I was born in 1960. When ds12 was small, he asked, "Did you live back when things were black and white?" I guess he thought it wasn't the TV that made things color or black and white, but the world itself was that way. It took me a bit to figure that one out, coming out of the blue like it did. :001_huh:

I second including the World Book Encyclopedia set. Our older kids would lie on the floor for hours browsing through and reading them. Then we moved and couldn't take them with us, and our younger kids have not had that privilege. I wish so much we could buy some. The CDs we had at one time were hardly ever used.

My twins were very different in size at birth--2 lbs. difference (7lbs3oz, 5lbs3oz). I didn't think they could be identical because the size difference made them look so different, but the doctor said he was pretty sure they were. Then they tested the placenta, which showed they are identical. Apparently, one was hooked in better to the nutritional lines. One has a center hair whorl, and the other has a whorl on each side. They are not as hard to tell apart as many are, but are still often confused by others. They have always had a size difference. At 19, one is about 3 inches taller than the other. Otherwise, same build (just difference in leg length), color eyes, color hair, similar personalities, similar tastes, and so on. Twin studies are fascinating.

Our Christmas Eve dinner consists of lasagna, homemade bread, salad, and vanilla ice cream with a choice of homemade praline sauce or chocolate sauce. Simple and delicious. This year we added shortbread cookies to go with the ice cream/sauce.

I was taken off meds to prevent labor at 36 weeks on a Friday, and on Monday went into labor. They weighed 7 lbs. 3 oz. and 5 lbs. 3 oz. Everybody was just fine and healthy. I could hardly walk by then, and wondered how much longer I could hold out as it was.

I also agree with the comment about organization. Though my house itself is not so very organized, our household usually runs quite smoothly. We aren't running here and there all over the place, so mealtimes and routines are fairly standard, and we live a pretty simple lifestyle, both in material goods as well as activities. That makes a big difference in it not being overwhelming. I've known of many families with much fewer kids, whose lifestyles would completely stress me out.

I'm an INFJ, and we have six children. They are pretty spread out in ages, though, except for the twins. My husband is an IS(debatable on whether he is F or T)J. We both love having a large family. But at least four of the kids are also introverts, and only one is an extreme extrovert. So except for him, it is not unusual for all of us to be sitting or lying around with books. It does get a bit noisy for me when everybody is home and excited, but I just take time out in my room when I need it. I'm very much a homebody, and have always guarded my time/schedule so that it is not overloaded. Even when I had four kids who were 7yo and younger (the year the twins were born), I always took a break in the afternoons when the kids were napping. That time in the afternoon was so vital, to rest or read, and the kids grew up respecting that time, at least once they were old enough not to try getting into trouble then. I'm pretty good at "going internal" and having quiet time even when there is a lot going on, if that makes any sense.

How much into music is he? One year we gave our son, a guitarist, a beginner-level mandolin, which he really enjoyed. He was also completely surprised. Another "extra" instrument that makes me drool a bit is a cajon: http://www.music123.com/search.jsp?Ntt=cajon It looks like a box, but has some snares inside it. You sit on it and hit the sides at various points for different drumming effects. Very fun for informal (or not) jam sessions. You can find youtube videos demonstrating it.

I'm 52, and our last two kids are 11 and 9 (9yo was adopted, and older kids are 19 and older). The only problem I know of, is if it is important that you hang around people who are your age, most of them are empty-nesters. My husband is very active, and he is enjoying doing Scouts with the boys. I am not very active, but I am pretty laid-back and not anxious about being a mom. We both love teenagers and young adults, and they seem to feel comfortable around us, so we don't expect that to change. Family is very important to us, and we enjoy still having kids at home. Our boys' ages put us in groups with parents who are mostly a good bit younger than we are, but it doesn't bother us, and maybe we sometimes have something to offer younger parents as well.

Beautiful and oh, so sweet.

I started taking lessons when I was 42, and took for about 8 years. It was hard work, but very satisfying. Violin takes a long time and lots of practice to start sounding good. I had a piano background, so that helped. I could not have learned near as much on my own as I did with a good teacher, and having a lesson to prepare is motivation to practice, as well. I am glad I did it. At first, some of my family members made fun of me (I did sound bad), but I told them they should be proud of me for trying to learn something new, and should be encouraging me! They immediately stopped the teasing, and I also made progress. I couldn't afford hour-long lessons most of the time, which I would have preferred, but still, lessons made a huge difference. I'll never be professional, but I can contribute as well as get a lot of enjoyment out of it.

Girder and Panel Hydrodynamic Deluxe Set: http://www.amazon.com/Girder-Panel-Hydrodynamic-Deluxe-Set/dp/B000PVVQMU/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1PVQ38AOMJIZ5&coliid=I2KT3DKEPDURJB I think this is what I saw someone post about several months ago. Do any of you have this? Reviews are mixed--do your kids like it? This would be for 11yo ds. TIA!

I agree that I would feel as you do, and that his behavior was inappropriate. Yet, some men really are clueless about signals. Most women are pretty astute in that way, but some guys just don't see it. That certainly doesn't mean you should be naive, but since this isn't usual behavior, it may be that the way you have reacted to this is a wake-up call to him to think!! I'm not saying he is innocent; he probably had some internal warnings prompting him that this was wrong and chose to ignore them. But if you generally have a good relationship, I'd keep my eyes open, but keep working on improving that good relationship. Some of us really do have major but temporary lacks in judgment sometimes.

