One of my dd's did move to sit by me, but even that aggravated me - I didn't like that she had to move after just getting settled. We watched Yogi Bear :001_smile: It was a cute movie.

I took my children to the movies today. We arrived just before the previews ended, but the lights had already been turned down, so it was difficult to see. Once we got seated, I felt a tap on my shoulder from the woman behind me asking me to move over one seat because her son (who was sitting directly behind me) couldn't see. The only place I could move to was away from my own children. I did move, but I ended up fuming in my mind throughout the movie. She could have easily swapped seats with her son without having to ask me to move, which is what I would have done in that situation. Am I just too touchy about this? Or should I have been more observant and not sat in front of a child?

I think it is harder for the "naughty" child, because it seems they are constantly at war with something/someone. From my perspective, children who behave badly are generally unhappy little people. I think they long for someone to take charge and enforce the rules with which they must adhere. It is difficult and sometimes generally unpleasant to be the parent of a child who is strong-willed like that, but it is not impossible to make them mind. I am really sick of parents using excuse after excuse on why the child is behaving badly - no nap, hungry, etc. Not to say that my dc are perfect, either. Our fourth was a huge challenge from ages 1-3 and still occassionally tries to push the boundaries, but I made it quite clear that she was not running this ship. I am and she had understand that early on. She is now a very happy and peaceful six year old that understands our rules and is a delight to be around. No one that knows us can ever believe that she was such a difficult toddler. I have been around so many people that allow the child to control everything and it is a nightmare for everyone involved. I am fully aware that there are situations out there where the child truly cannot control him/herself, but I think those situations are not as common as the bad parenting I see. Sometimes I think parents are afraid to step up and be the parent because it will hurt the child's feelings, when really not making them obey is what is hurting them more. Can you imagine the let-down and rude awakening this kid is going to have when real life doesn't bend to his will the way mommy does? Whew, I didn't realize I needed to get that off my chest! Can you tell that we just spent the afternoon at the park where I got to witness a lot of "naughty" children not obeying their parents?

Our children attended public school until our oldest dd was in 2nd grade. Oldest DD is dyslexic and at that time suffered from terrible, terrible seperation anxiety. It was so bad that she would cry every single night that she didn't want to go back to school. The school kept pushing us to get her on medication because of her issues. I really didn't feel like it was the right thing to do to medicate her when all she wanted to do was to be with me. After much discussion and convincing my dh, I was able to bring them home to homeschool for the second semester of my oldest dd's second grade year. Our oldest is now in 6th and it was amazing to watch our kind, sweet, happy, and confident daughter return; the clingy, crying, despondant child is gone. So, initially, our homeschool journey began because of a dismal situation in the public school. However, it conitues because it is a true joy and priviledge to be able to see the learning and growth in our dd's. I absolutely enjoy every single day with them and find the friendships that have developed between my girls to be a blessing beyond words. I am so thankful that I am able to be with them and guide them gently through the world. We will continue to educate at home. I have no plans, at this point, of putting the girls back in school. My dh feels that sending them to high school is an option. We will decide at that point what is best for our family.

When we were getting ready to move here (Asia), we did this. We had them fingerprinted and the inside of the mouth was swabbed with a Q-tip. The Q-tip was put into a envelope, which was then sealed. I keep both items (the fingerprints and the sealed envelopes) with all of my very important papers that travel on my person as we move from place to place. I think this is something you could do yourself and just keep a couple of sets in different places, so that if something happened (a fire or natural disaster) and one set was destroyed, you would have another set somewhere else. I don't think I would be willing to give out my DNA or my children's DNA to the government, but I did appreciate having it for myself and keeping it with me in case, God forbid, something should ever happen. Hope this helps.

The only time I have ever experienced a metallic taste in my mouth was when I was pregnant. Could that be it? No advice on the Zyrtec issue. I hope you find a resolution soon, though.

My BIL and SIL have been discussing the Mayo Clinic, but were told that they had to be "accepted" first. That you couldn't just make an appointment - but maybe that is due to their insurance. Which, by the way, has been a nightmare for them. Their insurance wouldn't cover the IV Ig for him, so they had to pay $11,000 for it out of pocket. Which they willingly did, thinking it was going to be the magic that cured him. Unfortunately, it hasn't even seemed to make a difference. Please keep the suggestions coming.

