This quote from the article I referred to above gets to the point I wanted to highlight. The key is that it acknowledges there are « less grave scenarios » that are causing estrangements: « There are good and bad features of modern family life, in which relations are often based more on ties of affection than on duty or obedience. In these times, the people we choose to be close to represent not only a preference, but a profound statement of our identities. We are freed to surround ourselves with those who reflect our deepest values—parents included. We feel empowered to call on loved ones to be more sensitive to our needs, our emotions, and our aspirations. This freedom enables us to become untethered and protected from hurtful or abusive family members. Yet in less grave scenarios our American love affair with the needs and rights of the individual conceals how much sorrow we create for those we leave behind. We may see cutting off family members as courageous rather than avoidant or selfish. We can convince ourselves that it’s better to go it alone than to do the work it takes to resolve conflict. Some problems may be irresolvable, but there are also relationships that don’t need to be lost forever. »

Very interesting topic. I have been on these boards for over 10 years and I have been surprised at how many people « cut off » their parents. In addition, I have noticed there seems to be an even greater trend for cutting off in-laws and I have wondered how this would play out as the children of the group become adults and then continue this practice. This article in the Atlantic answered some of my questions. It appears that it is in part due to a major cultural shift regarding the role of families and the view of duty to a family. In a nutshell the newer generations place a higher value on personal fulfillment than familial loyalty. I am definitely from the older generation here so I had not experienced this growing up. The article gives insights into this trend. Well worth the read. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theatlantic.com/amp/article/617612/

https://nimasensor.com/peanut/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=peanut-sensor-acquisition-lifestyle Has anyone tried this? It was reviewed in Popular Science. It sounds helpful-- not a substitute for careful avoidance and it is expensive but it would be wonderful if it worked.

Is this the Sorbonne one? https://www.centerforstudyabroad.com/university-paris-sorbonne/ Or is it directly with the University? Ds17 is looking for a french immersion program in Quebec or France. Also, to the op, my son found some reviews/comments on trip advisor. One of the host families said that they have seen the best results with Quebec-Monde and Bouchereau Lingua International. That comment was from 2012, so I do not know if that still holds true.

Somehow I missed this thread the first time around and had to google Schole' for the definition. I have two teens and this is an absolutely awesome thread. Definitely what I needed to read tonight. Thank you!

We loved the Branagh version of Henry V. We also watched the St Crispin Day speech from the Hollow Crown for a fun comparison. That could be interesting for that age group if they have seen Tom Hiddleston as Loki in the Avenger/Thor movies.

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I have found the above bolded to be very important regarding my mother's situation right now. Due to her situation, she may need to move to assisted living. In our area, most assisted living places are requiring a private pay commitment of 1 - 2 years of an average $4,500 per month if it is anticipated that the person will need Medicaid.. If the person does not have the assets, the facility looks to the family to pay or they won't take the person into their facility. Medicaid beds/rooms are limited in number in most places and many places do not even take it so often there are no openings or a waiting list. If no one can pay it is then up to the family to care for the individiual on their own, which may or may not be feasible. Rationing funds becomes very important. For example, my mother could spend her money on helpers coming into her apartment to allow her to live in her home without going into assisted living but if she were to spend it down below the 1-2 years of private pay required to get into assisted living, she would be stuck if she then needed to go into assisted living. So I can see that some elderly people could end up going into assisted living sooner than necessary, just so that they can meet the payment requirements to be admitted. We are right in the middle of all of this now and are learning as we go.

As a side note, when I attended a Lego convention with my son, I conducted my own informal job survey of the adults who displayed their Lego creations and it was very interesting to see the wide variety of careers. Some of them included: construction, artists, physician, math teacher, MIT student. I expected to see more of a pattern represented.

My teenage son loves Lego. I consider him to be a serious builder and it a big interest for him, but he has other interests as well. He is my go to guy for fixing things and understanding new equipment etc. It has been interesting over the years when he has visited various friends' homes to hear that his friends' fathers have been the ones with the most interesting Lego sets displayed in their home office etc, compared to the kids' sets!!

Me too-- I called it a teeter totter growing up, usually a seesaw now.

I sent my boys to preschool for a year and it was great. They had a wonderful time and learned a lot. The only downside was driving them back and forth. They didn't stay in contact with any of the kids from preschool -- I've always wondered if they had continued on at the relatively small public school if they would have maintained those friendships. It was a well regarded private preschool and the teacher happened to have an opening due to a student moving.

Thanks for the link and the info on the colored compression tights. I haven't seen those and they look terrific. I have just had the "nude" color, so not flattering! I end up wearing them under tights.

My son has been taking German with WTMA with Frau Edwards. He loves it and has been motivated to study beyond assigned class work, just for fun.

My mom is in her eighties, very sharp mentally and uses her computer and can now text me. However, for several years she believed that when I called her landline using my cell phone, it would ruin her phone. So I was only allowed to call landline-to-landline or cell phone to cell phone! To be fair, she did have trouble with her landline phones malfunctioning (they were cheap, used etc) but it cracks me up that she felt that it was quite dicey for me to call her with the wrong phone!

This is such a fun thread! We are getting a lot of snow here today, so I went outside to check on my husband and son while they were shoveling snow and we saw some turkeys sitting in the neighbor's tree across the street, so it is the year of the turkey for us! The turkeys look so funny sitting in the trees! My husband keeps reminding me that they were recommended by Benjamin Franklin to be the national bird. My goal this year is to see my first snowy owl.

So very sorry!

Interesting! I'll check it out! Thanks!