:grouphug: I'm sorry you're feeling sad, but I don't blame you! :grouphug:

Also, I think a longer text reads as several on the bill. So it's possible she's sending less than it appears.

We did this for quite a few years. We also didn't have a microwave for a lot of the time. The kids and I would eat earlier....DH preferred to eat alone when he came in that late, and have some quietness. So I'd make meals that would keep warm well (I'd leave burgers etc for the weekends when we can eat them altogether), plate his portion up, and invert another plate over the top of it. Then put the plate on top of a pot half full of water set at a simmer on the stove top. Even if he got home quite late, the meal was beautifully warm, moist, and took no more effort from me, than to take it off the pot, and place it on the table (on a cork mat, as it will be very hot). The pot and his plate could wait to be washed until the morning, or the pot can be easily wiped out right there and then.

I would really recommend finding an EFT counsellor. EFT stands for emotional freedom technique. I think you'd find that it may help you deal with the residual grief from your babies, and the new grief from your kids leaving. It also helps to isolate and identify what emotions are behind your current sadness, which then allows you to deal with that certain emotion. Please do Google an EFT counsellor in your area, and if you have to travel to him/ her, please do that if your budget can at all squeeze it in. It's been quite life changing in my experience. I only needed four or five sessions, and now I can apply the techniques myself at home to head off any issues before they become too large. I'd also second or third the suggestions of fresh air outdoors. When I was going through a bad patch, I'd go to a certain place and lay on the ground. I'd end up taking note of all the amazing activity at that level...tiny little bugs crawling over grains of sand etc. I would do plenty of crying too, but after half an hour or so I'd feel surprisingly better. I found afterwards that the soil of the earth contains natural anti depressant compounds! Many hugs for you. As one poster said, getting medication is not the only way to seek treatment. For the health of you and the precious little new life, please seek some help. Husbands don't always see the extent of how we feel, or the depth of depression, so be proactive in getting help for yourself in spite of whether or not he is on board. This is about you. :grouphug:

Having read some reviews on the endless pools, I don't think it would be a turn on got me. Apparently they are not as easy to use as the idea suggests it should be, and many people give up on them. I'd rather a proper lap pool, but I know they would be much more pricey!

I don't think Jim Bob was lucky...getting where he has got has taken brains and forward thinking, as well as frugality and a mind set for saving. Obviously they would be passing those skills and ideas to their kids, so there's no reason why most of them can't be as `lucky`. I do agree however that it would be nice if the husbands were more open to their wives pursuing whatever they wanted to.

Congratulations on your new little bundle of blue! :-)

This reminds me…..I also can't stand the term 'nom nom'. Gives me shivers.

Here on the WTM forums was the only place I'd ever heard it until yesterday. I thought it was horrific every time I saw it!

WHAT!!?? Someone shoot me now, please! :sneaky2:

THAT WORD!! :cursing: Just plain 'crazy' is fine, thank you very much! We are not 2 year-olds that can't say it, and it's not even shortened - still has two syllables. I cringe every time I see it! :toetap05: So, what are your most 'hate-able' words? :bigear:

I'm pretty sure the original poster returned and joined in the fun, unless I'm thinking of another kerfuffle thread.

I must be the odd one out! Our kids all started part time jobs at 14, and from then were required to buy their own clothes. When they earned over a certain amount they were required to pay some board. We are by no means a struggling family, we are self employed and have no debt. Our point of doing this was not to be cheap, stingy, or because we couldn't afford it, but it was to encourage independence and to learn life skills which have stood them in good stead ever since. All at 21, 20, and 18 are very savvy people, oldest two are self employed and doing well, youngest is at university, and also about to set up a part-time remedial massage business, so will also be self employed while studying. All will probably be building their first investment homes in the next six months. Of course we will be helping by using our equity to provide a deposit for them, but it won't be a cash handout. We have helped them out in the past by paying an odd unexpected bill when they are stuck, but they always pay us back as soon as they can. We help the kids out in many ways, but rarely financially. I just don't think it does any favours to hand out money when they could pay for things themselves. But they all know that when I go shopping with them, I will treat them to something they see that they like. :laugh: I see our responsibility as parents to give our kids the tools to survive and thrive in life, and we couldn't see that happening if we provided everything for them beyond the age where it was reasonable to expect they were capable of beginning to do that for themselves.

And they get paid to get it all off their chest! :laugh:

Sorry, but your thread reminded me of a hilarious youtube clip....involving a New Zealander (pronouncing 'deck' in their unique way!) You may want to have a listen....cleaning the deck is mentioned briefly, so it's kind of helping you with your question! ;-) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Bg586-wl38

Although I don't like it, I'm sure your little Cuthbert would be very sweet, and I promise I would not treat him any different just because his name was top of my 'yuck' list! :001_smile:. In fact, a sweet little boy called Cuthbert, may even induce me to like the name! :willy_nilly:

I voted 3-4 hrs, although obviously some days are more, and some are less. On a bare minimum type of day, I'd probably spend around an hour tidying up in the morning, making breakfast etc, then out all day, then 1- 1.5hrs making the evening meal and cleaning up after. On a more usual day, I'd spend a couple of hours in the morning including cooking breakfast, probably an hour mid afternoon folding laundry and other incidentals, then I would probably be in the kitchen from around 6-8pm both preparing the meal and cleaning up afterwards. I have to say, I'm more efficient on my busy, out-of-the-house days. On the other days I tend to stretch out the work, and go more slowly.

I really thought I'd be more romantic, but I'm very evenly balanced, with perhaps a slight leaning towards classical.

I take 8 drops per day of Lugol's Iodine. Has helped with energy, and hair falling.

Cuthbert is particularly horrid, I think. Gertrude is probably top of my list for awful female names.

I also really like a lot of the older fashioned names...some particulars that stand out are...Ruby, Laura, Ida (pronounced eeda), Henry, Harry, George, and many more.

Yes, my daughter at 17yo (she's 21 now, and only just starting to get back to her usual self), and my dad when I was about 14. I'd never wish it on anyone, and feel very, very much for anyone that is either going through it, or is caring for someone going through it. Please feel free to PM me if you'd like.

We looked at the Mazda 5, Honda CRV, Peugeot 318(?), Volkswagen Toureg, and many more and ended up going with a Subaru Outback. Love it's room compared to the others, but it doesn't seat more than five. We wanted the space in the back for the dogs.

:grouphug:

In fine with PayPal and could contribute a little.