That my 17yo looks sweet as she flies off to her uni prac with her suitcase, pillow and 17yo teddy! ETA: I think my girls are not extremely unconventional, but they've taught me very similar lessons to your kids. I sometimes wonder how they are so wise! I feel I'm only learning at 41 what they instinctively know at 17, 20 & 21 yo.

41 For two years either side of being diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma (3yrs ago) I would probably only go about 30 mins, and maximum of around an hour and then need a break of around equal time. Nowadays, I'm SO thankful to be feeling better (could be more energetic, but I'm not complaining) I can probably go about 4hrs or so, somedays I'm on my feet for 7hrs, and cope fine. I help my daughter with her cleaning business, and have done six hour days reasonably easily. Standing still is much harder - about 20 mins is my limit before I have to move around, or sit down.

Could you call him 'Young (name)', rather than little, seeing as he's older than a little child?

Duct tape with thuja ointment under it. Thuja is available from health food shops. Change every day or two. Rough up the wart with a nail file or similar each time the tape is off, to help the next batch penetrate further. Should take between one week and four weeks to get rid of it.

I had this too, until I changed the setting to the hottest one, which on my miele is Pots and Pans. Stopped the problem immediately. Before that I was cleaning black gunk out of everything every month out so.

I'm so sorry. You must be in so much pain.....When it's your whole world, it's terribly hard when a loved one departs from the faith. Hugs :grouphug:

When my kids were little it was a rare occasion that I felt like the house was ready for visitors. Me, yes, I mostly dressed well enough to not be embarrassed if anyone came to the door. But I do wonder, well, in fact, I KNOW, that I was more hard on myself then regarding the state of the house. I would be pretty embarrassed about it if anyone came unexpectedly. That didn't mean it was a pig-sty....just less than perfect. I would have everyone help for an hour or so to get it company ready, and people always commented how sparkling my house was! I would be pleased, but secretly feel embarrassed that it wasn't always like that. It was like a dirty secret! Now, as my kids have gotten older, I've gotten more relaxed, I feel the house is always pretty ready for company, even though it's not a great deal different than the state I would have been mortified about years ago. I'm enjoying the relaxed-ness of life now, but the perfectionist part of me really would like to have her house magazine-perfect all the time. But really, that's not realistic, so not going to happen. It helped me to loosen up too, when I went to several friends homes that were not perfect...not terrible either, but just lived in, evidence of stuff happening (as it does), and just a happy, welcoming atmosphere. I realized I valued that feeling over the 'spick and span' show home that made one admire, but not feel so 'at-home'.

Hugs. :grouphug: :grouphug: You poor thing. You've held it together for so long. The emotions, mind and heart can only take so much. :grouphug:

All my dd's worked at the same Chinese restaurant (at different times). We initially just asked the owner if he was needing any help, and the oldest dd started there. He was very impressed with her, and when the oldest left when school/commitments became too much, he asked if the middle dd would like to work. Same happened with youngest. Now they have all gone on to other things

I would have assumed she was a little, actually a lot, kooky. I would have answered similar to you.

What a beautiful little boy. He looks very intent on that watermelon. I can understand that...watermelon is my favourite summer treat! I give it all my attention. :grouphug: Hugs for you all, Rosie, Marek's dad, and Raziya. (Your children's names are unique and beautiful!) And a hug into the universe for Marek's free spirit. :grouphug:

I would have to say a resounding YES to it being worthwhile to 'fix' your emotional issues. I would also have to second, or third, the EFT suggestions. I went to an EFT counsellor for about 4 sessions, and came away a different person. It was a gradual process, but very, very helpful in becoming the woman I really was, but had put down for years. I was 40 when I started this journey. I, and you, have years ahead of you, in all likelihood, so it's certainly not too late to live the life, have the confidence etc, that will bring fulfilment. If you want to find an EFT counsellor in your area, just google. There's bound to be one not too far away.

Happy 18th Rowan!!

Happy Birthday Rowan, I think my gift may still be coming - they told me two weeks from Australia. Hope you had a great day. You look gorgeous in the photos. Glad the port op went ok. Horrible, I guess, but good to have instead of all the needle pricks!

I agree that I could 'like' every post in this thread. My husband is a 'recovering' OCPD, and this kind of behaviour is something I have seen in the past, but certainly not to the point of restraining me physically. I have had the coldness and jealousness towards objects of my time/attention, including our kids. None of these is acceptable, and most especially the physical restraint. I had counselling (my dh attended once or twice), but it was good for me to gain strength, and that has been the thing that has changed his behaviour more than anything. I just don't stand for it any more. I've become more confrontational, rather than just let things ride, or try to keep him happy. Now he is more aware of what's acceptable, because I've become more aware of it, and not standing for it!

