My poor son -he is so depressed and confused. He drove around for a couple of hours yesterday just trying to clear his head. Yesterday, he got two responses to emails from his previous campaign work. One campaign manager said absolutely not to move to D.C. that it is impossible to get an entry level position and the cost of living is prohibitive and the second email who did an intern in D.C. for a congressman and is now managing his interns says go for it as they only hire people in the area. So what to do.... where's my magic mom wand that I can wave and clear a path for him???? But since I don't have a wand, I am trying to just remain somewhat neutral and just listen. Myra

Farrar - Thanks for the support. Really, he is going to do what he feels best. He saved almost all of his salary from the congressional campaign work last summer/fall. I mean he worked 10 hour days, low below min. wage pay BUT lived at home & since we live in a relatively rural area and all of his friends have moved so he spent zip on recreation/entertainment so he has a smallish nest egg. Plus he is willing to work hard at any job to tide him over if need be - grocery store, retail, delivery, etc. and he has hung out with college buds that live in NYC so he is comfortable navigating transit systems, large city life, etc. SO....... Thanks again everyone, Myra

Hey - See my recent post in Washington, D.C. It's about my son trying to get a job after graduation - yikes, so different times when I graduated years and years ago. Myra

Thanks everyone! And Farrar... I will let you know when he chooses an area to see your opinion. And Displace...I understand everyone's idea about finding a job first then moving (it's how I've done it in the past), but several jobs have said they only hire people that live already in the area - law of supply and demand, I guess. So it's not that I am nervous about him moving to D.C. it's the idea of just jumping and moving there without employment, contacts, friends, etc. And Chris in VA...he is hoping for a job in the political campaign area, less out in the field but more in the office. But he is willing to grab any job to support himself (including pizza delivery, etc) until he lands a "real" job. He was employed by the last congressional campaign right after graduation last year up to end of Nov. 2018 (living here at home) but there are now zip jobs here, he is getting really down with no friends in the area and no job prospects and living at home .... big time depression; therefore, he views this as a "hail Mary" type of move. Once again thanks!

Thanks for the info - I will pass it along. Are you familiar enough to suggest decent/safe/within commuting areas to start looking for room to let?

My college graduate wants to make a career in political field. Upon advice from his professors, he is planning to move to Washington, D.C. First, he thinks he should find a place to live - share an apartment or rent out a room then apply for jobs once he is there. His resume includes bachelor degree in communications, minor in international politics. Job experience includes field organizer for successful congressman's campaign in 2019 plus 2018 summer research intern for political consulting firm.... Any advice for living arrangements? Any advice for jobs? Any advice at all (to calm this mom down)?

Here's a side-bar.... I'd like to add a faint smell of lavender to my laundry - I read online to add a wet washcloth that has a few drops of lavender oil on it to the dryer cycle - didn't work at all. Any help? Thanks, Myra

I wish I had gone with full size mattresses all along - just skip the twinsized all together. This would have allowed more snuggling and room for read alouds .... and room to spread out as they hit the teen years.

It could also just be nerves - my creatures would be antsy when staying elsewhere or even friends' "pet sit" at our own house. But when we came back - it all came out (so to speak!).

When my kids were younger, I broke my leg and dislocated my shoulder. And although I could have done without the fracture, it did change my family's dynamics for the better. As I was immobilized on the couch all day, I learned that my kids could handle much more responsibility than I had previously given them credit for...and I learned to be much more relaxed about household chores being done in a timely or a certain way (my way, that is!) We had to cut down on daily outside activities yet that caused my kids and I to move to a slower track in life. We rediscovered the joys of just snuggling on the couch, sharing books again, and just hanging out together. I don't want to sound smarmy or whatever but ,all in all, I think my 12 weeks in various casts really ended up being a positive experience!

I know! We are trying to build an emergency fund, but daily (and unexpected) financial drain is winning out!

And here's an example where I didn't even open the door, at first, for two police officers. They knocked on my front door in uniform but carrying a full-size ax! From my door, I could not see their official police car. After they explained by showing me their badges through the door window, I did open the door and stepped out onto the porch to talk to them. It seems there was vandalism all the way down our country lane by teenagers who used the ax to take out mailboxes. They explained mine was one of them edited to add that my mailbox was one of them not my kids (I hadn't been out to collect the mail yet!) and they just wanted to know if they could take pictures of the mailbox and if I wanted to press charges. Ha!

