Where does everyone shop for dresses for their high school girls? My DD wants a modest dress, not a low neckline and not sleeveless. I wish she would wear sleeveless as that really limits her options.

Definitely a blast from the past! I used to also be a member of DiaperSwappers and I think they have moved the forum to facebook.

I’m so sorry for your loss.

Our bedroom is huge. We just moved into this house over the summer and haven’t finished furnishing and decorating all the rooms. Our closet (which is also huge) has dresser and shelving and hanging clothes. The bedroom has our bed, nightstands, and two accent chairs and ottomans that I started setting up as a sitting area. I also am planning to get a side table and lamp for that area and some sort of dresser or console table for one wall that needs something else. This post was my inspiration picture (the redo with the single chair) but what I ended up getting is very different. It always help me to start with an inspiration picture.

If that is the case, there is a bigger issue here than hanging up pictures. If you really don't think she would allow you to hang it with the others, I would not even ask and I wouldn't have it done. If you do think it is worth ending your relationship over, I suggest talking to her about how you feel that she never accepted or welcomed your son as part of the family. (If that is how you feel?) And then make a decision about how to proceed with her. I don't think it is reasonable to ask her to not hang up the other pictures. If she really would refuse a picture of your son because he was adopted, I don't even know what I would do with that. I probably would have cut her out of my life long ago. If this were only about a picture, I would say definitely ask first. Taking out all of the personal stuff related to this-- I don't like a lot of things on my walls and I don't like it when people give me pictures or artwork as gifts. I am very picky about what goes on my walls. Maybe she feels the same. But it seems that there is more to it than this.

I've had a white car for a long time and never had this happen. However, during the period of time that I had a red car, I was pulled over twice and got my only speeding ticket EVER. This was just a few years ago. I had not been pulled over since high school and I had NEVER had a ticket. That was when I decided to never again get a red car. I switched to white when that lease was up.

If you're an awful mom, I'm THE WORST. I've been silently blaming my DD's symptoms on her anxiety and OCD for years. She DOES have anxiety and OCD. But now that she is doing amazing with managing that on medication, the other symptoms are still an issue and I'm seeing that more clearly in different circumstances. She has never passed out. She has often complained of short bursts of dizziness. She is extremely heat intolerant and exercise intolerant. She get sweaty really quickly and sweats at night. She has poor circulation in her hands and feet - her immunologist said it was mild Raynaud's Syndrome several years ago. She often complains of being worn out, unable to stand, weak, feeling "dead", and sometimes out of breath. We're in a new state now and just starting to get established with doctors. It is really annoying because the specialists here will not book an appointment without a referral from a GP even though our insurance does not require a referral. It's taking forever to get my kids set up with all of their doctors. DD recently got hired at a small, local grocery market where DS works. Then she panicked and told me she thinks she can't do it because she can't stand for long periods of time. And she is embarrassed to talk to them about it because we don't have a diagnosis and she doesn't want to look like she is making excuses. I don't know what to tell her. Ask them if she can wait to start until we get some medical things figured out? How do you get more salt into their diet? Just salty, snacks foods? Any special drinks that can help with this? I feel like the compression socks might make her feel overheated, no? It is such a problem for her getting overheated and sweaty. I really do feel like a terrible mom. All of these symptoms line up with POTS, plus she already has a history of autoimmune stuff. So much of this I thought she was exaggerating due to her OCD and then I thought it was her medicine making her feel sluggish and giving her night sweats. 😞

There was a recent thread on this but it didn’t really answer my questions. If you or your child has POTS and has been diagnosed, what were your/their symptoms and how exactly was it diagnosed?

Well, I think they’re gross because they are covering my house and patio. They make a loud squish sound when stepped on and explode in disgustingness. Yeah, there are grosser things. But right now they are on my gross list.

@happi duck Oh, how did you find a picture of my house? 😂😭

PA. They were in NJ too (just moved in June) but they are far worse here.

They are EVERYWHERE. They are gross. I kill like 20 a day. It's a losing battle! Anyone else? Anyone successful at deterring them somehow?

I don't know what college aged kids are wearing these days, but in terms of the northeast weather, my recommendation is something like a ski jacket that can be separated. Like that has an outer shell and inner fleece. Lands End often has good deals and the pricier brands will be the same thing essentially, just more expensive (North Face, Patagonia, etc.) If he has a good shell, he can wear it over a hoodie if he wants or he can wear it with the inner. It will also work for different temps and weather as he can choose to layer for colder days and just wear the shell for rainy/chilly days.

I am really surprised that they took a contingent offer in this market. I would go back with a bigger offer just in case.

I've had good luck with wayfair and amazon actually for random pieces of furniture - tv console, sofa table, nightstands. The quality is not amazing, but the thing that I've found is that there is no middle ground anymore for furniture. The quality stuff would be thousands and thousands of dollars to furnish a house. The cheaper stuff is still expensive - not Ethan Allen expensive but definitely more expensive than I think it should be for what it is. For example, I'm looking for ottomans and everything I like is *at least* $100 an ottoman, which I think is a lot for a "cheap" ottoman. But when I priced them at a furniture store, it was like $600 an ottoman. We have had to buy a LOT of new things for our house since we sold or got rid of a lot when we moved. So Wayfair, Amazon, and Target it is.

Same. I would have declined the gift.

I’d be surprised if someone wasn’t familiar with it but i don’t know how I’d know that 🤷‍♀️

Is it not an option to talk to the coach? That would be my inclination. I’m not a sports mom, though, so I really don’t know. Are parents not supposed to get involved at this age? In this situation, I feel like I would want to clarify how my son interpreted the coach’s response and explain that he wasn’t being defiant but was making a choice that he thought he was given.

Start looking on Pinterest and instagram for inspiration. You need an inspiration pic that *you* love. Also decide on function based on how you will use the room. Crafting, reading, working? Do you want a desk? Comfy chair? My “cave” (I prefer to say sanctuary) has a grand piano and amazing chairs, but clearly that’s not for everyone.

I would be concerned. You can't control if and when he will perceive that someone or something needs protection. This could be a bad situation if he reads it wrong.

Teacher of the Deaf / ASL Interpreter

Did you open it? Is it actually a check? I’m surprised that so many are saying to cash it if it’s a check. For those with that opinion, they must not have a toxic MIL. I would NOT take any money from her. Taking it puts you into the position of “owing” her something. Or it communicates that you accept her “apology” for all the toxic crap and that everything is fine and you can carry on as before.

My siblings and I use this site for secret Santa names. Maybe it could work for this somehow? https://www.drawnames.com

I never went crazy with food. My mom didn't buy junk but she didn't forbid it, either. I'm thankful for the eating habits that she taught me. I did buy more expensive and brand name food and other things that my parents would not have bought because they were more expensive than the cheaper version.

DD’s duvet has ties in the corners and that works great. It’s from Pottery Barn. Not sure if they’re all like that.