Thank you for the replies. He has had 2 MRI's of his brain and they have done a scope down his throat twice. Nothing shows abnormal. The doctors are at a complete loss - on Thursday, the doctor sat down on his hospital bed and pointblank told them that they have no idea what this could be and they are going to try to send them to a hospital in Cleveland, OH that may be able to help them get some answers. This has been a nightmare for our family. The panting has somewhat evolved from the gagging. He sounds like he is kind of gagging really, really fast - if that makes any kind of sense. It makes it sounds like a panting. Would they have been able to see the Chiari malformation on the MRI? And would he have had any kind of headaches associated with it? Also, my husband reminded me that he also has short-term memory loss...they didn't know if that was from the powerful medication he was on or if whatever this is, is causing his memory loss. Any other suggestions, please?

My nephew is 13 years old. In October 2010, he had a flu type illness. Due to severe coughing (or we think it is due to the coughing) he lost his voice. He can do nothing but whisper. Around this same time, he began having some sort of gagging reflex. He doesn't actually throw up, he just makes this rapid gagging sound. It began with 2-3 gags at a time, spaced about 10 minutes apart. He did this for 2 weeks or so. Then, it progressed to about 10 gags, 5 minutes apart. He did this one for about a week. Then, over the course of two weeks, it progressed to about 120 gags, about 3 minutes apart. Then, it got to be a continuous gagging sound non-stop, except for when he is asleep. He does get relief when he is sleeping. Now, it has turned into a type of panting/gagging sound, non-stop. This poor child has been to every kind of doctor - neurologist, ENT, psychologist, etc. He has been on steroids, antibiotics, mental health meds, and even an IV Ig. None of those things have helped him. Nothing has helped him at all. The doctors are at a loss and have now suggested that he just has a really bad tic disorder and are treating him with some really, really strong anti-psychotic meds that have not helped in any way and are so bad, he has to take another drug with it as an antecdote. He has no control of his tongue; it seems to hang out of his mouth all the time. He cannot speak above a whisper; he cannot project his voice at all. He struggles to even eat or drink and has to go the hospital every few days due to dehydration. I am posting this in hopes that someone out there, somewhere has heard of something like this and can give us an idea of what path to take next. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

This has been fun! Thank you all for your posts - and you have given me more ideas of things I should be "on the lookout for" to never do :D.

Brazilian Wax Bungee Jumping What's on your list?

Over the course of our marriage and moves around the world, I have had neighbors ask to borrow things that just gross me out! And, I usually end up giving them the item because the thought of taking it back and using it after they have used it is too much. My list includes (but is not limited to) the following: a plunger - yuck!!!!!!! my mop - after their toliet overflowed my vacuum - didn't let them borrow my good one; loaned them the $10 yardsale one that we used for the cars my hairbrush That is all I can think of right now, but I am sure there are more. What is on your list?

:grouphug: I am so sorry...

I understand what you are saying... I debated whether to really invest the time and energy toward learning Korean when we really will never have another opportunity to use it again once we leave here. We have learned the basic conversation bits - thank you, hello, etc - but have not spent much effort in truly learning the language. It was a deliberate decision, but I do agree with you.

I have always taken a laid-back approach to our homeschool. I have felt that children are able to be children for such a short period of time and I didn't want to force a load of academics too early. Now, though, that my oldest is in sixth grade, I am starting to feel the pressure of not doing enough. I would like to give you a run-down of what we do and you tell me if we are doing enough, please. Math - (daily) Christian Light Education on grade level & (sporadically)Teaching Textbooks 7th grade Language Arts - (daily)Christian Light Education on grade level Wordly Wise - (daily) grade level Science - (daily) grade level Writing - Write At Home Composition course online - she is doing very well with this and has completely taken the initiative to print off/read her assignments, write the papers with no assistance from me, and upload them to her writing coach. I feel like she is learning so much more from this course than just writing; she is learning computer skills, typing, accountability, etc. History - real books, more interest led than any kind of curriculum.... No formal foreign language, though we do live in a foreign country and we are able to observe/participate in the culture on a daily basis. Of course, throughout the day, we discuss any topics that come up, which leads to many, many interesting and pertinent discussions. I am just feeling inadequate and worried that I am not covering all my bases - Any and all advice welcome. TIA Maddykate ETA: She is dyslexic, so she struggles with reading. However, she has recently gotten really excited about a Lori Wick series and has truly become engaged with reading and has a passion for it that she has never had before. It has been so wonderful to watch this spark turn into a flame, all without having pressured her and browbeat her into doing it.

