have your read anything on sensory processing disorder? http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/ I'm on a SPD support group that talks about other causes and that many SPD kids have issues with the casein in milk, soy, gluten and yeast, and when those items causing sensitivity (not necessarily all of them) are completely removed from their diet, they become "normal". with all the antibiotics he's had in his life, you may want to consider he may have a big yeast issue. normal yogurt has so much sugar in it, that it doesn't do much to keep yeast overgrowth in check. probiotics, seriously cutting ANY form of sugar (i.e. lactose, fructose, sucrose, glucose, etc.) during the treatment phase will help get his body back in balance. it doesn't have to be permanent.

My son has sensory-processisng disorder, and has many of the same problems. we're working on treating the SPD first, and then the rest should improve. (many with the disorder improve after treatment) I would suggest also looking at a processing disorder. do check visual motor integration - that affects reading and writing ability to track letters across a page affect reading a child can have 20/20 vision, and have problems with their vision - other things are NOT routinely checked for. For that, you need a developmental optomitrist and specify what you want checked. dyslexia is good to check, but don't limit yourself to checking only for that with his eyes.

Thanksgiving is my husband's family's "reunion'. :party: It has been at my house for the last 23 years. We are currently at a count of 25 adults, one adolescent, and seven kids under six. Everyone has food assignments. (and this year, they are expected to bring their own serving dishes and utensils. Oh, and storage containers for leftovers.) We have always done family style in the past. Staple items (turkey/dressing/potatoes/etc.) are duplicated at both ends. This year, we are trying to figure out a multiple table, buffet arrangement. We're also moving furniture out of my living room. For large groups, I like buffet, but it all depends upon available space. I did pick up off craigslist/garage sale two kiddie tables and chairs for the littles. (which I can use later for hs 3ds5) I love christmas trees,:Angel_anim: and decorating for christmas, but it goes up that weekend/following week.

:iagree:

I loved this as a child, but it also had some unbearably sad and scary parts.

do you have a digital version of these? If so, it's quite easy. Otherwise you'd have to do a very high quality scan, and even then might not get great results.

they're all so different. Hubby bought himself his real present. My husband likes to charcoal grill - so one year for his bd, I got him grilling supplies - some FUN BBQ cookbooks, by pitmaster's etc. some other accoutrements, chicken stand, rib stand, charcoal chimney starter - which he *really* liked 'cause it works fast. 5 yo loves his playmobil nativity so much, I'm getting the playmobil noah's ark (he saw me looking at it online, and his first question was "does it float?":rolleyes:) and extra animals, SPD sensory room supplies, and hubby is buying him a Polar Express engine (it's really for hubby.) Maybe bean bag chairs - sensory and good for watching movies. (I also have to buy his bd present before christmas, as there are few good toys left in january. he's my second january baby, so I'm experienced.) clothes/travel needs (a watch for one) will be the bulk for my young adult boys, have no clue for my adult girls. though 1dd has been on a roll of apple pie making of late - maybe some baking supplies. my sil's family is into games, so I usually find an interesting one (last year was a star trek video charade type game) - or a DVD with goody :lurk5: pack - with drinks - for muching while watching the movie. I have several great-neices/nephews 4 and under. Thomas or veggie tale videos, puzzles. I've got to comeup with something special for 3ds5 ss teacher. She has been so incredible with him. Hubby suggested a 2lb box of See's. chocolate is good, but I think that's a bit too many calories. I thought of a gift basket of pampering herself items, with chocolate included. My brother loves the beef stick/summer sausage, so those are great gift packs. epsecially as he's been unemployed for awhile, and certainly can't afford to buy it for himself. a custom gift basket perfect for me would be the norwegian-style lox, bagguettes, brie, sparkling peach ? soda ? good chocolates, etc. (hmm, lots of perishable stuff there . . . ) a gift certificate for a massage. What are the interests of the adults on your list?

since this was an out-of-the-blue thing, could he be in the early stages of dementia? as the brain starts to deteriorate, inhibitions diminish and outrageous behavior can frequently occur.

You now have enough to give PAUSE to allowing any of your son's to be in your husband's step-father's company without you. The fact you've wondered about your 8 yo's behavior, and now your 6 yo has said something suggests there *is* something there. Good chance your son backtracked becasue of your response, not because he was "joking". do NOT allow ANY of your son's to ever be alone with him. that means YOU must always chaparone when they are together. (since your husband doesn't think it means anything, he won't be as observant)

No. Only HER behavior.:nopity:She started seeking the limelight when she was still married. She treated her husband like dirt - on camera - and became a single mom. (hello? she was a control freak!) Now, she's even worse about seeking the limelight. Now, her kids are paying for her vanity.

:iagree:

:iagree: The way she treated her husband ON CAMERA was atrocious, no respect at all. she has NO ONE to but herself to blame that she became a single parent.

When I was little, I loved a Charlie Brown Christmas. If you get it, be sure and watch the commentary. The network hated it, but were stuck. It had a huge audience draw, and as most know, became a christmas fixture ever after. The Best Christmas Pagent Ever with Loretta Swit. the little girl narrates what's happening. funny, and poignant. A movie for the whole famliy. The Muppet Christmas Carol. It's an introduction to Dicken's, but hey, it's the *Muppets*. Kermit is bob cratchet, and piggie is Mrs. cratchet. Michael Caine is scrooge.

