I think your fear sounds completely rational. I would hope you can sit down with your parents and have an honest conversation about your sister and your concerns, and encourage them to move away with you if they can. Either way, hopefully you can map out a plan that will give you full power of attorney, financial and medical, in the event that they become ill or unable to protect themselves against your sister. Take step now to prevent a future issue and perhaps you can relax a bit about the situation. It does sound scary to me.

So encouraging to me! My daughter's situation has some similarities (though not as dramatic) and it is so nice to know that this girl was able to overcome the challenges and have a happy life!

No, just no...and this is coming from the former director of an adoption agency that did only open adoptions. This is not the beginning of a healthy relationship. Time to set your boundaries and make them strong ones, as you appear to already be doing! An open adoption ideally has both the birth parents and the adoptive parents being respective of each other's unique role in the child's life. The only one doing any respecting here is you. Your son does need to know his birth family if at all possible. However, given the obviously unhealthy circumstances here, I'd take a strong role in orchestrating how, when and with whom this meeting eventually takes place. I would also insist that the birth mother meet at least once with an adoption professional in her area (at your expense) before the meeting so that she can clearly hear the message that she must respect your family unit and your parental responsibilities toward your son while he is still a minor. She needs to learn some serious boundaries...she can do that if she wholeheartedly participates in a open adoption birth parent support group for a while before she meets with your family. And yes, you must be present in order for her to meet with your son, until you have time to build a relationship with her and come to trust her. He is still a child and a child with special needs at that. YOU are in charge here, as you are not only the legal and moral parent of this child but also clearly the one who has his best interests at heart. If you set the limits I've suggested or similar ones, set up requirements for a face to face meeting and put it off until you've had a chance to exchange letters for a while or perhaps Skype, I am betting she will lose interest. She seems to be someone who will only do this if it can be done the easy way (and that is assuming she is a good person and isn't trying to gain more than just a relationship here). If she goes through your requirements willingly, you've got a chance to build a good relationship. If not and if she will not respect your family unit, tell her that you have decided that the relationship must be via mail only until your son is 18 and able to make these decisions for himself. Just to be clear, I have an open adoption with my boys' birth parents and wish I did with my daughter's (we have been firmly rejected there). We talk at least weekly via text and Facebook with their birth mother, know and communicate with her extended family, have spent the weekend in each other's homes and count each other as the best of friends. It can happen. It will not happen, however, when there is not respect and maturity coming from both sides. Make your son's birth mother realize this and prove her intentions to be in your son's best interests before you proceed further. Hugs and prayers!!

A stupid comment like that could only come from someone who doesn't understand homeschooling. Let it roll right off your back like you were a wet duck! Every single kid goes through those growing pains, homeschooled or not. Pick the right educational process for YOUR child and keep on trucking! Hugs...so sorry. I'm sure it hurt, but I'm equally sure she was wrong. ETA: thought about this for a minute, and realized how deeply wrong she was...homeschooling rarely meets the MOMMA'S needs...it is usually a huge self sacrifice on her part. For me, it would be a whole lot easier to ship them off to school so I could do my own thing during the day...the homeschool Momma's needs are often put aside in homeschooling, not catered to. For goodness sake...:(

Another vote for Fromm, but Canidae is also an excellent food!

Thanks, I will look into that! The cost at most places seems to be the biggest factor, since insurance will not cover it. It seems like a dream that we can't make happen, ya know? But, still gonna keep trying!

Pamela, you are the one who got me thinking about this! Thanks!!! I originally looked into therapy dog training, but since DD needs the dog to accompany her in public and in social situations, we'd legally need a service dog so she can get him in everywhere she goes. I'm still considering it, though...I have a local trainer willing to work with the little guy! We are looking into training to stop repetitive "stimming-type" behaviors, calm panic attacks serious enough to warrant an ambulance call, act as a social buffer and possibly alert to the need for medication or alert an adult caregiver to intervene.

If it helps, our therapist says that it is common for kids in this age group to do this sort of thing...as well as to go further online in terms of what they will talk about/show than they would in person. Part of the experimental nature of social relationships at this age. Not to trivialize things at all, but just to put it in perspective...your DD is not the only one! ;). It is tough to be a parent in the Internet age! In our therapy, we are focusing on learning to build REAL relationships, why they are superior to online ones (sorry, gals!), how to develop the social skills necessary to build those relationships and how to be safe both online and in person. That includes building honesty in your relationship with your parents! She helps us set appropriate consequences without going overboard and encouraging more rebellion, as well as helps us identify and implement situations and locations where DD can learn socially acceptable behavior in a safe environment. It's been great! She's still a sneaky little thing, but at least she gets why we are limiting her access and is cooperating in building her own social skills.