She is dyslexic, so she struggles with reading. However, she has recently gotten really excited about a Lori Wick series and has truly become engaged with reading and has a passion for it that she has never had before. It has been so wonderful to watch this spark turn into a flame, all without having pressured her and browbeat her into doing it.

I have always taken a laid-back approach to our homeschool. I have felt that children are able to be children for such a short period of time and I didn't want to force a load of academics too early. Now, though, that my oldest is in sixth grade, I am starting to feel the pressure of not doing enough. I would like to give you a run-down of what we do and you tell me if we are doing enough, please. Math - (daily) Christian Light Education on grade level & (sporadically)Teaching Textbooks 7th grade Language Arts - (daily)Christian Light Education on grade level Wordly Wise - (daily) grade level Science - (daily) grade level Writing - Write At Home Composition course online - she is doing very well with this and has completely taken the initiative to print off/read her assignments, write the papers with no assistance from me, and upload them to her writing coach. I feel like she is learning so much more from this course than just writing; she is learning computer skills, typing, accountability, etc. History - real books, more interest led than any kind of curriculum.... No formal foreign language, though we do live in a foreign country and we are able to observe/participate in the culture on a daily basis. Of course, throughout the day, we discuss any topics that come up, which leads to many, many interesting and pertinent discussions. I am just feeling inadequate and worried that I am not covering all my bases - Any and all advice welcome. TIA Maddykate

Count me in! We have moved 8 times in 16 years, with another move coming up in May.

I went to the chiropractor today for an adjustment to help relieve some pain in my hip. While he was doing the adjustment on my back, he asked me if I have digestion issues. I do. Badly. How did he know that? I am going back to him on Friday and plan on asking him, but I was wondering if any of you might know how he knew by feeling my back that I have digestion problems. TIA, Maddykate

It is 3:40am on Feb. 1 here in Asia. In the few short hours beginning this new month, I have found out the following: 1) my dear nephew is in the hospital (see other post) 2) my dd's wonderful, beloved old horse back home died 3) I am sick with a stomach bug 4) Aunt Flo decided to come visit So, if you feel like lifting us up in prayer, I really would appreciate it. Thanks so much, Maddykate

My nephew is in the hospital right now with severe symptoms of sudden onset Tourette's Syndrome. It came on him extremely suddenly about 3 months ago and has progressively gotten worse. It is to the point that he can get no relief at all from the tics unless he is asleep. During every waking moment, he is making these movements. Do any of you have any ideas or suggestions that we might research to help this poor child? TIA, Maddy

For us, it has been finding something that we both enjoy and focusing on that together. For example, Dh and I both want an organic farm one day, so we spend a lot of time researching it together and dreaming about what we would like to accomplish. We still talk about the kids, the house, work, school, etc., but having just one thing to dream about together has kept us on the same page and given us something that we really can't share with other people. It seems like throughout our 18 years of marriage that the "one" thing has changed or molded into other things that we focus on to keep the friendship alive. It has helped us to look forward to things in our life that do not pertain to the children and that we have to work for together for the greater good of our future. What are you passionate about? What is he passionate about?

My heart breaks for you. I lost my sister to brain cancer in 2001, after watching her battle it for 6 long years. I know what suffering your aunt experienced and I also know what you all suffered watching her. We aren't sure how long my sisters brain tumor was there, but looking back we always wonder if some of the bizarre behavior that she displayed were the result of that tumor. Cherish the good memories you have with your aunt - maybe even write them down for her children. I pray you have comfort and peace in knowing she is not suffering any longer. Maddykate

When walking to the store today, I fell on my keester three times. My dc were laughing at me so hard and when I asked them why weren't they helping me, dd #2 replied, "Mom, we knew you were okay because you were still thrashing about." hahaha ~ Thankfully, there was no harm done during my falls and I lived to tell a really, really funny story :D

My dh has used a CPAP for 2 years, but I have to be honest...he did not see much of a difference. He really doesn't wake up more refreshed/rested and he complains that he is uncomfortably filled with air. He doesn't feel like the benefits are great enough to continue wearing it. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that is our experience. Hope you get the help you need. Maddy