Are video games included? The new Super Mario Odyssey is by far the best of the Nintendo Mario brothers adventures so far. Lots of side quests before saving Peach who once again gets captured by Bowser. Very well done.

Working the ER at night, sleeping by day. DH and I will have our first day off together in 7 years on the 28th! We are beyond excited, but do not have any plans yet.

As a grandmother with her head in the clouds, I would have really hoped for a reminder from my daughter-in-law. It is not that it is her responsibility to remind me of my grandchildren’s birthdays. It is just that I do forget easily since we do not live close. Bonus points if she tells me what to buy.

Your money, your house your rules. One thing that worked for us was not allowing behaviors at a young age that we would have to nix at an older age. For example, we never allowed sleepovers. So, I do not have to worry about my early twenty somethings thinking they can stay out all night. As far as house rules, nothing really changes. In regards to when I see them as adults, I doubt that will ever happen. When I see my 37 yo, for example, I only see the bright, blue-eyed curly haired 3 year old. Lol.

I really expected DD17 to attend a college similar what you described. But, she ended up picking Liberty University in VA. I am beyond thrilled at how wonderful her college experience has been so far. What makes it special for her: 1. Convocation 3 times per week. The speakers are amazing! She will never again have the opportunity to hear all these famous people again. 2. There is a hierarchy of prayer such that every student is prayed for by name every day. 3. Every major imaginable. There is even a med school and law school on campus. 4. Every sport, club, and interest that I can think of is represented. 5. Most buildings are relatively new including her dorm. She gets headaches when she has to be in many old buildings for long periods of time. 6. Conservative to moderate conservative teaching, yet, the student body is liberal to conservative and everything in between. 7. What I like is that she doesn’t need any extra money to go there. Everything is included in the tuition/board fees. This includes labs, football games, her sport participation fees, skiing, snowboarding, gym fees, etc. nothing, so far, has been an extra cost. They are at the bottom 25% of tuition when compared to other private colleges in the U.S. 8. Lots of learning labs, a killer library, and tutoring available and included in costs.

When DD took that test, she had never had anything given to her that she could not do. I forgot to warn her that the test kept going until she could not complete something. She discombobulated and started crying when it got too hard. The psychologist who was giving the test stopped the test right then and said she was not ready for school. We had already decided to homeschool her by then, so we did not care. This was my child who graduated high school at 15, was sought after and contracted by a large computer company, and is making straight “A’s†in college. What was your purpose for getting the test?

Even though you dislike Disney, you should get on The Adventures by Disney website. Look at those vacations and try to recreate one.

You may be reasonable, but, is that what you are going for this Christmas? If you are trying to become the gathering place for your current family and your children’s future families, then you may want to be more accommodating.

No. DH and I both work in the medical field which includes working on Christmas Day. Therefore, school was scheduled then, too. We celebrate, and stop school, on whatever day we happen to get off.

Momma radar is rarely turned the wrong direction.

Do it. Go one step further and get her an electronic one.

The homeless in my town who are begging on the street corners earn about $70,000 to $100,000 a year. It is very organized. We suspect one person is running the whole show. By the way, that money is not taxed. Lol. The money amount is estimated by someone who hid out and filmed a street corner for a day. They run shifts.

No big secret. These are YouTubers, broadcasters, and professional gamers. DD was picked up by a gaming company as a broadcaster. Anyone can get into it and start seeking sponsors, etc. The downside is that there are millions of people doing it who never make any money. For example, Twitch has over a million broadcasters now, I believe. I think the odds of making money in the business are probably less than becoming an actor. DD was smart in that she found a niche not already being served, and then she was lucky enough to get noticed.

Yes, as a pay-it-forward line at Wendy’s. $20!

Lay your fist on the table. Never eat any more than equal to that size.

Love reading this stuff when I am in the middle of paying $30,000 a year for my last one to go through college. But, DD17 knows quite a few gamers in the 6 figure range without degrees. She averages around $50 an hour playing games. It definitely crossed our minds to let her keep making money instead of college. But, there is an intangible benefit to college. Now, when I call her, she engages in scholarly discussions of world events, something she never even wanted to think about as a high school student.

Another vote for normal.

Tape notes to yourself in the pantry and refrigerator.

You can buy the little cameras that signal when someone is in your blind spot. I think I paid about $200 when I had them installed on my RV.

Technically, they are correct. It is no different than hiring Uber or a cab. Nonetheless, your daughter can negotiate anything she wants. She also needs to negotiate exactly how many days and hours of babysitting cover her room and board. If the employer is only providing a room and no paycheck, they are getting a screaming good deal.

Take kids. Go. Adventure.

The X has faster game play and loading graphics so much better for the serious gamers. Our 360 controllers, S, and X all look similar. I never tried to interchange them. Headphones should be a separate present later since decent ones cost a good bit, in my opinion.

Vitamin A supplement.

No matter how truthful we were, the kids believed what they wanted to believe. Lol. I remember one episode of a 4 year old crying and screaming out that Santa was real! After lots of hugs and consoling, I learned to a let t go. They will figure it out when they are ready.

How about turning one of your kids’ bedrooms into a bunk room for the grandchildren?