OP, just wanted to address the latter question in your post, about why we stress out over these things. Well, because they are out-the-wazoo expensive! Sounds like your ds needs what's called orthopedic orthodontics. Phase 1 corrects the bone structure (ie, palate expansion, etc), phase 2 corrects alignment. From all our research before proceeding with our child's challenging case, this is a far cry better than the old break-and-reset-the-jawbone technique used in decades past. I know that we, dh and I, do it because it's something we are able to address "on our watch." When kids graduate from high school or college, just starting out in life, few have the resources as young adults to pay for orthodontic treatment. And with the business world today, fewer employers are offering comprehensive insurance as part of compensation packages. So as we see it, it may be now or never. I know a few moms who are, in their mid-forties, just now undergoing orthodontic correction. They couldn't afford it for themselves as young adults, and they couldn't afford it when they had a lot of kids at home to feed and clothe. One is straightening out for cosmetic reasons, another has finally reached the point of not being able to chew and swallow without pain. If I can provide this for my kids now, I really, really want to, so it's not something they have to figure out how to pay for later. After all, I expect they'll be paying for their own kids' braces down the road.

Well, there is (IME) an up side to peer "pressure." I have two teen sons, one of them your ds's age. I found that they were much more willing to (as they would call it) "suck it up" when surrounded by supportive friends. And I don't mean they've learned to stifle genuine feelings, they've just learned the proper ways to express feelings. They've also learned perseverance, because if their teammates aren't giving up, they won't either. The challenge is building the right peer group. Kids that will have empathy, but who can also tell him to "shake it off, man, you're okay," pat him on the shoulder and encourage him to get back to the game (the task, whatever). Friends that he knows well enough to know that they also have weaknesses that he can support them in, and feel secure around. I have spent lots of prayers asking that the right peers would come alongside. For the most part, making the conscious effort to help my kids associate with kids that are a bit older, a bit more mature, has paid off. And very often, the Lord sends 'em a wonderful new friend out of the clear blue. Don't get me wrong, I don't pick all my kids' friends! They have lots of fun with get-silly acquaintances! But I do try to foster certain relationships to meet certain needs in my kids' spiritual and emotional growth. And I have learned to recognize that I personally cannot meet all their needs, even for sheltering. As they enter adolescence, their peer relationships are *very* important to them in figuring out who they are, how to respond properly to certain situations, etc. ETA - Jean, I cannot remember if your son is involved in any kind of regular physical activity, but that is a wonderful outlet for stress. I have often just had to look at one of my boys and say, "You just need to go take a quick run and we'll get back to this when you're back and cooled off."

One of my kids works at a restaurant and swears by the stainless steel cleaner they get from Cysco. Keeps saying we need some at home. I keep saying to get the manager to sell me a can.;) I think Barkeeper's Friend is great for sinks, but I don't know if it's sold in a sprayable/wipeable form that would be good for appliance fronts.

First child, appx $4K for standard, single phase correction. Next child, a tough case, will be near $10K by the time that kid is finished. Third child, not yet sure but hoping for the same as #1, we will find out soon. I am very, very thankful for dental insurance that covers a portion of the orthodontics. Our most economical route has been to pay with income tax refund money, get the cash discount for paying up front, and immediately submit it to our medical savings account for reimbursement of the portion not covered by insurance.

"What a great opening scene for a mystery novel!"

Yes! Again, yes! I dispatched that Pearl book because, if I chose to pass it on, I would in a sense be condoning the ACTIONS suggested therein. Thoughts conveyed, I leave to others to figure out. But a book filled with instructions to act in a way that is potentially very harmful for children? It was my choice to stop that copy in its tracks. I wouldn't pull someone else's copy off her shelf, but my own book, I can do with whatever I choose. BTW, let's not digress into that particular book any further. If this thread gets locked it should be due to DW related discussion!