I guess I should also have included that it doesn't need to be terribly large. We normally live overseas, and if we go back in a few months, it needs to be packable. Our 9yo would love something like this, but 3-5 ft. pieces don't fit into suitcases or trunks, unfortunately.

Several months ago, someone posted about some interesting-looking construction kits. Unfortunately, I failed to bookmark it, and now can't find it with a search. I also can't remember enough about it. Vague enough, lol? This child has numerous Legos handed down from older siblings, and makes working candy machines, coin sorters, arcade games, etc., as well as models of AK-47s and fighter jets with Legos. His inspiration comes from YouTube videos, then he figures out the details on his own. He also sometimes makes stop-action videos with his little Canon camera, or movies where he and his brother act out scenes, but you choose what happens in each scene (kind of like those books where you choose the ending). Anyway, I'd like to get him something that will challenge him a bit, but we are on a limited budget ($50-$100 total for Christmas). He does have a birthday right after Christmas, so that may stretch our options a little. I looked at the engineer boy gift posts, and am not sure that Maker Shed is quite what I am looking for. At least, that is not where the construction kit came from that caught my eye. Help?

Two of my older kids have pull-up bars that attach over the door frames. They cost about $30, and are hard to walk by without taking time to do at least a couple of pull-ups (hard for the kids, not for me). It's strength training rather than aerobic, but an easy way to get in some dorm-room exercise. Most of these bars can also be used on the floor for other exercises as well. Add some light weights, which can be used for enough movement for aerobic, and a resistance band, maybe an exercise ball as well, and you can get some pretty good workouts without bothering anybody. All but the ball take up very little space. When we get settled wherever we are going to settle in 6 months, we will probably get one of the pull-up bars for our boys at home.

Another thing I would consider in her case is to use the American School. From what I understand, their courses are basic, manageable, and accredited. If she works hard, she could probably do it in a couple of years, and it might build up her self-esteem as well.

I've bought items from this site before, and was well pleased: http://www.concertblack.com/

Oh my, yes! When my oldest was about 2yo (he's now 26), I was PMSing and dying for some chocolate. The only option in the house was some chocolate chips. I had JUST put him down for a nap and almost ran for the chocolate. Had just put some in my mouth when he called me. So I went in his bedroom, trying not to look guilty as I kept my mouth as far away as possible. He was/is very articulate and savvy. He got this investigative look on his face as he contorted his little nose and sniffed. "What's that smell I smell?" Me, innocently, "What smell?" Then, more suspiciously, "What's that chocolate chip smell I smell?" I somehow got through that conversation, but it has been a family joke ever since, because I couldn't help but go laughing to dh about it.

I used to use a more complicated recipe that had Coffeemate, etc., in it, and decided I wanted less "stuff." So I mix Hershey's Dark Chocolate Cocoa with an equal amount of sugar. One tablespoon of the mixture is plenty for a good-sized mug, mixed with whole milk. So you do have to have milk instead of water, but it's easy for my boys to mix themselves and heat in the microwave. It's nice and rich, and not too sweet.

Also, with your son being sensory-seeking, you might could get him one of those floor standing punching bags for him to also use his boxing gloves on (also, as in not only using them on his dad). If your husband knew about that and your son's gloves, he still wouldn't have to know he was getting some gloves, too.

Actually, I like that idea a lot. My 5yo has SPD and is a sensory seeker. He loves, craves, NEEDS rough physical time. I don't know anything about choosing boxing gloves, though, and this is supposed to be a surprise for my dh too, so I can't ask him. Any tips? I just picked them up on sale at a sporting goods section of a department store or something, but if you search 'boxing gloves' on Amazon, it gives you both adult and child-size. If it is just for rough-housing at home, they don't have to be top-of-the line. There are some youth sizes for about $14, but I didn't keep searching.

does the dad have any particular hobby that can be shared with the child? my dh likes to box so we got the kids boxing gloves and they love to go up to our gym and exercise with him... It may be a little wilder than you want, but one year my husband and my son each got a pair of boxing gloves in their appropriate sizes. I think my son was about 5yo, and he thought it was great fun to "box" with Dad. (Dh doesn't box at the gym, however.) This is a fun idea of yours!

My twin daughters both received merit scholarships (the same amount) from a state university based on their SAT scores. Those scholarships cover tuition. Then they received some smaller ones based on my father's alumni membership at that uni. Then one of them received another unexpected scholarship--one of those that is for a student from one of "these" three counties who is majoring in one of "these" four areas. They both also applied to a private LAC, and received the same amount (as each other) in scholarship offers, which added up to about half the cost. But due to the much higher costs of the private uni-, they decided they preferred to go where there would be no financial struggles than worry each year over whether they could continue to go there or not.

My 22yo daughter has something like this. She cannot ice sore muscles because it makes her itch and swell. She has this reaction to ice in popsicles or the cold in ice cream sometimes, but not always. It's kind of strange.