I think the cost is excessive based on the information given. As I read it, the parents are being asked to provide funds for pizza, a drink, and a goody bag containing unspecified items - loved the description "bag o'crap" upthread - to cover their own child. In addition, parents are being asked to provide other things needed for the party. $15 per person is a lot for pizza and a drink for a 5 year old. I haven't had a 5-year-old for a while, but I do remember they could not eat much pizza, even though they liked it and had healthy appetites. I too like to splurge a little for a party, but there's no point in being wasteful. And when people are being asked to contribute, they should know what the money is going to. If it includes enough food for siblings and parents, that should be known to the parents who are paying so they can decide what they want to do.

The library could be subsidizing but in any case, I would be suspicious too. Maybe the person getting the stuff is factoring in their cost of time and driving to get things? Still, that seems like a lot.

Since the coach is asking for the money I'd assume that does not include a gift. Well, I can buy a large pizza here for $12. That is a simple pizza, cheese and pepperoni. (So more toppings would be more.) A 2-liter bottle of store-brand soda costs about $1 (usually a little less). Probably small boys like that can only manage one slice of pizza, but let's say I'd get two or even three to be sure of being covered. Three bottles of soda should suffice, right? So about $4 per kid, not including goody bags. ETA: Just saw OP's update. $15 seems like a lot, since parents are bringing quite a bit. Must be great stuff coming in those goody bags!

I don't mind talking on the phone, though I don't really like it. I prefer people to call me; I always get caught up in worrying that I'm calling at a bad time, which is stupid because that's why there's voicemail or whatever it's called now. We still have an answering machine on our landline. (Though we mostly use cell phones.) Then there's the problem of that little delay when people are calling cell-to-cell; I guess that is getting better but that used to drive me crazy. Phone conversations could be so awkward. But still, if there is someone I really want to talk to, I'm happy to talk on the phone. I do have to keep paper and pen nearby so I can doodle. But if it's someone I don't want to talk to, my mind wanders. And I'd better not be sitting by the computer or I will start browsing the internet. But mostly I have eliminated those boring phone conversations out of my life. Do prefer to text for quick things.

I don't see what this has to do with being introverted. If you walk in, you don't have to be chatty, and you don't have to buy. A while back there was a thread about people who take up a lot of time in small stores, asking questions, trying things on etc., with the express purpose of ordering online and getting the items cheaper. I think some people misinterpreted that to mean that anyone who walks into a small shop has to buy. More and more I want to support small businesses when I can. Often I can't justify the prices. I don't feel any guilt over going into a store and walking out empty-handed.

Does anyone else remember the days before Amazon, when bookstores sold books for the list (publisher's) price, except for remainders and, of course, used books? And that was normal? Now, it seems that Amazon's book prices are normal and everyone else's are overpriced.

I miss A Common Reader so much, even after all these years. Such a fun catalog and so many off-beat books that would never have been discovered on Amazon.

Is your husband open to the idea of reading a book on decluttering? Or will it make him defensive about his stuff? I'm just thinking about my own pack-rat husband and understand he may be nothing like yours. He listened to me read snippets of the Kondo book and he was not impressed. "Spark joy" is not his language. Thanking things for their service before getting rid of them? Please. Anyway, reading a book together on decluttering would make him suddenly become very busy and not have time for our reading.

We loved Chinaberry when my kids were little! Found so many treasures there that no one else had ever heard of. Bas Bleu is fun too, and I occasionally buy from them but I have such a fondness for Chinaberry. I remember one catalog in which the owner took people to task for using their catalog as a "shopping list" for Amazon - and were proud to tell her about it. She was quite eloquent and not nasty, but she got the point across that their catalog was not meant to be a resource to be used to buy elsewhere. This was at least 15 years ago. We were already buying from them anyway, but that had a lasting impact on me and my shopping philosophy.

Oh, I am so sorry. Praying for your family now.

Oh, I am so sorry. Praying for your family now.

I buy from Amazon but also from a few catalogs, but those are mostly specialty books. If a find a book that I really want/need at a store or in a catalog/website that I come across, I will purchase it from them even if I can find it cheaper on Amazon. Amazon carries everything, but it's the smaller booksellers who highlight little known books. If those small booksellers go away, Amazon's not going to bring those books to my attention. This is particularly true for specialty, niche-market booksellers who see people use their catalogs/websites as free resources to find new books, which they then go on to buy from Amazon to save a few dollars (or get a couple of days faster). There are few bookstores near me other than a couple of Barnes and Nobles, and they seem to be carrying fewer and fewer books. Most bookstores that carry used (either exclusively or in addition to new) I find are poorly organized and too many of the books stink. (My beloved Powell's in Oregon is the exception; I'm sure there are others I don't know about.) Old books with acid paper make my eyes sting and water, so I can't read them. Plus I hate the feel of really old books. Daedalus Books carries mostly remainders and we have gotten quite a few good books from them.

When my kids were younger I made a hot breakfast every day, for them and for me. My husband was on his own. As the kids got older, their preferences became more pronounced around the same time their skills increased, so I stopped, mostly. I will still make breakfast on occasion but usually that means setting up steel cut oats to cook overnight, or scrambling eggs for my son and myself on a day he's working, just because it's simpler. Though, this summer I plan to stay in bed late more often, so he gets more practice on getting up, fed, and out the door on his own. Most days I have to drive him (not enough cars in the family right now, but that's changing soon), so I'm up anyway and it's quicker for me to do it.