:lol: Oh, that's good. To date I have just referred to them collectively as "The Dougs." I appreciate you, Rivka, FaithManor and the others that have shared info on this scandal of Wilson supporting the child molestor. I know some lovely, young, naive families who are difficult to engage with on the dangers of this man's movement. They haven't yet seen beyond the "happy-in-obedience family" image that is the thin veneer on the patriarchal movement. I am glad to have this info to bring to the dialogue. (Ya know Bill, the biggest reason I enjoy your posts is because the words, "showers of silver chips" always make me smile.)

I think that was the plan. Unless she posts via a smartphone, I guess she'll be offline for a couple of days. Or maybe we'll hear from her later tonight if they make good time and she has a way to connect. From her other thread, it sounds like they did get everything successfully packed and loaded onto the truck.

Almost 42 when my last was born. Yes, I was very noticeably more tired!

I had some really delicious s'mores a few years ago, fueled by a copy of a Pearl book someone had given me. Farenheit 451 scared the daylights out of me, and I take delight in selecting from the banned book list, but even so, some books should never make it to the printing press.

I appreciated that the authors of Boundaries made it clear that when I set boundaries, I have adjusting to do as well. That I can expect that those new boundary lines may cause *me* to be angry at times. That I will have to decide how to manage the feelings of guilt that crop up when others encounter my boundary lines for the first time. If I didn't have the admonition to expect those feelings, I may have found it very easy to throw in the towel a few times already.

I appreciated that the authors of Boundaries made it clear that when I set boundaries, I have adjusting to do as well. That I can expect that those new boundary lines may cause *me* to be angry at times. That I will have to decide how to manage the feelings of guilt that crop up when others encounter my boundary lines for the first time. If I didn't have the admonition to expect those feelings, I may have found it very easy to throw in the towel a few times already.

Oh my! Yeah, Faith is right, he owes you some chocolate! A BIG bar! I've been thinking about you today. Hope the next few days go according to plan.

Wow, you have completely summed it up! And invented a perfectly descriptive new phrase, to boot: cyber-skulking. Love it (well, not the act, but the identification).

:lol::lol::lol::lol: I have a personal-card-reader in the extended family, too. Just because I left it on the counter doesn't mean I am inviting you to pick it up, open it and read it. I just ran out of time to shove all the paper bits into drawers before you got here!

:lol::lol::lol: Oh, Imp, you are always good for a laugh! Your MIL certainly takes the cake. Any shenanigans lately from her? Hope you are feeling okay (as well as can be expected, I mean, with all you've got going on :grouphug:). Thanks, y'all, for understanding how I feel. A couple of months ago I wiped out half my fb friends list, because I felt my space was invaded. And yes, I do know I can adjust my settings, but that opens a whole 'nother can of "fairness" worms about who gets to see what, 'cause all those kin compare notes. It was easier to just delete, delete, delete.... Yes, it feels like someone is eavesdropping on my conversation with friends. That makes me sound like I want to be exclusive, but that's not it. I just want some boundary markers. Faith, you're right, I find it kind of creepy. And seems like it would have to be pretty intentional, to get here. The more I think of it, the more I think there's one person who could have directed the other person this way, but... oh, it's just ridiculous and a waste of my time to try to figure it all out. Just makes me wonder what they're doing with theirs...

Oh, heavens no! What if I dropped your really nice camera, and it broke? And even if the object in question weren't breakable, it's still not mine. I would only mess with it if I were invited to, or if I saw it was in a dangerous spot and then I would simply move it to a safer place. Maybe this person assumes such a close friendship that she thought you wouldn't mind? Maybe she is an experienced photographer? I dunno... it seems odd to me.

