kinds of vegetarian and probably vegan options. It is set up like a very nice smorgasbord, you walk down the serving line and point to foods that look yummy -- I could have spent the whole evening eating different cold, saucy salads! Their flat bread (like naan) was to die for. The bill came to $35 for two of us, including tiramisu (not that great), and we both got take home boxes and warmed our left-overs for breakfast. I see that they also have Dallas locations for anyone traveling in Texas this summer. 

 

 

I used to live five minutes from Fadi’s!!! It was our absolute favorite and we miss it so much. 
We also love Chuy’s, Fajita Pete’s, and Torchy’s (to name just a few) in Houston. So many other good ones, but those were the ones we’d go to over and over again.

[Teacher appreciation gifts?]

My three favorites:

—a sweet note from the student

—a gift card 

—classroom supplies (dry erase markers, post its, good pens, extra pencils, nice dry erase eraser, prizes for prize box, smelly stickers)

[Hotels in NYC]

We are going at the end of June and also wanted three beds. We always stay at Hyatt Places wherever we go because we use points and five can stay in oneroom (two beds, pull out couch). We are staying in one in midtown. 

[Have you been invited to a Sprinkle?]

I’ve been to quite a few of these. In my area, it’s just a chance to celebrate a new life, hang out together, and eat some food.

Generally, gifts are diapers and wipes. Or maybe outfits if it’s a different gender. Occasionally money has been pooled for one larger gift (car seat if last one was outdated or still in use). 
 

So usually simple but fun.

[Aging parents and disabled siblings]

This is a total rabbit trail and likely something you already know, but I want to be sure. With your diagnosis of keratoconus, have you looked into cross linking surgery? Both of my boys have had it for their keratoconus, and we are pleased with what it’s done. Doesn’t make it better (although it has a bit with both of them), but can stop progression of it getting worse.

[has anyone gone back to teaching in a traditional school after homeschooling?]

I went back four years ago, but to a private school. While money isn't as good as public, there is way less to make me crazy and way more I agree with. It was a huge adjustment the first year (my kids went in as well—into high school/middle school). But I do love being back in the classroom and now In administration. It’s not perfect but it’s been really good for me to have my own thing as the kids get older. And we need the money!

[My birth story]

Not the same at all, but reminds me of my last one. She was a week late and ended up being induced. My first two were 2 and 3 weeks early so this was unusual for me.

I kept setting off the blood pressure alarms (too low) and then her heart rate started going down with contractions. Doctor came in and had me sign a consent for a c section. I was pretty  upset. He said if I wasn’t at 10 next time we checked, he was wheeling me back. He checked and said I was an 8. I remember being so upset that I would have a c section. Then I suddenly had this giant contraction, went to 10, and her head came out…all in about 20 seconds. I didn’t push at all and she came all the way out seconds later.

I remember my doctor pleading with me to wait since he hadn’t changed (and was wearing what must have been pretty expensive dress clothes/shoes that became quite messy). I couldn’t have stopped because I wasn’t even doing anything—it just happened.

All was well…it was just a wild ending. 
congratulations!!!

[S/O do people in your home eat in bedrooms?]

We don’t have any rules about food. My kids  are also older teens so it’s just not something on my radar to check at their ages. I honestly can’t think of  time it’s been an issue with bugs/mess (typed while eating a snack in bed 😊).