[Sad at Christmas]

:grouphug:  :grouphug:

[Questions for INTJ personality types]

INTJs, why do you homeschool? For the sake of the kids, do you engage with groups like co-op, CC community, play groups, field trip groups, etc? If so, how do you get along with your group? Are you able to stick with one group very long? If you don't do groups, how does that play out with the kids?

 

 

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

[Boardies helping boardies Christmas 2015]

LMV, thank you so much for taking this on!

[Would you talk to the parent? How would you frame the issue? NOT a JAWM!]

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.

[Record temperatures]

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!  :(

[S/O Thoughts on Complimenting Children's Apperance]

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

[What are YOU getting for Christmas? Hubby wants to know what to get me, and I'm coming up dry.]

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

["The New Preschool is Crushing Kids"]

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).

[Makeup and skin care questions]

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.

[Don't Quote- But does this make sense? Am I unrealistic?]

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

[Would you give your parents.....]

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

[Honest question about christmas]

I have three 'Merry Christmas' cards hanging on my wall from atheist relatives.  They obviously don't have a problem with wishing, or being wished, a Merry Christmas.  I know that doesn't prove anything, but in my tiny world it just isn't a big deal.

 

Not only that, they will be at the family sing along singing Christmas songs and hymns, not because they believe any of it, but because they love to sing.

 

 

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

[I have done zero Christmas shopping thus far.]

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

[What does your menu look like?]

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.

[Christmas gift for nearly bedridden FIL?]

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?

[Honest question about christmas]

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.

[If someone was going to buy you a $100 gift, what would you ask for?]

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

 

[25% off one book at Amazon (through Dec. 14th)]

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

[S/O Do you Spend Equally on Each Child for Holiday Gifts?]

We give three gifts in remembrance of the three gifts they gave Christ plus"swaddling clothes" i.e. pajamas. ;)

 

The amount varies widely... oldest DS is getting a needed cell phone, a new set of tires, and a GPS... all useful and kind of fun if you're a sixteen year old boy? But I think we spent a grand total of about $35 on the baby. Normally we are pretty thrifty in out spending, but we do try to get USEFUL fun gifts rather than stuff that just takes up space in order to put something under the tree.

 

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

[I Need Help With A Trivial First Word Problem (My Nails)]

Also, take biotin.

[Do you let your kid's behavior over the past year, affect their Christmas presents?]

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

[S/O Do you Spend Equally on Each Child for Holiday Gifts?]

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.

[Give me all your braces advice!]

Thanks for everything so far!

[Give me all your braces advice!]

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:

[s/o what do weighted blankets do - specifically for adults?]

They provide a deep pressure touch, like a hug, that people find to be relaxing.

 

 

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).