I, too, live out in the country with no neighbors. So if a stranger - male or female - comes knocking on my door I do answer the door, but I just don't open it! I figure they can talk to me through the door with the 100 lb. dog barking and jumping excitedly around my feet!.

I also suggest writing on the box which room you want the movers to place the box in your new place. I suggest using different color markers for each room and make the room obvious i.e. master bedroom, kitchen, master bath, basement, etc. It can get overwhelming when movers are quickly bringing in boxes and so this seems to help during the confusion

In addition, prices have gotten out of control. It is hard to save enough to pay cash for a house, college tuition, cars, etc. Many people are on a fixed income or min. wage income and are living pay check to paycheck. The only way to get basic stuff is through credit card or financing. I am not talking about frills but just the basics food, housing, college, cars. insurance.... Although are very frugal and save as much as is possible, we have to resort to zero-interest financing, an at times, higher interest rates. to get by.

I saw on one of the home improvement shows called This Old House that the bottom half of container was filled with those foam type "worms" that are used in packaging. Myra

What is strange is that I had no anesthesia at all for my colonoscopy - it wasn't even presented as an option. There was no pain; just a general feeling of discomfort.

Check out if the college grad school that he is interested in requires the GRE. My son's grad school told him that the GRE is required, but that they just have to check it off that he took it - they didn't even look at the scores at all. The grad school recommended that he just take it without studying!

I have been looking allergy type pads for my son's room for the same reason - dust mites. But when I have read reviews on-line, I have gotten discouraged. I don't want a plastic-y type enclosure for several reasons. They seem to be reviewed as too hot. Others say they make a crinkle-type noise every time you roll over. in addition, I don't like the idea of the toxic plastic fumes given off all night long. So I am interested to see what others have to say...... Myra

Seriously, I am not the one to add to this discussion. I have not ironed any article of clothing in the past five years! That's right - for formal occasions such as graduations , I have encouraged my sons o take a dress shirt to the launders. The rest of the time, quick removal from the dryer and quickly hung on a hanger is the go to method around here. I think the last time I used an iron was to wax leaves in the Fall. Me bad, Myra

To me this conversation comes down to the way women are taught by social-cultural norms on how to react to conflict. We are encouraged to either accept the situation, ignore it, or address it in a round about manner. I think it is a feeling of lack of empowerment that causes women not to use conflict resolution skills, but ultimately to lash out in frustration and anger. If being called a "girl" is unacceptable to you (as it is to me) then you should be able to just state your preference face-to-face. There is not need to sugar-coat your position nor is there any reason to turn the situation into aggression or rudeness. Just politely state your preference. Most times, no explanation. If it is a reoccurring problem, just repeat as often as necessary. We just got to respect each other's differences. And that's my two cents worth! Myra

After visits to pediatrician and then a sport orthopedic specialists there was still no firm diagnosis or treatment plan. However, at one of his soccer games, a parent approached me, introduced himself as a chiropractor, and mentioned that he thinks my son is exhibiting symptoms of Osgood-Schlatter syndrome. After making an appointment at his office and a thorough examination/x-rays etc. , my son was fitted with a custom knee support. The pain was lessened immediately. I am not diagnosing your kiddo, but just offering what worked for my son's knee pain. Good luck, Myra

Years ago, I had a similar issue with my youngest son. After bombing the initial testing for color blindness at pediatrician's office - you know, where they show a circle with one color containing a number/picture inside with a different color, we went for further testing. The specialist was at her wit's end until a light bulb went off in my head. I asked my five year old WHY he did not see the different colors. His response was that he saw and knew the other colors. But he was ignoring certain colors just because he just didn't LIKE those colors.! Mystery solved! But I should have known, as this was the same kiddo that refused to be three. He said he was two until he turned four. Reason: He just didn't like that number two. Go figure! Myra

What a relief - I am having the same issues. I did my "go to" for solving any technical problem: turn the device off, breathe deeply, cross my fingers, then turn it back on again. It didn't work this time! Glad to know the problem is not with my phone directly! Myra

I am not on facebook, but my son is - so I will forward this information to him. Do you think this would be a good review course for someone who has taken Latin I and II at the college level a few years back but needs review before starting Latin again at the graduate level? Thanks, Myra