The crying is fine. Boys crying is great. I am so glad boys are allowed to cry nowadays, and adult men to. Bring it on! We need more of it. The context however just exposes another issue...expectations, competition, putting self worth on external things....and that is unhealthy. I would NOT focus on the crying at all. I woudl focus on that fact that the boy is upset over something that should really normally roll off him if he had a healthy self image. If he is crying to elicit sympathy...well, that is manipulative. ANd there IS a place for "manning up" about such things. BUt, dont throw the baby out with the bathwater, please.

I would say you would know within 2 or 3 sessions whether it is worth continuing. You should feel some sort of relief (except in cases of a healing crisis) during/after each session. It may seem to go 2 steps forward, one backwards...thats fine...but it should generally, overall, seem to go forward. I had an inflamed nerve in my upper back and neck last year and had to go to the chiro as an emergency patient. The relief of that first session was immediate, but no where near complete- it took several more sessions but then it was complete. But I wouldnt have gone back if that first session hadn't dont something.

Thats why I hug, too, although I am often not one to offer one- I will always respond and will offer when I feel comfortable enough. Truth is, I am a little inhibited in this area, but I do try and overcome it. I agree...I dont get the whole cringing from humanity thing. We are isolated enough in our suburban castles without reinforcing it with pulling back from the simple humanity of a handshake or hug...or pat on the back or whatever. Sure, one can be sensitive to when it is appropriate...but I am glad that physically touching our fellow man is not completely socially forbidden-many studies show that physical touch is healing. I think we are meant to touch. SHaking someone's hand gives one a sense of the person that nothing else can. I try and overcome my own inhibitions with things like that because I just cant see the point in reinforcing them with justifications. The more you do it, the easier it gets. I grew up with an English dad who never hugged me my whole childhood...believe me, I needed hugging, and it hasnt been easy to overcome the sense of discomfort around it. Warm hand, warm heart my husband has often said. He is a very huggy person, thankfully for me. I also dont worry about germs.

Cloudstreet by Tim Winton, reading it to my 14 and 16yos. It is set in the city we live in. Classic modern Australian novel (historical fiction). It took a while for the kids to get into it but we love it.

Travel more. Have a farm plus a city home. Go and visit my family more often. Overall though, we already live an idealistic life style and in a way we could do those things already if we wanted them enough.

Oh, me too! I dont remember what it was about now, but wow I loved it as a kid. And A Wrinkle in Time also was powerful for me. A Phantom Tollbooth. Seven Little Australians.(Australian, obviously) Nargun and the Stars. (Australian) Snugglepot and Cuddlepie (Australian- didnt make an impression on my kids but I loved it as a kid and still love the illustrations).

Water. I am not kidding...and it may not be enough or right for you...but most people are not antwhere near hydrated enough and our brains NEED WATER to function well. It can really clear your head.

one cup of fresh coconut water.

I would buy a decent acreage in the hills near here. Then I would buy an apartment or terrace house down in Fremantle. The rest would go into investments to live off, and to then be able to fund various projects and/or charities that inspired me over the years.

It would really depend, for me, how it was done. Going from cold...I would feel uncomfortable but I would sincerely do it anyway and no big deal. However, if the place had just been enlivened and heart opened with a rousing sermon that inspired me to love my neighbour and really LIVE that teaching,....well, I think it could be wonderful. I have only ever experienced church as a not very heart warming place, though, but I have heard it can be much warmer and more loving than in my own experience. I think doing it just because, could easily be a bit forced and fake and therefore not of much benefit- particularly if half the people are resentful and inhibited by it. But the right pastor, I reckon, could have everyone hugging and touching no worries. Depends on how it is done. In my own spiritual circles that sort of behaviour is absolutely normal, but there is a context to it that brings us to the point of enjoying it. I am not a touchy feely person, myself, but I dont mind being pushed past my comfort zone and usually enjoy it.

Fruit Fruit and yoghurt home made biscuits home made meusli bars avocado on crackers popcorn

DH loves to buy presents. He often gets them the "expensive" present...often something electronic like a PS2....and I get them "mummy presents" like clothes, books and art supplies (for my artistic dd). We tell them they are all from both of us, but they know how we do it and thank the appropriate parent :)

Perhaps rather than ripping the whole lot out you could spend 10 miniutes a day working on it? Just do one small section at a time. Eventually you would get there...and you would get to spend 10 minutes a day in your garden. Sounds wonderful...a large herb garden.

We dont do it with our kids because dh is a wuss :) and I dont relayl want to do it alone with them though I have considered it many times- but my parents did it with my brother and I our whole childhood from a very young age. We did 5 day hikes through the wilderness. Great memories! Fortunately my kids have received their wildnerness education and experience through Scouts.

Well I took "bad" to mean not poor quality or cheesy, but bad. So the one that jumps to mind for me is Pulp Fiction. That movie is so outrageously funny. I couldn't remember much of it the other day (hadnt seen in in years) and we had it taped so I told my teenagers they should watch it....they, especially ds15, love bad movies (not bad as in cheesy, but bad as in violent etc). Well, when we got to the drug scenes I took a deep breath, stopped the movie and talked to them about it all. Couldn't let that pass without some comments. Enough to turn anyone off drugs, though!

Your kids may well take their cue for grieving from you. I say that because even though I do grieve and get upset, I am not particularly emotional about it...we have had quite a few deaths over the years and I tend to be quite matter of fact about it- I feel sad, we talk about it, then we do a ceremony. I notice my kids are also matter of fact about it. Theres nothing wrong with having a good cry though if that is what is in your heart. I think grieving often takes longer when we repress it. Allowing it to be quite acute for a while can help it to move through.

Perfectly normal around here. In fact its rare I go to a party where that is not the case, although it is nice when it happens. I think the last time was my niece's 21st b'day and her dad put on a great gig at the local yacht club. But..he has money. Most of my friends dont have the sort of money to put on a party for 20 or 50 people. Better than we have the get togethers and all bring food, than not have them at all. I think it is an older generation thing too...the elders are more likely to pay for a spread...it is a way of sharing wealth and abundance and sharing it around. I guess in places where that sort of old fashioned mentality is still around it could be considered rude to ask people to bring food....but I think modern thinking is that it is normal. Around here, anyway. Who has time nowadays to cook for 30 or 50 people? Times have changed and I dont think we shoudl be hard on those who just dont have the time or skills to do so, but still want to celebrate.

I am pretty sure I am in perimenopause- age 43. A friend who has just gone through menopause reckons it took 10 years. She lost her libido completely for 3 of those years, but it came back once everything settled down, she reassured me. I take it as a wake up call to really take care of myself. It was really, really rough there for a while.....a long while- but the last cycle was the best, emotionally, I have had in years. But I am exercising more - walking for an hour a day, and some yoga- and really taking care of myself with diet and sufficient rest. I think menopause/perimenopause brings out the imbalances that are already there and exacerbates them. For 2 years I took progesterone cream and that was awesome, but then I stopped and when I tried it again it was terrible. So, it worked for a while. You have to get really comfortable in your own body, be willing to experiment with yourself, and also, become your own authority. Sure, listen to other authorities, read books and websites, but take complete responsilbity for your health and wellbeing and take a proactive position. Dont expect a doctor to rescue you, or a medication. As far as supplements go...different things work for different people. I am finding that chaste tree seems to be good for me right now. But I have never felt any relief from B6 or EPO- yet others find them great. Sufficient sunshine, healthy exercise and a healthy diet no longer become optional things that you joke about not getting because you just dont have time. They become mandatory in your 40s- otherwise, you really feel it, or you develop serious health crises. Also, any emotional issues you have never really dealt with come up. Good to grieve, cry, journal, process however works for you (therapy if that helps). Most of us treat our bodies really badly and expect them to just handle it, and you just cant do that anymore once you start the hormonal rollercoaster.

I dont understand- what is a Sweet Sixteen party? Sixteen does seem to be one of those milestone ages- dd16 forewent a large 15th party so that she could have a large 16th. She had over 16 friends, male and female. I cooked a feast, we lit a fire in th backyard, played loud music, and had the spa running (its in teh backyard). She reckons it was the best party ever and her freidns still talk about it months later- and many of them are used to drinking alcohol at parties, and we didnt have any. But..I dont understand what a Sweet Sixteen party is- isnt it just a party? It reminds me....dd16 has a nutter of a Venturer leader- a woman- who told her- in front of me- oh your boyfirend will be happy you are 16 now, wont he? Meaning she is now legal age to have s*x. I was so gobsmacked that she would say that completely openly, I didn't even respond. Dd just smiled and said she didnt have a boyfriend, which she didnt at the time.

Yes, but even worse is when I respond differently to how I responded a year ago, and completely contradict myself! To the OP...its not such a big deal. But, this board moves very fast and is therefore quite fresh several times a day. I usually only open the first 3 pages, a couple of times a day (OK, 3 or 4 times some days!). I respond to several posts most days. For many of us I woudl say its more of a womens online community, with many conversations going on at once, and we join in here and there where it appeals. Much support can be found and given here but generally speaking, dragging up an old conversation just feels a bit offputting when all the others are fresh ones. We are thrown off by it, especially if we answered it last time and see the same question come up...we naturally presume it is someone new asking. We are not likely to wade through 5 or 10 pages to see if we already responded.

I guess ignorance is bliss.

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

I can't see how telling kids not to take these drugs over here, but these ones over here are fine (even though they kill thousands of people each year)...is going to be affective. (literally thousands of people die of prescription drug overdoses each year, as well as wrong doseages and being given wrong prescriptions, as well as wrong medications in hospitals. ) We live in a society where people self medicate to kill their pain ALL.THE.TIME. Whether its taking aspirin, alcohol, sugar and carbs, ADHD drugs, serious pain medication, .....or watching TV, shopping or addictive exercising. It's all about trying to change the state you are in for a better one- or, to feel numb because life is too intense...and we in the West are completely addicted to it. We can't be comfortable in our own skin for 5 minutes. (I am not saying there is not a place for these things but the addiction pattern is there in our culture all the way through). So...its not wonder we have a drug problem with our youth, and many older people too. If you drink alcohol in front of your kids, particularly if you do it regularly and sometimes become a bit tipsy or drunk...which is perfectly normal and acceptable in our society....how are they going to take it when you tell them that smoking dope is terrible for you- especially when they see their friend having fun on it and not having any obvious problems? And if they cant trust you on that one, (especially if you smoke cigarettes, and/or are addicted to shopping and sugar) how are they going to trust you that herione and meth are far, far FAR worse than smoking dope? The issue is far too deep for an advertisement to touch. I kinda like the ad though :) And I do think education is important, and the ad does give a graphic image suitable for younger kids to get fear put into them. Its true though- the ad woudl have been better for an amphetamine based drug rather than heroine which doesn't tend to make people violent. I think we are heading in the wrong direction with the whole drugs issue. I dont think making certain drugs illegal while legitamising others that are equally lethal, is the answer.

Similar to Jean...but to me its the ones where people write in to complain and ask for help but really just want to complain and be commiserated with, rather than helped. I guess it bugs me that people want to be miserable and want company!

More dishes. We run ours once a day, usually at night, and all dishes go in there. Pots and pans are handwashed.