I just read the particulars. I think it's time to put the brakes on the relationship, urgently. I would not *forbid* the relationship, as this might backfire. But their time together should absolutely be monitored. No running off into the woods together, no staying in a room alone, no notes, etc. It's not necessarily going to be that hard. Here's what I would do: Sign her up for day camps for the rest of the summer Arrange for a job or start schooling through the summer (Maybe she is bored!!!) Dating rules: Her dates with him can only be in your house, in your presence. He can come over for dinner, when you are home, as much as he likes. He can visit as much as he likes. No cell phone communication. No emails. Basically, you need to have all their communication be face to face in a grownup's presence. This is not a bad thing. Or ship her off to Idaho with that aunt! Seriously, I think this is an emergency. Now, some parents are OK with their teens having s*x. It sounds like you are not. I would seriously limit any unmonitored communication. That said, I don't think it has to be a horrible situation. Since I suggest he can visit every day and have dinner at your house, with your family, they can see each other, so it's not like I am suggesting breaking up the relationship (which could backfire, since the hormones are so active!) I wish you the best.

Oh. I hadn't looked at the siggie. Ah. 14 is a bit young.

I didn't do it, but Diane Reem on NPR did itand she says she lost 20 lb. I tried it but it didn't work because I would overeat on the 5 days to make up for not eating on the 2. BUT I have very little self control. If you have normal self control it might work for you.

OK, so today is the first day with no refined sugars, no refined flour, no dairy products (I am suspecting I am allergic to milk), and low carb. ARGH. I am starving. I am grateful for this group because if it wasn't here I might go in the pantry and sneak some tortilla chips! Instead, I decided to post how good I am. Ha.

What's LCHF? Is it low carb high fiber maybe?

I have to say I find this thread very interesting. It's hard, right? We want our kids to be happy, and we want them to end up happily married, but we know the chances are higher if our kids are more mature. On the other hand, not dating at all until ready to be married has its downsides. The kids don't learn how to be in a relationship--although I am not sure that it matters. If you date in your teens, you learn to bear it when your heart gets broken, and it is not the end of the world if it happens for the first time as an adult. Also, if you date as a teen, you have "practice." I don't mean anything disgusting, and we are teaching waiting for s*x until after marriage. I mean that you learn, for instance, that people have their own needs for space, distance, and time. The kids learn to keep an emotional distance for their significant other that preserves their own selves. It is easy when you are a teen for your boyfriend or girlfriend to become your whole world. But then, as you realize the reality of the world, you see that it is not healthy or positive for either of you. Then you learn, either in that first teen relationship or in a subsequent one, to hold back a little, to give a little. You learn to make yourself vulnerable when it's good to do so, emotionally, but to remain resilient as well. I think the dating process as a teen (as long as s*x is left out of it) could be very valuable. I think it's possible for teens to date responsibly, to learn to be a gentleman or a lady, to learn respect for themselves and for the other party, and to do so in a way that makes them a better husband or wife in the future. That's what I mean by "practice." I am very interested in this topic as I think it's more than a parenting issue for discipline as such. I do believe it's the most important skill our children have to learn--how to be a happy and good significant other, and how to learn to require and give respect to someone in a romantic capacity.

I'm sorry this is happening to you. In my experience, most people are lazy and want the leaders to do everything for them. And if the leaders don't make everything happen, people are quick to blame the leaders. People usually don't step up and take responsibility. I am so sorry -- I have had countless experiences where parents are not involved, expect leaders to do everything, and don't even help their own kids out. The kids pay for it, but you take the blame. Sorry for doing my own rant here, but I have been in your shoes millions of times.

Wait--how old is the child? My answer would be very different for a 13 year old vs. a 17 year old.

