:grouphug: :grouphug:

I'm more on the S side of things, but this description fits me. I imagine I would be a really crappy PS parent. The less I have to deal with other parents IRL, the better. I have done a co-op with the girls that was more drop and go. It was okay. The girls did it more for fun than anything academic. Now that my ODD is a competitive gymnast, she spends nearly 20 hours around other kids at the gym. She also enjoys church youth group activities. She is thankfully old and mature enough to be dropped off at just about everything. It's best not to stay for practices anyway. The other parents at the gym are really not pleasant, so we stay away. YDD is a homebody who also has a low tolerance for other kids' shenanigans. She dropped out of preschool at age 3, if that tells you anything. (She wanted "homeschool preschool." Her attitude was very matter of fact, and we had nothing invested in making her stay there.) She does choir with a brother/sister pair that are her BFFs, but otherwise she's happy to hang out at home and play with various things. ETA: I would have loved to have been homeschooled, but my mom sucks. I had terrible attendance in 10th grade, but I spent forever at the library and walked home with huge piles of books. Not until I read TWTM did I realize I'd been doing self-education. So maybe I should have been an unschooler. :D

LMV, thank you so much for taking this on!

I have a 10 year old, and I would be pretty mad with her if she was acting like that. So no, not normal IMO/IME.

I love winter, and I can't get "into" Christmas if it's warm. We've been using the AC in our house frequently this month, and I'm about to turn it on again. I should not be sweating in my sleep because it's so warm!! 74 for Christmas Eve, 70 Christmas Day, and 74 again the day after! :(

I am a well-rounded complimenter. :D I also do my best to model saying nice things about other people.

I'm one of those that buys stuff and just says, "Merry Christmas, me!" Target PJ set - I'd had my eye on it for over a month and got them yesterday for half off. Eyeshadow palette and makeup remover from Sephora - I had a VIB coupon that I used. I may squeeze in ER season 11 on DVD from Amazon when my consignment $ comes through. I will also treat myself to an eyebrow/upper lip wax after Christmas when I go buy my Grumpy Cat calendar. :D

Rebecca went to a Mother's Day Out preschool - 2 days a week, maybe 4 hours each time? I was personally unconcerned with whether she learned anything there - she had a ton of fun. She did bring home coloring sheets and did cut and paste things. Sylvia later rejected the same place in favor of "homeschool preschool" (some of you may remember this).

Show me what to do with an eyeshadow palette. Which shades go well on what parts of the eye? I completely lack the instinct to make beautiful eyes and usually just randomly put stuff on, trying to imitate what I've seen.

Ouch, I'm sorry. I would feel the same. :grouphug:

Sure, why not? I'd love a nice pair of sheets as a gift. I actually have my eye on a cute flannel set with multicolored snowflakes. :D

And that's really what we need, you know? Just people being decent people. :001_smile:

I actually have one small Amazon order left (thank you, Amazon Prime!) and standard candy stocking stuffers to buy at Target.

For Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate. :001_smile: I'm trying to come up with ideas for Christmas Day dinner and I have nothing. Everybody's sick right now and I just want to go back to bed and forget that Stuff is coming upon us! I'm trying to decide whether to do a ham or finger foods/appetizers. Just 5 of us celebrating. For Christmas breakfast, we do sausage pinwheels, eggnog pancakes, sticky buns made with Grands biscuits, and I'm thinking of a hash brown casserole this year.

Socks, slippers, a blanket or wrap? Does he drink coffee or tea? Mugs or drinks? Are there any snacks he still enjoys? Does he listen to music? What about audiobooks?

I spent a lot of years working in retail and I have experienced it firsthand - yes, people do get bent out of shape if you say "Merry Christmas" and they don't celebrate it for whatever reason. I frankly think the best thing is to take it as somebody wishing you well, no matter what they say, and wishing them well too. I actually reposted a meme to that effect last year on FB. I also think that "Happy Holidays" covers the broader New Year's as well and thus is completely appropriate. I'm just tired of everything having to be A Big Deal.

Makeup/skincare - I'm sure I could hop on the Sephora site and find $100 worth of stuff to get. TV show DVDs - ER, Love Comes Softly, When Calls the Heart... Yarn is always nice

I looked on Amazon last night, and I think this has been extended a little longer. http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=HBN15_BHP25/ref=s9_acss_bw_ab_x_?_encoding=UTF8&node=8885530011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-1&pf_rd_r=0658VVJBRCDRDW6D5QDZ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=2326785802&pf_rd_i=283155

We also do the three gifts for the same reason, but I love the "swaddling clothes" addition!

Also, take biotin.

No. I understand the impulse, though. I have thus far been extremely blessed with the girls' behavior.

The girls actually don't pay a lot of attention to the price of things, so I'm more about having an equal amount of gifts to open, and getting them things that each individual girl will enjoy.

Thanks for everything so far!

My older daughter is getting braces in less than a week. Any tips from experienced parents? How long did they eat soft foods? What can and can't they eat? I'm looking at candy for her Christmas stocking and have no clue what is still okay and what's not, aside from the obvious, like no caramel. Any little things that will make her life easier? I have been told to give her some Tylenol beforehand. :bigear:

Oh yes. I never connected the two, but I need a good weight of blankets on me to sleep at night, summer or winter. I can't sleep with just a sheet. I need that "weight," and the more the better (within reason, of course).