trinchick
-
Posts
580 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Blogs
Classifieds
Store
Posts posted by trinchick
-
-
have them do a strep test just in case.
Yes, this. DD had strep last week and it presented as a headache with no other symptoms on the first day. The next day she said she just felt miserable. I specifically asked about sore throat and she said no. No fever, either. Took her to the ped just because we had a window of time and I didn't want the illness to drag into the next week. Much to my surprise the throat culture came up positive for strep.
-
We live where it's still quite affordable to have a cottage overlooking the ocean, to spend your summers at. We can hop over to Green Gables and Avonlea Village anytime during the summer season. We've witnessed first hand the highest tides in the world and walked on the ocean floor. We've kayaked and canoed and hiked beautiful woodlands regularly. We've built snow tunnels and tunnel slides and snow slides in our yard. We've spent a few nighs in a castle and experienced a world class winter carnival. We hear locals speaking French everyday. We've gone jigging cod in the north atlantic. We've been to a ceilidh. We eat lobster regularly and don't pay an arm and a leg for it. We've toured tall ships and Theodore tugboat. We speak chiaque and franglais. We've eaten poutin rapee and poutin-a-trou, chiard, passepiers and chomeur pudding. We've been to a powwow. We've found granite arrowheads in a lake where we used to camp.
We visited this area last summer and had a spectacular time. It is amazing how the waterfront cottages are so affordable. If it were just a little closer to here, we'd buy a summer home there in a heartbeat!
-
I agree!
I think that some of the need for validation may stem from the fact that the day to day activities of a parent - when taken as individual acts - may feel/seem trivial. Boy, can I pour a mean glass of juice! Did you see how well I balanced Junior's meals today so he got the perfect number of veggie servings? I think it helps some people to (repeatedly) put it into a larger context as being the world's most important job.
My question: if we're spending about 20 years of our lives actively parenting minors (give or take a few years based on individual family composition), then say that's about 20% of our whole lives. How is it that only 20% of our lives can be dedicated to "The Most Important Thing?"
-
We live in Massachusetts. I love being able to take DD to see the places where history really happened: Plimoth Plantation, Freedom Trail, Salem Witch Trials, Lexington/Concord, John Adams/John Quincy Adams house, USS Constitution, JFK museum. On Saturday we're going to Paul Revere's house in the North End. After Paul Revere left Boston, he actually moved to our home town, which is pretty cool - but the only recognition of it is a mural in the post office.
ETA: Living in a suburb, we can't walk anywhere. Well, we can take a walk around our neighborhood, but we couldn't walk to a store, library of even a park or playground from our current location. Also our neighborhood is great but there is a dearth of children here. There's no going outside and playing with the neighbor kids. All friends/playdates have to be scheduled, coordinated, and facilitated by parents.
-
Another vote for YouTube. While I haven't taught DD to knit, she has spent a ton of time on Youtube learning all kinds of Rainbow Loom bracelets. The tutorials are great. She can pause, rewind and watch tricky bits again, and go at her own pace. We've done the Youtube videos together (and I feel like I'm a really cool mom when I do this with her), and she's done it independently. Both with great results.
-
I think it's strange to drop a 4yo off for a playdate with or without an older sibling. When dd was that age all playdates (in our home and at others) involved a parent sticking around. DD 9 is often invited to friends' houses and DS3 begs to tag along. I always tell him no. Of course he's disappointed but that's just the way it goes. He is not of an appropriate age to go, and I think it would be unfair to Dd and her friends to allow him to tag along.
-
Did your DD take an antibiotic for the strep? How long ago was that? I was stumped when DD had a rash and took her to the doctor who said it was an allergy to the antibiotic that she had started over a week before. It hadn't occurred to me that it could take that long for the rash to come out, but apparently the antibiotic was building up in her system over time and took over a week to present as a rash.
-
My dad used to feed the birds on the windowsill, too! His favorite bird was the chickadee (we mostly get black capped chickadees around here).