Argh Monday---blaaahhhh... OK. Kitchen is mostly clean but should wipe counters down.DONE Pick up bits on kitchen floor (really should vacuum but maybe I'll do that later).DONE 4 loads of laundry 1 DOWN, 3 TO GO bring folded laundry upstairs ALL BUT ONE LOAD declutter upstairs closets BROUGHT TWO LOADS DOWN, 7 TO GO declutter shelves in bedroom vacuum whole house eventually before picking up ds go to the library and pay fines!!!! :( :( pay for summer camp shower DONE clean entrance dust schoolroom shelves declutter ds' bookshelf (may pay for this later!!!) ;)

I haven't read the other replies, so sorry if I am repeating answers. I used to have this crunchy granola friend who used these little rubber balls that supposedly cleaned her laundry. She would just pop them into her washing machine. No detergent at all!!!! I was skeptical that her clothes were clean! BUT...she was really messy and dirty AND SHE DIDN'T SMELL EVER! OK, so my point is maybe her little rubber balls worked! I have no idea what they were but she got them at some natural type pangea or gaia type of business. It was some kind of ionic something or other.

deleted content... I think you're super awesome for going out of your way to make an annoying guy happy.

Yay! I love it when our kids do well!

Thank you! AP Scores in my part of the country are available July 8. I'll change this thread to make it APs too.

Definitely listening in... The courtship model also won't work with our family but we are conservative in many respects. Also we are teaching waiting until marriage before s*x. I would be interested in how to talk to teens and how it has worked for others. So...listening...

Please get the doggy to the vet as soon as possible. I feel terrible for you! When I was a child the same thing happened to one of our cats and it was a terrible thing! Poor doggy...she needs pain meds at least, poor thing!

We got our results. DS performed a lot better than we both expected in Math Level I. He got an 800, so we are quite relieved and surprised! How did it go? Anyone want to share any successes?

Hi--I'm in. I started at over 200 lb. Lost over 35 lb--combination of calorie counting, walking, and stopping the huge pasta feasts at our house. I then gained 17 lb in the past couple months. Fell off the wagon with fried chicken and ice cream. Trying to get back on it. Cutting back on carbs. Pretending to think about paleo. I am now at 190 lb. Need to lose 40 lb. DH is 230 lb. He needs to lose about 50 lb. Thank you for starting this. My goal is to lose the over 15 lb that I gained in the past few months, by the end of the summer. The thing that shocks me the most is how slowly the weight comes off, but within a week of a few treat days, I have gained at least 5 lb. Those 15 lb I gained were over about 2 months, which is 2 lb a week!!! You can gain weight crazy fast!!!! I find my body gives me absolutely no leeway for error--the scale shoots up with a couple days of movie treats. One box of raisinets, one packet of hershey's kisses, and I blow up! Also, the regained weight is coming back all on my belly, which looks worse than where it was before! Anyway, I'm in. I will report every week. This will help me be good, since I will have some accountability with this thread.

Divergent. The Fault in Our Stars. some Dickens

We have laminate and it feels great, was inexpensive, and looks pretty. We had some moisture damage in the corner and it warped and swelled. So, laminate does terrible with wetness. So, if you can keep it dry, it's a good choice.

I saw some little things you put your bedframe legs into. They are like little bowls. You fill them with water and there is a space in the middle for the leg of the bedframe. This makes it so anything that crawls will not go on your bed via the bedframe legs. I don't know what they are called or where to get them but it may be a good idea for you. OK I found some that are good for bedbugs but spiders won't crawl up either. They are called: Climbup Insect Interceptor Bed Bug Trap

OK this is horrible!!!!

I use Revlon's "Grow Luscious Plumping." It works great. I always use cruelty free products and Revlon apparently is on the CF list. Also, they always have "buy one get one half off" at the big stores and the drugstores--well, every couple months.

Don't call. Do email with your info again in a couple days. But don't call. They'll think you don't know how to read, or that you don't follow directions. Nothing wrong with emailing.

Don't watch Mamma Mia with kids! There are several *inappropriate* scenes.

Ours *wants* to go so the question doesn't apply. But... If he didn't want to go, yes, we would make him.