My DD13 has been up to some similar antics lately...I'm so sorry! I do know how hard it is, particularly when your kiddo is very creative about finding ways to get online! It's not a perfect solution, but DH the software guy suggests that you put BeSecure or a similar program on your system so that any device that logs on within your home can have age appropriate filters applied and can be searched for its history without needing the device in hand. You can block whatever social media that you like across the whole home. You also need to look to see if there is any unsecured wifi available within range of your home and/or if she gets past a password. None of this will help outside the house, but at least you don't have to worry when she is at home. At our home we cannot disconnect the router as DH works from home, but I'd do it if I could. As for us, DD is allowed zero access to anything that can get online. The house phone has been removed and we are parental, secured cell phones only. Only DS allowed in the house is one that is old school with no Internet access. DD is not allowed to go anywhere where there is Internet access without one of us with her. We have some major safety issues with the online activity, thus the lockdown. Punishment is self explanatory here, but she is also now in counseling.

Thank you, thank you!

Yes, absolutely. This is very similar to what we are dealing with...severe panic attacks! Thanks!

Thank you, thank you!!

Anyone know anything about Psychiatric Service Dogs and how to either get one or train your dog to be one? We think my DD13, who suffers from a severe anxiety disorder and mild brain injury, could benefit from one. We are just beginning the process of figuring this all out and have not yet spoken to her psychiatrist, but we will do so soon. We currently have a 6 month old golden retriever who has the right temperament to be a PSD, but would be open to adopting an already trained dog if we could afford it. Love to hear from anyone with experience, even if it is of a more general service dog variety!

Oh, no...another thing to worry about online! Ugh.

Unsweetened.

I've ground up coconut flakes to use as flour in a pinch and it worked just fine! No real difference in the recipe. Good luck!

As a stepmom, I'd be touched and would probably cry! How sweet of you! I've seen stepmom cards...I'm sure you can find one you like.

Double post

Thanks for all the suggestions!!

Yep, some more than once! ;). Brain candy, ya know? Gotta have something light in my complicated life!!

I am headed for the beach for a week for some hugely needed decompression time, and I need some reading material! Definitely need the brain candy variety, though I am not really into romance novels. Well...unless you count JD Robb (Nora Roberts in disguise), but I've read the entire series. I like mysteries, don't mind a little science fiction but nothing too technical. I can't manage the mental strength for anything of substance, but I don't want badly written crap, either. Got any suggestions? :). I want to lay around with the dogs, the sun and a good book (or, two or three!)

In my experience...just no. On a therapist's advice, I once went through the mental health warrant/ER visit with a child and the only thing it bought me was a traumatized child. At the hospital, said child was evaluated by a social worker with significantly less experience than myself (I am one), never once actually seen by a psychiatrist, told that "they didn't know what was wrong with said child but would try her on some antipsychotic medication and admit the child...if I wanted," and ended up taking the child home in disgust. If you feel unsafe and have no choice, do what you have to do. In my experience, however, the ER is the place with the least experienced/qualified mental health care around and was a waste of our time at best and damaging at worst. Oh, and I paid $1,000 for the privilege! If it is a gateway to a faster appointment where you are, again...do what you have to do. Every place is a bit different, I suppose. I would assume that your crisis team would do a basic mental health status exam, but if you know they won't admit him, I would think it is a waste of your time unless they have told you for certain that this will gain you something like moving up his psychiatric appointment or something else concrete.

Happy birthday!!!

When I started using my inhalers, I got thrush as well. I was rinsing and spitting just as I thought I should, but it didn't work. After getting thrush, I learned that I actually had to swallow water to rinse out my throat enough. So, I rinse, spit and then take a drink. No more thrush! So sorry...I know it hurts.

Don't have time to write a long explanation, but BTDT with my 13 yr old as well. Repeated offenses resulted in total loss of Internet and phone usage, for a long time. Trust is the big issue, IMHO, as well as safety. Where trust is lacking and safety rules are violated, I don't give a flip about what you are curious about...you just lose the privileges. Curious? Ask me...I'll tell you the truth straight up and you won't have to go looking elsewhere. Don't worry too much...they all do it to some degree and you are on the case now. You are doing fine.