The Best Christmas Pagent Ever. It's funny, poignant, and true to the true meaning of Christmas. They made a movie out of the book with Loretta Swit from MASH.

is she hearing those types of comments from other girls? from adult women around her? from the entertainment she views? Many clothes for teen's and tween's are downright skimpy,and designed to be. (saves the manufacturer money, as well as having little girls dress like something the cat dragged in.) If her shirt is tight becasue that's how it is made, it does nothing for her self-image. It is possible to still find modest girl clothing that has a reasonable fit. Even when my girls were young, we really had to look for it. they almost never, ever shopped in the teenybopper dept. If you feel it would help, put snacks on a schedule. My husband started using a plain trail mix for snackng. it's made a noticable difference in weight. also, between meal snacking benefits from protein being included. Plain popcorn if the hands just need to be kept busy. gymnastics also has lots of standing around. (little girls standing around in leotards tend to notice bodies. she may hear comments there that you aren't aware of.) It's good for muscles, but not cardio. biking, swimming, running, etc. are more likely to develop lean muscle, while increasing metabolism.

no propane/electric type grill will give the same flavor as charcoal. If I had to choose between those two types, I'd go with the propane.

Well, at least you won't have them next year . . . I have one still in that obnoxious stage, and one who his now out of it. My gut makes me think they both have different reasons for their behavior, and so would require different "methods" of solving it. Have you ever talked to either of them to figure out what is behind it? To try and figure out how their little minds are thinking? what are their *rewards*? what's motivating them so-to-speak. does the mouthy one do it in front of an audience? Is he receiving any "prestige" from his peers for it? (or just having fun exasperating mom) I may be way off base, but I recall one mom who was sick-and-tired of getting called to the principals office. she noticed her son and his buddy were having a great time being "in trouble". It gave them a certain "status". she put an end to it with the major parental embarassment in front of friends tactic - big smoochy kisses in front of his peers, and worst of all "girls". How glad she was she could rush right down - hinting next time she might be covered in mud. Or curlers. She was never callled to the prinicpal's office again. the passive-aggressive one makes me think of a child who is in a great deal of hurt. As I said, I may be way off base, but those are just my thoughts. Cheers

:iagree: besdies, little kids "like" doing things away from mom and dad. The 3yo's plate can be prepared, so cutting and serving are not issues.

okay, I admit I never had these problems, but my mother did with my sister - BIG time. My 27yodd has many times thanked me for being as ruthless as I can be. I don't know if you're religous and pray or not, but start off praying for guidance for what would be best for her to learn accountability and personal responsibility and worth. your daughter is a minor and living under your roof. YOU pay her bills (I don't care if she has a job and buy's her own clothes, make-up and other toys - YOU provide her housing, food, medical, etc. which she would *not* be able to afford if you weren't subsidizing her. If she does have a job, her income needs to start going into a savings account she cannot access without your consent while living in your house. She'll hate you now, but thank you when she moves into her own place and wants to buy "stuff" to outfit her first apartment. why do you wish you hadn't seen it? do you like living in denial by pretending "she's a good girl"? ("good girls" don't s*xt, and that often leads to the anonymous real thing.) You can't even begin to help her unless you face facts about what she needs. yes, you will end up confronting her and letting her know you know. why does she have a cell phone? (we didn't get our girls cell phones until they were in *college* and living 2500 miles away.) TAKE. IT. AWAY. (yeah, she's gonna be angry. ces't la vie.) As my friend's mother used to say "life isn't fair, and you don't want it to be." Oh, and if "she's" paying for the cell phone? as long as she lives at your house, it's gone, canceled, ended, no more. Your house, your rules. why the heck is texting active on it? *block it*. Now. Do that via your sevice provider. Teens who are active texter's are more likely to do drugs and other illicit activity. That is a fact. heck yes, tell your daughter's friend's mother you regretfully inform her you have proof her daughter is engaging in immorality. The mom may or may not already know, and may or may not be in denial. Sadly, some parents just go get their daughter's contraceptives. your daughter's "best friend" is not the kind of person I would want my children to hang out with. (of their own free choice, my son's actually dumped friends who went that way. They told me after the fact when I asked why they didn't see ___ anymore.) they really should be kept apart. get her in healthier activities - with emotionally healthier opportunities for friendships. Yes, take more opportunties to try and connect. But take control. Believe it or not, as much as kids may rail about it, it tells them you care. (though they won't admit it until their into adulthood.)

My niece lives in Germany, and married a Ukranian. Their common language is German. When my great-niece was two, she had already learned not everyone understood one language. They were here for thanksgiving, and she was shaking her head and speaking quite firmly "nyet, nein, no". Apparently, quite common for her.

I plan on doing a personal finance/consumer math with my high school/college age sons. Now they're ready to learn it. I plan on teaching the class, not my bs economics and ba accounting husband. (but we can always go to him for more) I have the scope/sequence for MUS stewardship. I am looking at Dave Ramsey's Foundations, but I cannot find a scope sequence to see what it covers. All I can find are generalities; and rah, rah reviews from his own website that don't tell me very much about the specifics. Does anyone have the scope/sequence for it? Has anyone been able to look at both materials and can share their input? Or another good personal finance program for this age? thank you

I'm on an SPD list where the topic of food sensitivities has come up frequently. Casin (from milk/dairy), gluten, yeast, and soy are frequent culprets causing sensitivities leading to SPD behavior.

I would support an evaluation. out-of-synch child books might give you some good ideas too.

It sounds alot like sensory processing disorder. the literal, rigidity, etc. that frequently has auditory discrimination issues. Partly it is develolpmental in that the two-sides of the brain aren't communicating adequately with each other. I'm currently doing tomatis listening therapy with three of my kids (at least my oldest can pay for it herself.) who have auditory hypersensitivity, and auditory discrimination. The provider does two different types of auditory testing - the standard "hearing" one, and a bone conduction test. It's how those two results relate to each other that their treatment is based upon.