Nothing...by request. Well, actually oldest dd disobeyed and got me a box of chocs, but gave them to me this morning instead of yesterday. Middle dd wrote me a lovely letter, and youngest dd called me, and told me I'm the best mum in the whole wide world, and she loved me very much. That's the kind of thing I love. I love being a mum...mostly....and don't really want the commercialization that seems to go along with mother's day. When they were little, I didn't object to them wanting to buy or make me things, but this year, I gave them forewarning that I really, really do not want presents on mother's day from now on. I was shopping with youngest dd the day before MD, and she said...see wouldn't you like one of these cute little things.....I love to buy you things! I told her she's welcome to buy them any other day for me, if she gets the urge, just as I do for them. It's nicer when there's no expectation that they should buy something on MD.

Please pm me Rosie's address. I'd like to send her a little poem. I only read her terrible news last night, and cried buckets for her. I hope she feels on this mothers day, and all to come, the happy, light spirit and presence of her sweet son surrounding her.

Congrats on her hard work and achievement, and don't under estimate your own hard work, Mama!

Quite often a salad is a main meal here, but it's always got some protein and fat in it. I usually make 6 individual plates of salad (easy - just chuck a large handful of prepackaged baby greens on a plate and top with a diced tomato each, half an avocado sliced each, maybe a few slices of salad onion or red peppers). Then I cook up whatever meat is going on top of it - usually one of the following: seasoned chicken strips fried in butter, tailed prawns fried in oil and chilli sauce, sliced cold steak re-fried in oil and chilli sauce, cut up left over sausages also fried in oil and chilli sauce. I have usually premade my own dressing, which usually consists of either mayo, apple cider vinegar, and honey....or.... extra virgin olive oil, with balsamic vinegar and maybe some chilli sauce. Everyone grabs their salad plate and loads the meat from the frying pan on top, adds a dollop of dressing, and then go to table. I think it helps to seem like a main meal, because they see the foods separate first, even though they end up together on top of each other. It would work also to have the salad plates on their places at the table, then help themselves to meat and dressing from the middle of the table. I just do it from the frying pan because I'm lazy. Sometimes I add extras to the salad such as honeyed walnuts (homemade), apple slices, orange slices, prunes, dates, cubed cheese. Other salad meals are a tuna and brown rice salad, and a broccoli salad with bacon.

EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) would probably be a good fit for you. If you can find a good counsellor that does EFT, you'll find that you will be much stronger in yourself to cope with your daily burdens, and not be so weighed down by them. Basically the situation won't change, but your emotional investment in it will change. It won't necessarily mean you'll be back to Pollyanna-happiness, but you'll certainly have less emotional weight, and be freer to see, feel, and enjoy the good things in life (and there is usually always some of these good things around if we look for them). :grouphug: Please look into it if it's possible for you. I don't think you'll regret it. :grouphug:

Are the wives equally happy with the arrangement, or would they rather be home if the situation allowed? And, did the arrangement come about because of a greater income of the wife? Or for another reason? I have to admit, I do think that I look on men that fulfill the role that a mother usually does as pretty extra-ordinary. Not to say that I think they deserve greater accolades, but it's just so rare (in my world) that a dad is so involved in their kids lives.

We have quite a few animals (3 dogs, 1 cat, sheep, horses, cows) that need looking after when we are away, so we always either get someone to come and stay here, or if it is only a night or two, we put enough food out for the farm animals, and get our neighbour to come over and feed the dogs each day. We have been away for up to seven weeks at a time, and for these times, we've either gotten Dh's parents, our grown kids, or a person we've known that is at a loose end and would like a change of scenery. We only kenneled our first dog (when we only had one), and we didn't like the experience, so have always striven to make it work some other way.

I don't remember any noticeable changes, but I do remember reading was out of the question, as I had no power of concentration. In fact, audio books would have been the same. Just wasn't able to concentrate. :grouphug: Hugs to you as you get through your treatment.

My unpopular opinion...... I hate puppy breath! Cannot at all see why people rave over puppy breath. I'm actually a registered Rhodesian Ridgeback breeder, but fail in the all important attribute that breeders should have of loving puppy breath!

Awesome! May his confidence continue to grow from this success! :-)