Of course, I know that nothing is truly private in cyberspace. Understood. But is it too much to hope that extended family members would make the effort to pursue real life relationships, instead of trolling message boards once they think they've figured out who a poster is? They they would show a little respect and not invade another's community, circle of friends, but actively pursue a direct relationship? This is my place to process thoughts, to vent, to get advice. If I wanted certain people involved in those issues, I'd ask them directly. How do you react when an issue you write about on a message board gets brought up in conversation... and you feel very sure the person who brought it up couldn't have gotten that info in any other way? And if you don't want to mention the board on the wee chance that it's just a coincidence? I have described personal circumstances here over the years. But I have never named or "outed" anyone, never attempted to publicly embarrass anyone. I have perhaps shared more than I should as far as information that might identify me personally. Probably a mistake. I honestly wouldn't mind my community of fellow home schoolers knowing who I am IRL, but I really feel disappointed to think that certain relations are... what would the kids say.... cyber-stalking me. And, just *how* would someone find me here, unless that person home schooled and came across the board looking for info, and, after reading multiple posts of mine (of the THOUSANDS of posts on this site)? Unless they are deliberately looking for me and searching in any way they can.... Sigh... I know that what goes on the web is out there for all to see. Heck, I tell my kids that all the time. I guess I am just mourning the loss of what I've come to think of as my refuge. I have been on these boards a long time (not always as AuntieM), and the community here has been like a lifeline of personal friends, supporting me through many very lonely state-to-state transitions. I'd love to hear your thoughts. But please, be nice. This makes me kind of sad.

You can get a case of bottled water and a cheap styrofoam cooler, if you think you'll use it. Don't move the furniture. That's what you're paying them! Do make sure that they have a clear path out of the house, move boxes out of the way. Disconnect your appliances before they arrive, unless you arranged to have them do it. If you have any old panty hose or stockings and some ground coffee, put coffee in the stockings, tie off the open end, and toss it in the fridge to keep it from getting funky smelling. I would pack my dresser drawer clothes into a box, but my dresser is very heavy even when empty. We've had movers do it both ways.

Sorry to be abrupt in my first reply, hard to do long messages on the phone. I'm sorry I have no advice to offer for the transportation challenge. Can a neighbor watch the kids? Just want to give you a :grouphug: The time is finally here! I know it is and is likely to continue to be stressful for you, but I am excited for you because things are changing for you, and you guys needed a change.

Do not tell them how to load the truck. If you have furniture pieces that come apart, let them know (ie, china cabinet base and hutch). If anything is broken and held together by the duct tape method, like one of the legs on our old piano used to be, let them know about it. Keep the kids out of the way. Experienced movers can load a truck fast. You will not have time to continue packing, make sure most is ready to go before they arrive. Have cold water to offer. They will probably have their own, but it's nice to be able to offer it. In this heat wave, a couple of old towels might come in handy to donate as sweatrags (but not a necessity if there are none to spare).

They may be surprised to see Harrison Ford playing the old guy! My teens enjoyed it. It really is a good premise. Our alien/alien abduction/resist alien takeover films are typically set in modern times or in the future. It's interesting to backdate by 150 years.

Yeah, I have a few food items from the deep south that cannot be found here. I don't know if applies to the Dorothy Lynch, but I find that the average price per unit is usually less if I order by the case. :D Except for my favorite French cake that nobody's even heard of here. One 8" round multi-layer cake would probably cost me about $75, with shipping. It remains an infrequent treat...

I went over my carb limit today, too. Warm buttered whole wheat bread...mmmmm.... I just did my penance on the treadmill. Sorry about the headache, Jean, but it will be a reminder the next time you are tempted to binge! FWIW, pizza gets me every time - even the acceptable size slice sends my blood sugar up. Something about the combination of what's on/in pizza, maybe? I dunno, but it gets me every time. But it's soooooo yummy!

It wasn't bad... it was just kind of...slow.... The pacing was slow, the delivery of lines was slow all around, just not snappy. Cowboys and Aliens. How can you go wrong with that? I was open minded going in, but, meh. Am I the only one that noticed the alien scale being a bit off? I mean, how did they even fit in their fighter jet spacecraft?