I just made some nice green/black tea, to relax and drink while I looked at some HS catalogs again. But now, the kids are getting loud and wound up, and I feel thirsty. I could REALLY go for the Mike's Mojito sitting over there... :drool5: I hate to waste the tea, though.

I used to be an animal lover until I had kids, now I don't know what I was thinking of! We got a dog (rescue dog) 3 years ago, who is very sweet, but EXTREMELY NEEDY AND NEUROTIC, then we got a cat last year (I have always been more of a cat person) and the cat is fine, other than the usual cat stuff, but I feel like I can't stand it. The dog likes to eat the cat poop by the way-sorry to gross anyone out, but it grosses me out worst of all. Between the hair, the poop, the dirt tracked in, the neediness, I have had it. I know it's terrible, and I was always the one who said "I don't trust people who don't have a pet." Now I know. Oh, I forgot about the ticks!!!! Feedback anyone?

4. The Well-Trained Heart by Ray & Donna Reish Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kinsolver Creative Correction by Lisa Whelchel and my trashy one, Certain Girls by Jennifer Weiner.

Okay, I'm hoping I'm not the only one that does weird/unmentionable things while on here, am I? Why am I even writing this? But here is mine: I find myself picking at things on my body!! Like my skin, my nails, my scalp. Is that revealing too much? Can I show myself on here anymore? :leaving:

I only have a boy and a girl, but I don't have an answer. They get soooo loud and goofy. I know you are supposed to eat as a family, but I prefer to eat dinner after they have gone to bed! I'm checking out all of the answers from everyone else.

Based on recent experience with a possible scam (see previous post-need advice-am I too trusting or have I been scammed) I would like to give some advice! I did all of the wrong things when I first purchased curriculum. Here is what I suggest: 1. Check the reputation of seller if site lists it. 2. Google sellers name. 3. See how long they have been a member of site. 4. Check all feedback. 5. USE PAYPAL if at all possible. 6. As a buyer, buy the insurance so you get a tracking number. 7. As a seller HIGHLY recommend the insurance and save correspondance if they refuse it. 8. Save all email correspondance until you receive items. 9. Be diligent with your contact. 10. Know your recourses if sale falls through. Contacting mail fraud dept. at USPS, filing an internet complaint, contacting local police. Despite my not checking the seller out at all and sending a check, falling for her excuses why the package hadn't been sent, and letting too much time go by, I think it worked out. I went over my emails that I had (luckily) saved, got her phone number, left a message, then finally sent her an email saying I would file a complaint and contact her local police if I didn't hear from her. She responded immediately, and today emailed me a tracking number from my insured package. YEAH!!! :hurray: I am an expert by no means (obviously) but hopefully this can help someone else from going through what I did, or worse. Also, thanks for all the feedback from everyone who helped me.:001_smile:

UPDATE!!! Okay, I called her home and left a message saying please call me regarding curriculum. Then, I sent an email saying I had given her the benefit of the doubt but was concerned about the legitimacy of the transaction, that if she didn't contact me with a delivery confirmation I would have no choice other than to contact her local Police Department, as well as the Mail Fraud Dept. of USPS. She responded back by email within 10 minutes saying she would mail tomorrow and get me the confirmation by 1:00pm!! Then she did comment on some of her issues, so I'm still not sure. I'm naive, I guess. Bottom line, thanks for your help everyone! Fingers Crossed.

That's how I would normally feel, except she specifically said "I will get this in the mail tomorrow and get you a delivery conf. number" Just an update, I went back over all my info, got her address, called information and called her. I only got the machine, but I left a message and I will try again before I do anything further. Maybe if I speak with someone I'll get a better feel.

Erica: My dd is 6, and my ds is almost 5. Believe it or not, you really are not alone! A lot of other moms I've talked to have the same situation, except they are usually the eldest child. My dd has a lot of the same things going on. If her brother does something for the first time, she'll put it down, say she can do it better, etc... One thing we really stress is the "It's not all about you" idea. We try to incorporate scripture into a lot, read books about positive character traits, etc... Reinforce, reinforce, reinforce. And really get to the "heart" of it. Where is the behavior coming from, what is she feeling when she does/says these things. Have you read either Shepharding a Child's Heart, The Well-Trained Heart, Parenting from Surviving to Thriving, or Creative Correction? Yes, I am always looking for the answer. All of these books are good though because they really do have the same theme. The positive is that I can slowly see a change.:hurray: My dd used to get so angry, and then cry, and even when I knew she regreted whatever she had done/said, she was always so stubborn and wouldn't make up. Even though I knew she WANTED to. Lately, she will actually say she's sorry. And she is trying to control herself and think of others first. Baby steps. Hang in there.

Bess: I haven't gotten over it.:sad: We have 2 (youngest almost 5) and I know how lucky and blessed we were to have them. I had fertility issues. Now, I'm 40, my dh is 59, and I know in my head how insane it would be, but I feel the longing A LOT. I know it makes no sense-dh is way too old, plus it's medically impossible for him to. Wish I could help.