-
Tomorrow's my birthday! I'm making the kids heart shaped pancakes in the morning, and I'll hang construction paper hearts from the chandelier (lazy decorating, but the kids love it). I'll do that tonight so the kids see them when they wake up in the AM.
During the day, we'll make M&M cookies on a stick using the Valentines M&Ms.
For dinner we're having good steaks with salad and roast asparagus. YUMMMMMM. Then the cookies for dessert. No birthday cake since I'm on a diet. There'd better be gifts, though!
After the kids go to bed, DH and I will have a couple of glasses of wine.
-
After having two boys, I went all in with my MIL. Someday, I'm probably going to have a DIL and I want my sons and daughter growing up seeing how it is done. Relationships require work, but they are also rewarding and important.
Maplecat, what a great insight. In the past couple of years, I've also tried to consciously commit to modeling a good relationship with my MIL, too. I think as DILs we need to recognize that a good relationship requires commitment from both parties. We have to be open and responsive to our MILs for them to feel the same way about us.
Some things I've been doing that I've noticed have worked to improve things:
- I reach out to her myself and don't have DH do all the communicating. I send her texts with photos of the kids or forward an interesting article a couple times a month.
- I try to be thoughtful in gifting. I think gifts are her love language as she's constantly heaping things on the kids. In response I've tried to think of personal gifts that she'd really like. The rest of DH's family is huge on gift cards, so these are often the only personal gifts she receives, so I think she really appreciates them.
- I try to be spontaneous in our communication/gifting instead of revolving around holidays/special occasions. For instance, we had talked about a book over a visit. The next week I sent her a copy.
- I try not to make all of our communication about the kids. For instance, she was on Weight Watchers over the fall (and did great!). I tried to send her encouraging texts from time to time or check in to ask how she was doing. I sent her a subscription to Weight Watchers magazine to show support.
-
I changed our snack policy in the past couple of weeks, but not due to nutritional concerns. We previously let the kids roam around the house with anything they wanted, and we have the stained upholstery to prove it! Last week when DD spilled chocolate ice cream on a living room chair, I'd had enough.
New rule: all eating takes place in the kitchen with the exception of popcorn on designated official movie nights. They can snack whenever they want and have (just about) anything they want, but they have to sit at the table while they eat it.
As a happy consequence, I now know that the kids are only eating when they're truly hungry. They don't want to give up playing/watching TV for mindless snacking.
I should have done this a while ago - for their health as well as for my furniture!
-
MIL didn't start out so great - and maybe I didn't start out so well as a DIL, either - but she has developed into a very good MIL. And I hope that as I've become more secure as a wife and mother that I've become a better DIL as well.
I think part of the positive change in MIL is because DH's brother did us a favor by marrying a total psycho. We look great by comparison.
She doesn't interfere with our daily lives or tell us how to do things (she used to, but I think she gave up on us ever listening to her). She's genuinely happy when we reach out to her to make plans. She doesn't demand more of us than we can offer right now.
I think it's great that she respects DH's and my relationship as husband and wife and doesn't try to compete for attention or influence with DH.
My main complaint is that she does favor another grandchild over our kids. I know this is a deal-breaker for many, but I understand it. MIL minded the other little girl one day a week for five years. Of course they formed a tight bond. We live two hours away; while our kids are crazy about MIL (and she's crazy about them, too!) it just can't be the same.
She has her personality quirks that can get irritating during a long visit (she lives a couple hours away and occasionally stays with us for a long weekend). But everyone has these and they don't affect our overall relationship.
-
I hope bangs aren't out since I could never do without mine to cover my enormous forehead! I like longish side bangs on most people. I think that heavy, true fringe is hard to pull off.
I remember my stylist once saying that 90% of women look better with some kind of bangs. Of course, that was just his opinion, so take it for what it's worth.
-
Ice Castles - it's really old, but I loved it as a teen!
I was going to say this one, too! I saw it in a movie theater as a pre-teen (a very rare treat for me at the time, so I remember it well). I think they did a more modern re-make a few years ago, too. Not sure how good it was.
