And it's possible that the invitation was sent as a result of OP's husband's cutting ties. If someone has cut ties with family members, it can be hard to stay in contact with someone who is going to report back. Maybe now that OP's husband and his brother are in the same boat it will be possible for them to have contact again. OP, I might see this as an opportunity to send your BIL and his fiancee a card. You wouldn't have to write much--just congratulate them, let him know you love him and sign your names.

It was not like that when I was in school, but at one elementary school I attended there was a rule that the last one at the table had to wipe it down. We all wolfed down our lunches. I did hear a story from a French homeschooler once that her child's lunchroom took the silent lunch idea to the extreme that the kids had to point and use head signals to indicate what they wanted put on their trays by the cafeteria ladies (not the ones who sing Eat Those Brussel Sprouts and Smile!)

Plus the media is full of things that are anti-women. Jokes, images, insinuations... Men hardly have a monopoly on complaints about representation in the media.

LOL! I forgot how easy it is to inflate a man's ego. You guys are like aerobeds!

I'm a reader. I read like crazy until I was about 12 and I've been big on reading since about age 19, but there were several years there where I didn't read a whole lot (a book here and there, but that's about it). Other things (everything?) seemed more important to me than reading for fun.

Thank you, too. Parenting within a marriage isn't usually 50/50.

Thank you. By the time I reached your post the only reply I had formulated in my mind to the post you quoted was "Ugh." Yours is much better.

That just makes me sick. And the woman stops a mom from going to the bathroom--I'd like to see her try to stop a big man. Coward. I have no patience for that crap.

Yes, especially when they are already sometimes looked at with suspicion simply due to their religion and/or origins.

Yeah, I'm not sure he has much choice but to condemn them strongly. If he doesn't, some people will suspect him of being involved somehow or of having similar tendencies. It's not fair, but people are stupid sometimes.

Kids say weird stuff sometimes. I wouldn't worry because he says he would never want to do that!

We did it both ways, but the more kid-friendly versions were not super sanitized or anything--just a little less gruesome. I don't think there is anything wrong with the tales that have been cleaned up a little--times are different now. This isn't a new thing either--in the 1886 translation of Grimm tales into English, some of the most disgusting (IMO) details were omitted. The main thing is that the story remains essentially the same (rather than, for example: "by using their words, the wolf and three pigs became the best of friends"). As far as darker tales go, I think some of those are OK too. When my son was 7, I ordered a bunch of super cheap French books (I was in Europe at the time), some of them fairy tales. I read him Bluebeard (Perrault), The Little Match Girl (Andersen), The Pied Piper of Hamelin (Grimm, I think)... He liked them, but some kids might not. Bluebeard and The Little Match Girl are pretty awful, but I was glad he was familiar with the characters as they both were in The Sisters Grimm books. When my son was around 6, I bought an Usborne Arabian Nights book. I read it to him, but there were a couple of things I toned down because they were over-the-top gross. When I was a child I had a book and tape set of The Little Mermaid and the Mermaid wasn't willing to kill the Prince and his new wife and she turned into sea foam. It was my favorite book/tape set. BTW, I think the Disney versions can be great too.

That's awesome--he must be thrilled! (and you too!) Congratulations to you both.

The Gift of Dyslexia is a different sort of book. I found it interesting, but it's not the first book I'd think of if I were recommending a book on dyslexia. The other ones mentioned in this thread will likely be more helpful to you. Your dd sounds like a visual-spatial learner. I don't make my son show his work if his answer is right (as this is torture for him), but when it's wrong I ask him to check through his work (which is in his head usually) to figure out where he went wrong. I think for kids like these, showing their work is as hard for them as it would be for me to not write out my work and do it all in my head.

I have no idea, though my first slow dance (in 6th grade) was interrupted by me running away and into the girls' bathroom. I didn't really want to dance with the kid, but didn't know how to say no, so I did a runner instead. I do remember that some of our middle school dances were DJ'd by none other than Kid Rock.

Loved Roger Ebert. For many years, the one thing I looked forward to after watching a movie was reading his take on it. I will miss him.

Did you ask him and he said yes, he would be there on Monday, or was nothing said about it at all? Sometimes people assume that school breaks (K-12 school, that is-- I realize his university wasn't on break) are also breaks from lessons. I have learned that it's just better to confirm this, and if there is a schedule change it's good to send a text the day before, or morning of, to confirm.

A reading tutor for my son has been extremely helpful. His progress has been slow, but steady. It's been nearly 18 months and he's reading on grade level now. For awhile I just stepped back completely (from reading, not everything), but after several months I was able to start supplementing his reading/writing at home. I don't think you can say you've failed a child who is only 9. Reading disabilities can mean that a child isn't ready to read until about that age.

Your opinion on sinks, please. I think they are great. In fact, I love them so much I've got one in my kitchen and in my bathroom. How would you handle a mom who... Delicately, because as I recall the whos down in whoville are very small.

I think it's better for them to figure it out themselves. When they do, they feel kind of clever. If you tell them, they might feel like they've been duped. They also might be mad because they weren't ready to stop believing just yet. Some kids go through a phase where they know, but they still want to believe. My son (age 11) is one of these.

So the Easter Bunny essentially exists to increase sperm count?

Growing up, we always received a few presents for Easter along with candy. We always enjoyed the egg hunt, so I don't think gifts make it lose its luster. I give my son a few presents on Easter. It's not like Christmas, but it's a bit more than just a token (such as on Valentine's Day). I also hide a few plastic eggs with change in them. Yep, that's right, money for Easter! That was also something my dad did when we were kids. Someone asked "Why gifts?" Because it's part of our tradition.

Maybe this could be an opportunity for her to begin to pick up some street smarts. You could sit down with her and make a plan so she is better prepared. Find out what restaurants aren't far from the hotel. She could also call you when at the restaurant and then when she's back at the hotel. Of course you don't want her out wandering the city for hours, but maybe there is something between that and going there to take her out to dinner yourselves.

I saw a pretty nerdy one this afternoon: Tailgate me and roll for damage. One of my favorites that I saw a year or two ago: Ask your doctor if medical advice from a TV commercial is right for you.

Regarding the bolded, that is about the same thing. Knowing what the comments were wouldn't necessarily help you determine anything, since so much can depend on how it's said, in what context, etc. Also, I can guarantee you wouldn't welcome an email like that from someone you felt was creepy.