Okay, I need advice here. At the end of May, I found some curriculum on another used site, and had very good communication with the seller. We had multiple emails before I purchased, and I liked her. In fact we even discussed me possibly buying the following years curriculum from her if I liked it. Anyway, it was one of my first times buying, and I sent a check instead of paypal. She was going to send the stuff out as soon as check cleared. I waited, emailed and she said she & dh had had a really bad day, sorry she would get it out. Another week went by and I emailed again. She did finally respond, and apologize profusely, and explained her situation. It involved abuse (he had a long history of it) she finally left, he froze her out of her accounts, etc... Well I felt awful for her, reassured her, said I put her on our prayer chain, etc.. In her email she said she had my info again (hadn't had access to it because of dh) and would send it out the next day and immediately send me a delivery conf. This was over a week ago. I still didn't think anything of it, but when I told my mom, she said "Oh, you've been scammed, you'll never see the stuff." That had never occurred to me. I went to the site, and basically the only thing I could do would be to do a negative post, contact her email host and file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center. I hate to do that at this point, because I really believed her. My items were over $200 though. I don't know. Sorry this is so long, I'm just torn. Help.

Praying for your family.

Where do you guys live???? This week for the first time was in the 80's! We haven't done pool, beach, waterpark, nothing! The lakes are still too cold. Plus, because of all of the flooding, none of the beaches/lakes are open because of contamination. Fun, huh? Happy Summer.

I totally agree! I was just thinking today (after the numerous brawl) that they have too much free time on their hands. If I was prepared, I'd start school now.

Had insomnia last night, and dd has been a huge drain on me today!! Despite that, I got dressed and ready, emptied dishwasher, did 2 loads laundry, straightened, AND biggest of all: worked on my schoolroom, tossing, organizing, etc... I think I started too much though, because now I have a ton more laundry waiting to be done, and I had wanted to vacuum. And I've not had lunch and am tired and cranky. Also, PMS is starting.:w00t: More info than you needed to know?

I thought I would chime in with my remedy. :D I wholeheartedly agree with the neti pot suggestion!! I have suffered with headaches my whole life, and this is the ONE thing that has worked the most consistantly for me. I have a combination migraine/sinus thing, and it is year round, but worse in spring and fall. In the past, I have taken prescription nasal spray plus pres. allegra D everyday, and even that wasn't always effective. I've done acupuncture, massage, you name it. When I would get a bad headache, I was totally non-functionig-which is fine if you don't have kids to take care of. I started using the neti pot, and it is like a miracle! I use it at least once per day, but if I go outside, or I feel the pressure more, I use it more. Occasionally, I will have to take a clariten d, but rarely. Now, you may have a sinus infection already, but I've been told they eventually go away. The neti pot can help this too, otherwise you might want to go and at least get antibiotics to clear it up, but you can use the neti pot in conjunction with it. It has also helped with the conjection when I've had a cold. TRY IT!!!! Good luck.

I like Mike's, but in the summer I also LOVE a nice vodka & tonic with a ton of lime squeezed in. Yummy.:drool5:

I will have to amend my previous post. I don't know what got into me, but I cleaned out this huge cupboard I have that is filled with magazines I'm saving, books, etc.. Then, I did under the bed! Not the whole thing, but still. And I listed a HUGE list of the books on the for sale board. I'm not saving stuff anymore. Yeah! I still have a lot of crap though.

Now, it is the Bible. I was raised in a church going home, but not true Christian at the time. My mom is now. Also, now we are, for the most part surrounded by like minded people, so we all go by scripture. (Or TRY anyway!)

Well, I don't have VBS, but we had t-ball early and then ran a bunch or errands, did lunch and I had a headache, so I crashed for a while. The good news is that I didn't leave the house a mess, my sink was shiny, and the house is still very picked up. The bad news is, I didn't really get much else accomplished & haven't done any Home Blessings yet. Baby Steps, right?

I can't stand the above two either, and I honestly can't remember ever saying them. It would sound too weird. Also, I CANT STAND the phrase "my bad"! It's made up, right!!! Also, 24/7-I never say that either.

Thanks everyone! I am feeling better now. Of course everyone's been in bed for an hour and now I'm crawlinging in with the remote, my book, more tea and muffin. Ahh comfort.:)

Well... My dd ended up in bed with us at 2:30am because of a nightmare. Then, dh had to get up at 4:30. DD is panicked whenever daddy goes anywhere, so she got up then too. 5:15am, I am up also. Thankfully, ds stayed asleep til 6:45. While I was laying there at 5am, I thought "I am not doing anything today. NOTHING-I have an excuse". The good news is, I was up so early, had coffee, got dressed, even did my hair and face. Did laundry & dishes in dishwasher. I've made the kids pick up any toys that have migrated from their rooms, and it's still looking good now. Oh!! I also put water in container in fridge and have been drinking it! WOW! I hope all of the rest of you are doing great! (I may burn out and end up giving the kids popcorn on the couch for dinner though)

I am already at the point today where I want to crawl back under the covers and not come out until the kids are in bed. Anybody with me here??? I love my dd to death, but some days I think SHE will be the death of ME. Some days (today) everything seems to be a constant battle-EVERYTHING! I do use consequences, but some days she has consequence after consequence. That's when I feel like going to sleep, or breaking out the dorritos. And the cookies, and the popcorn, and-well, you get the picture. I AM DRAINED.:leaving: