You might want to look up the local laws regarding unsupervised children just to be aware.

I agree. As uncomfortable as it may be, you could drive yourself crazy not knowing what her thinking is about the whole situation. This is a conversation you must have. Even if to be told it is fine (from her perspective) for him to be sitting outside for hours on his own. That way you can make a decision about what boundaries you must have for you and your family.

Maybe she thinks it is completely acceptable for him to sit outside 3 hours. Maybe she doesn't think of it as babysitting.

I hear you! I have spent my share of time on the phone with insurance this past year.

I hate dishes. I don't mind mopping and love having a clean floor. That said, I probably do it once a month or so. No small kids, and the all the dirt from outside gets tracked on the carpeted stairs before getting to the kitchen. I have two mopping strategies. For deep cleaning I use a bucket of water with Armstrong Once 'n Done, a string mop and a wringer bucket. That takes me about 30 minutes to sweep, move chairs and trash and recycling cans and mop for about 289 sq ft. The other less intense method is a Rubbermaid Reveal spray mop with microfiber pads. Only takes 15 minutes or less

And I think you are over the top rude for judging what another human being is experiencing. You do not have the facts to determine whether this person is attention seeking, or is attempting to process a real to them trauma. Heaven forbid you ever need compassion for something that may be judged unworthy by a fellow human being.

Again, trauma happens to everyone. For some, (most?), the trauma is processed, integrated, and life goes on. For various reasons related to the level of trauma and an individual's ability to cope or process, some are not able to process the trauma and the after effects disrupt their everyday lives. Hence the term PostTraumatic Stress Disorder. Why do we feel the need to judge whether someone else's trauma is or is not worthy of disrupting their lives? Lawana (Survivor of childhood abuse, married to combat veteran, who is perfectly fine with acknowledging that trauma comes in many forms, and not just capital T ones.)

Yes. A person wearing leggings is covered. That should be enough.

Everyone has traumas of varying degrees. Who are you to judge what another person's trauma meant to them?

And right from the very beginning, do not judge the blood glucose numbers. They are not a reflection on her worth or yours, or even of compliance. They are information on what to do next. Judging sets up for emotions such as shame, embarrassment, fear, and behaviors such as avoidance, hiding, sneaking. A good thing to say is, "Thanks for checking."

I was thinking about the front closure thing. It makes sense to not put one on a strapless bra because the fit would have to be absolutely perfect, and not stretch over time, which of course bras do. The fact that shoulder straps are digging in usually indicates that the band size is too big, shifting the support from the band to the shoulder straps. Have you tried a smaller band size while going up a cup size or two?

I am so sorry to hear about the diagnosis. Dd was diagnosed when she was 9. It is quite a journey, that is for sure. It will be all consuming at first, then become a new normal over time. Be patient with her, yourself, and other family members who might do things differently than you. You can do this! Because you have no other option. And because there is strength in you that you didn't know you had.

And really, there is a world of difference between "You (all) are a lousy bunch of kids that I can't trust to stay out of the chips" and "I understand it is really hard to resist a bag of chocolate! just sitting there in the pantry all lonely like" "so I am going to lock this cabinet."

Compulsions are not always in our direct control. Whether or not this is the case for OP, I have no idea. As a pp stated, sometimes removing the temptation is a kindness. Sometimes it is not. These kinds of issues can be quite complex and specific to the individual. While it is healthy and helpful to offer a variety of opinions, dogmatic assertions that one way is the only true answer, or the absolute worst thing possible, guaranteed to screw up your kid for life, are generally not going to help at all.

We have the good, the bad, and the ugly, just as most families do, I suspect. My favorite is a 1st cousin. While I am the oldest female in our brood of 34, she is the youngest, separated by 18 years. And while I didn't have kids until late 30's, she got pregnant at 16, so her oldest is older than my oldest. She married her boyfriend, and against all odds, they are still together and extremely happy. After dropping out to have her baby, she completed her high school diploma while her kids were in elementary school, then went on to earn bachelor's and master's degrees and is now working on a Ph.D. in sociology!! She, her dh and I have all transitioned out of the religion we grew up with, and that, among other things, makes me feel a special bond to her.

I homeschooled dd from the beginning all the way through high school, ds from K to part way into 8th grade. Ds had been asking to go to b&m school since 7th grade, so when MIL, who lived with us, fell and broke her pelvis, needing a lot of care, we decided to put ds in school. He is now a senior and has thrived in the public school setting.

I don't think you should worry about seeming too accepting. A matter of fact approach will likely be a big relief to Jade and their parents. You will make mistakes with pronouns and name. As long as you show a willing attitude, saying the wrong thing then correcting yourself will be fine. It would be unreasonable to expect otherwise. As far as other people's reactions, how do you have any influence there? I don't see how that would be possible?

I had major, extreme writing anxiety. Could you talk to him and get his reasons for the issue? I would be really reluctant to crack down on a 17 yo over an academic issue. It could backfire big time. ETA Typo

Never testified. I have sat on three juries, responsible for hanging one:o Sat through a hearing for someone for whom I paid legal fees.

I was going to suggest carpet tile. But Steam cleaning is not recommended, due to the joints. But as far as all the other criteria, it would work really well. Heck, I might be tempted to try the steam cleaning anyway and see what happens.

It is very interesting how different ideas seem to different people. To me, intermittent fasting, i.e. restricting daily eating to a 8 hour window, for example (this window varies) is about as simple an approach as there can be. You still eat to satiety, so this to me is way easier than a restricted calorie diet, or a very low carb diet.

I think the changes have to be permanent in order to be effective long term. If by starve, you are talking about the fasting part, I think most people adapt very well and don't consider it a hardship after the initial adjustment. I don't really find his approach complicated. How does it seem that way to you?

Google Dr. Jason Fung and read and watch his videos. He comes from the perspective that high blood glucose levels are a symptom of the problem and not the problem itself, which is insulin resistance. He has a program that intensely manages diet, emphasizing natural fats, low carb and fasting-- all intended to resensitize the body to insulin.

I, too, would cancel. You are not being petty.

Something like that can be done punitively or non-punitively. If she has been dawdling, you can say, "Your lunch will be right here for you just as soon as you finish up that work." You are stating it positively: you want her to eat, you have prepared her food, now it is up to her to do her part.