Thank you!

Yeah, I saw this trending on Facebook and had to look it up too. I couldn't believe it. I was hoping it was fake news. Sadly, not so. Ya know, we are just getting older. I don't think this year has been any worse. We are hitting that stage of life where entertainers we watched as teens are statistically more likely to die. It's going to continue to accelerate. My poor parents are 80 and it has been hard to watch them lose so many of their friends and family over the past 20 years. My dad is the last of his siblings still alive. He feels alone. Almost all of his high school buddies are gone. He's one of the last holding those memories. This is life.

:grouphug: Wow! That has to be so hard not being there and in the know. Thank goodness her boyfriend took action.

Maybe you should have put JAWM in the title. People who have BTDT have shared practical advice and it seems to me that it has been automatically "pooh-poohed." From what you've shared and my own personal experience as a parent of three adults, I think you are setting him up for failure. I hope he proves me wrong.

I don't think this is what you have in mind but I thought I would share. For years we used R&S which had plenty of review with every lesson. DD needs daily review so we use Math Minutes. We started the year with the Middle Grades book (more basic) and recently moved into the Grade 8 book (definitely a step up/Pre-Algebra). There are only 10 problems per page, but I feel like it helps DD keep her math skills fresh. http://www.creativeteaching.com/product/math-minutes-8th-grade

We have the older volumes, so I haven't actually seen the inside. I'm assuming they combined the two. You can buy these many places but this link gives you a sample (not much!). https://www.rainbowresource.com/proddtl.php?id=042420&subject=Mathematics/10&category=Straight+Forward+Math+Series/6833

Only daughters here. One of my girls has had several relationships with boys who were in the 14/15 yo range. The boys were very physical and they often talked about getting married in the near future, etc. The talk of serious long term relationships really surprised me. What I wish I had done differently - *never leave them alone. Lol! Yeah, right! Of course, that is almost impossible. *Make sure the kids know they can talk to you. My daughter is very open with me and we still had some hiccups. I let her know I didn't always agree with her choices, but I was absolutely there for her. *Don't assume the other parents have this under control. *Make sure he understand how to use BC (I know, shoot me). Abstinence is a great goal but things can get out of hand quickly. We are physically designed to want to create life, but we shouldn't expect our children to know how to handle those strong feelings. There are plenty of adults who fail. I think I've read here that boys need a lot more physical activity. You know that better than I do. My sister had a rule that her children could only go on one date with someone and then they had to go on two different dates with other people before they could go on a date the original person again. Hope that makes sense.

:grouphug:

OMG! Lol! That would be me! My dad was a plumber and my mom a nurse. We used to talk about STD's around the dinner table. My in-laws don't even tell off color jokes. They are lovely people, honestly. Last year my sister-in-law (whom they love) and I started talking at dinner about our chickens and how our dogs eat the chicken poop. It got really quiet at the table - ROFLOL! We changed the subject.

Three still live at home. 18yo will work tonight, so it will be a little weird this year. One thing I appreciate about my parents is they never expect us to spend holidays with them. I imagine they would enjoy it but the cost would be too great (West coast to East coast). My MIL on the other hand had all of her kids for years. I think the other grandparents got tired of that. The IL's were very nice and decided to take turns each year at a different child's home. My kids liked having them here but at the same time it was not relaxed on Christmas morning. The IL's stopped that tradition last year. This is the second year they've invited us (our family and the great-grandkids) over for Christmas Eve. I feel guilty for not inviting them over for Christmas Day but with 18yo sleeping during the day, we'll probably eat really late (7pm or after).

Sorry about the side effects. :grouphug:

The kids won't remember what you gave them unless they look through the family photos, BUT they will remember the time you spent together. :grouphug: Glad you were able to get medical care quickly.

Big hugs! :grouphug:

You know you are sick when wrapping a handful of presents leaves you out of breath.

No presents wrapped. I just bought food and stocking stuffers yesterday. We had snow a couple of times in one week and then it wouldn't melt off. I don't drive on slick roads. And now? I'm sick. As in I'm skipping Christmas Eve dinner at MIL's tomorrow. I can only do what I can do. My girls who live at home are old enough (21, 18, and 14) that they can take over if they will. If they won't then they'll be hungry.

:grouphug:

I'm sorry if someone has already mentioned this ... after all the meds my family members have tried, I did not know that it can sometimes take 7-9 weeks for antidepressant to actually work. My daughter was suicidal last year. It was the worst two months of my life waiting for the drugs to kick in. The psychiatrist finally added a mood stabilizer (quetiapine) which worked much more quickly. In my opinion it saved her life. It kept her balanced long enough for the antidepressant to finally work. Life is not perfect but she is alive and finally working towards goals. :grouphug: Big, big hugs! It is a helpless feeling to watch your child make such choices.

From my experience.... Psychiatrists are necessary for meds but the the doctor who was a cognitive behavioral therapist made the most difference. :grouphug: It's a long road.

We'll be thinking of you. Wishing peace for you.

:grouphug:

Good luck! My crack was old and my tooth was falling apart before I went to the dentist. So, no pain. My doctor is an older man. He did use oregano oil. I've had a lot of fillings (genetically weak teeth?) and getting a crown was so much easier.

Oh, I write it down. And then I forget where I wrote it down. :tongue_smilie:

I am NOT a cook. I just don't enjoy it. I cook this for Christmas every year because it is simple. I will warn you that your house will smell like garlic. ;) Roasted Chicken With Garden Vegetables 4 to 5 lb whole chicken 1/2 cup butter, softened 2 tsp. rosemary leaves, crushed 1/2 tsp. salt & 1/4 tsp. pepper 2 tsp. minced fresh garlic 6 new red potatoes, cut in half or quartered if large 3 carrots,cut in 4 pieces each 2 med. onions, cut into quarters Heat oven to 350 degrees F In a small bowl mix butter, rosemary, salt, pepper, and garlic. Rub chicken with half of butter mixture. Place chicken in pan and surround with veggies. Dollop remaining butter mixture evenly over vegetables. Bake, basting chicken and vegetables occasionally, for 2-2 1/2 hours, or until chicken is fork tender. Ready to serve. Edit: Sorry, I forgot you said you avoid dairy.

Grew up in FL. That should explain everything. ;) Last week someone died in a car accident less than a mile from our house because of the ice. Flat road and no curve, but she fish tailed into the opposite lane (from what I understand). I've been a basket case since then. So, I've made the kids stay home. We don't have snow tires, and I have no clue how to put chains on. DH knows all of this but he is out of town. 18yo works at night. Tonight I made her call me as soon as she arrived. I'll be so glad when the temps warm up and we are back to good old rain.

:) I was looking for an easy solution/suggestion to relieve Amy's stress. I didn't mean to step on toes if I did. Our state does not recognize parent issued high school diplomas.