-
One unfortunate bad habit my husband seems to pick up slowly over time from living here is eating fast. Growing up we got 15 minutes for lunch. This included the time it took to get your food, get your seat, clean up your stuff, etc. So I got used to eating very fast. It's not good. When I met my husband I sometimes marveled at how long it took him to eat! LOL Luckily he does get an hour for lunch at work so he doesn't have to vacuum up his lunch, but I do notice that he is much faster than years ago. That is probably from watching me all these years! I am very happy my kids don't have to be rushed through meals.
My DH eats at the speed of light, and my DD is the world's slowest eater. DH is also impatient and in charge of dinner clean-up. Within five minutes of finishing eating he jumps up from the table and starts clearing everything up. Meanwhile DD is just slowly plodding along with her meal as DH whisks away the serving bowls and starts the washing up. Then he gets frustrated when she brings her plate to the sink just as he finishes with the dishes. This happens every. single. night and the entire interaction makes me nuts. I think it's rude of DH to leave the table before everyone has finished, and DH thinks DD dawdles and should eat faster.
I, of course, eat at the perfect pace and never annoy anyone at the table with my eating habits; I do, however, annoy DH with my criticisms about eating too quickly and not waiting for everyone else to finish.
-
Despite my having fed both kids the same way from birth, they are like night and day when it comes to their eating habits.
DD is a veggie lover. Her favorites are brussels sprouts, asparagus, and broccoli. Every day she enjoys raw broccoli and carrots as a snack. However, with the exception of an occasional apple, the girl will not touch fruit at all. If you offer her a banana she acts like you're trying to poison her. As an infant, I made her fresh babyfood - started with veggies - whatever we had at the table, we just ground up and she lapped it up.
DS is a fruit lover. At the grocery store he begs for berries and oranges. However, with the exception of a few raw carrots, he will not touch vegetables. He cannot stand even having them on his plate and will have a total meltdown (he's 3). I made all his baby food, too, also from the table and starting with veggies. Unlike DD, he wouldn't eat it. He spit it out. Would not even eat the baby cereal. He went straight to table food at 6 months (just chopped up super tiny).
Both kids love snack/junk food, and I allow them to enjoy it in our home in moderation. They might have a handful of Cheez-its or chips in the afternoon. We have dessert every night (e.g., a small dish of ice cream with an Oreo garnish). Both kids are healthy and neither is overweight.
I don't see the big deal. They just are who they are. Like a couple of PPs have mentioned, there's nothing magic about it. I like what I like, and they like what they like. As long as they are healthy and happy, food is not a battle worth fighting IMHO.
-
No suggestions but I can totally relate to "turning into a 10 year old myself." Sometimes when I hear myself I'm just shocked that I would ever respond this way to my child. I'm eager to hear any responses you get.
-
My favorite way to eat eggplant is roasted. We have this at least once a week.
One eggplant, peeled and diced
Two red peppers, cut into longish slices (official cookery term; look it up if you don't believe me :laugh: )
Red onion, cut into longish slices or big chunks
Sliced mushrooms
Place all in baking dish, drizzle with olive, and sprinkle with kosher salt. Roast in the oven at 350 for 45 minutes to an hour stirring a couple of times.
I usually make this when I'm cooking some other kind of roasted meat like a whole chicken or a pork tenderloin. I throw it all in the oven with some baked sweet potatoes. World's easiest meal, hardly any clean-up, delicious. All good.
-
My younger son was a surprise at 38. Like a pp I think I have more patience and can enjoy him more than I did DD whom I had at 32. I don't feel the same need to please others by doing everything just so. I don't need to feel like super mom. Not sure if that's the result of age/wisdom or just the difference between first and second children.