She's talking about cold cereal; usually in the US it seems people say "cereal" to mean cold cereal, and "hot cereal" to mean... oatmeal and such. I don't think muesli is very well-known here; most of the time when I mention it, people say "huh?" She listed porridge which, as far as I know, means oatmeal or similar.

I am trying this drink for a little get-together tonight: Strawberry Basil Soda from the Kitchn website.

Ah, I forgot about your reflux. Ugh. (Chiles and such don't affect mine.) Herbs? Rosemary, sage, basil, oregano... ? This Bavarian seasoning blend from The Spice House sounds good. (Never tried it, never bought from them.) They have a page of salt-free blends though many of them contains chiles.

Do the dietary restrictions exclude the use of pepper? Black, white, cayenne, different chile peppers that range from mild to incendiary? Just in case it's of interest: Spices Inc chart of chile peppers and their heat level. (I'm not endorsing the company or their products. They just have a useful chart.)

I'll be retiring as a homeschool mom this week. It is indeed a bittersweet time. My 2nd child was very difficult to homeschool so I am feeling a lot of relief. On the other hand, there are so many things I would still love to share with my kids. And there are new Great Courses coming out all the time... and new curriculum... :-) And, I don't know what to do next. I feel the need to get a job, but I haven't worked for 20 years, and I'm 61 years old! I do not want to tutor or substitute teach. Actually, I don't want to work at all. But, we could use some more income. Interesting timing: next month our public library is having a seminar on finding employment after age 50. I'm signed up. Till then, I'm going to clean my house.

Do you seriously say that? I'd consider that response as rude as the question 'why don't you drink?" I guess a rude question deserves a rude response... I'm seriously surprised by the number of people here who are routinely asked why they don't drink. I have only the vaguest of memories of being asked, and it probably hasn't been in the last 20 years. Oh, once about 3 years ago I was on medication that was incompatible with alcohol consumption, and I had to decline champagne at a wedding. One of the people I was with - who is a friend with whom I have shared many a wine date - asked why I didn't partake. That wasn't rudeness on her part - she was surprised and naturally wondered what had changed, if I was OK, etc.

My 19-year-old just finished first year of community college. He's worked part-time since last summer (very part time during the school year, ~4 hours per week) and is doing well at work and in classes. He has some LDs and ADHD so has some areas of struggle, and has been having a hard time deciding on a major and career path. He's torn between his love of history and his desire (and apparent skill) at hands-on type work. He's pretty shy and awkward, actually clueless in a lot of ways. He's very responsible in some ways (volunteer firefighter) and completely useless in some ways (making his own breakfast and lunch, stuff like that). He's definitely a work in progress and a late bloomer. The good thing is, he recognizes it all and so is not averse to parental pushing and support. Though, he's not content to remain clueless and dependent either (in case I made it sound that way). We just all recognize that it's going to take him a little longer.

Wait, I don't understand. Only your in-laws push alcohol on you? And other people aren't pushing you to drink, but talking about drinking? If your in-laws are pushing it on you, your husband needs to tell them to knock it off. Then, leave when it starts. If with other people it's just coming up in conversation, does that mean people ask? Like, "what's your favorite beer" or something like that? Just say "I prefer not to drink." Don't bother to say you don't like the taste, because people will find something for you to try. Just keep saying that you prefer not to. And, maybe stop spending time with people who are rude like that? And if it's only happened a handful of times, what's the big deal? Is it just because you feel you mischaracterized your husband with that response? BTW I drink some, but when we have people over, some drink wine or beer or whatever, some don't, some do sometimes and not other times... whatever they want to do. No one ever gets drunk though.

Yeah, too summery for leggings and a tank or tee under it. I think it's cute, though it wouldn't look good on me - just not the right shape. If you are going to be self-conscious and uncomfortable in it, take it back, because you won't wear it and it will feel like a reproach every time you see it in your closet. But, would you wear it at home? I love wearing dresses in the summer at home, so much cooler. And at home I wear things I wouldn't necessarily wear in public.

I think oven roasted chicken shawarma qualifies, depending on how it's served. (second time I've posted that recipe today. NYT should start paying me for shilling for them.) :-)

My husband and son are kind of like that - they much prefer meat on its own, not mixed up with other stuff. Except for taco meat and curries. :-) So, I cook a lot of meat. Boneless chicken thighs, rubbed with seasonings and grilled, are delicious. Pork tenderloin can be grilled or roasted (in the oven or on the stove). Or it can be cut up and cooked, then served with sauce on the side. Last night I made something new: Korean-Style Pork Medallions with Asian Slaw from Fine Cooking magazine. It calls for serving the meat right on top of the slaw, but I kept them separate and mixed them up on my own plate. It was a big hit, and very easy. I look for more interesting side dishes when I do a plain meat, like sweet potatoes with yogurt and cilantro-chile sauce from the New York Times. And then there's oven-roasted chicken shawarma, also from the NYT, which is fantastic and can be eaten plain or with various accompaniments as noted in the recipe. So delicious. Sometimes though I just make something I like and if they don't want to eat it, oh well. My husband is very good about eating whatever I make, and when my kid is hungry enough he will also. I try to balance everyone's likes and dislikes; sometimes people have to compromise.

Once while staying in a B&B in Scotland, I walked into the kitchen and saw the innkeeper ironing the sheets. I was stunned; she was stunned at my reaction. She said people expected nice smooth sheets. I told her she did not have to iron ours, but she said there was no way she was having unironed sheets on any of her beds.