But I also don't have the same energy as I did with my first.by the end of the day I am DONE. I also am ready for a bit more adult time than having a 3yo allows. Day trips to the park/zoo/farm are losing their appeal these days. Would greatly prefer an afternoon at a museum and lunch in the cafe. It feels like by the time I get to do this I may be too old to enjoy it as much.
eta: I don't have much patience for the younger mothers these days. I just feel totally over all the stuff that seems to occupy the ones I come in contact with.I know that's a problem with me not them and is definitely a factor of my age.
-
Finished the latest Flavia de Luce book, The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley. This is one of the few series of books that I have read all of the books. (Usually I don't really like series books.)
Alan Bradley does not disappoint in this one. I'm not sure if it is the last Flavia book or not -- a long time ago, I read that there were six books slated for this series. (I do hope he will continue Flavia's adventures....)
The characters & story arc have grown throughout the series & I think Bradley saved the best for last. This book is a bit more somber in tone (but still has the fun & intellectual Flavia touches we all know & love) & sets the storyline up in a wholly different manner than I expected. Though more serious, it's still cracking good fun. Bravo.
It's a great wrap-up to the series & still a perfect segue into another set of adventures for Flavia should Bradley choose to continue the series. A win-win all the way around. If you're a Flavia fan, this one is a must-read.
I loved this one, too. I wondered if it was going to be the last in the series, since it seemed to rest at a decent stopping point, so I did a quick search around. Wikipedia (that most reliable of sources) reports that while the series was originally slated for six books, Bradley has signed on for an additional four. I love that he seems to be sending Flavia on a different path for the next segment of the series.
-
Like many people here, when I went to college, my family covered tuition, room, and board, but all other expenses (including books) were left to me. These expenses were funded through my summer jobs and an on-campus job. I do think it helped me to "build character" but if I am honest, I can say that I felt very much at a disadvantage compared to many of my friends.
I attended a small, private liberal arts college, and many of my classmates were from far more affluent families than my own. I often declined invitations/opportunities because I couldn't swing them financially. Additionally, my summers were devoted to finding work that would provide the greatest income, as opposed to gaining experience in my chosen field through internships, research positions, etc. I don't want my kids to be in that position, so I suspect that I will provide spending money in addition to the basic expenses. Fortunately, we are on track to be able to do that when the time comes.
However, here is my big caveat. I will offer these gifts to my children because it is my pleasure to do so. The day that it becomes an expectation (on the part of the child) is the day I write my last check.
-
I picked up The Dead in their Vaulted Arches from the library this week and finished it in two days. That was a fun read, and as others here have mentioned, I am interested to see where Bradley will go next with this series.
This is the book I read this week, as well. Loved it! I've read the whole series within the past few months, and I have to commend Bradley for not making the books too formulaic. It would have been easy to just have little mysteries taking place all around Bishops Lacey, but instead he managed to make the stories each stand out individually, with Flavia and her family also evolving from book to book.
For Flavia fans, here's a link to a little game that looks like it could be fun with the right crowd. Also looks like the books will be made into a TV series in 2015. Not sure what I think of that...
As to the male/female authors, I reviewed my list from last year and was surprised to see that of the 56 books I read, 26 were by male authors. If I had guessed off the top of my head, I would have thought that the percentage would have been far lower.
-
I used this solution on a cloudy glass shower door and it worked great. I didn't think it would ever come clean but it looks like new.
-
Some friends went here: http://www.kripalu.org
They came back feeling restored and brought me a cookbook because the food was wonderful. They got to pick and choose what they did. I think they did a Rest and Restore weekend . . . or something like that.
I've driven by the campus before; it looks really cool!
Dodge Grand Caravan, 2006-2009ish
in The Chat Board
Posted
I'll add one more review. We have a 2010 and have been generally satisfied with it. We made a point to buy the most basic, stripped-down version that was available through our dealership, as all the reviews I'd read indicated that the upgraded features were the ones that broke most frequently.
So while I would have loved the automatic doors and tailgate, we do slide them ourselves. Our only "upgrades" were automatic windows and air conditioning.
We also have been very happy with the fold and go seating. It's very easy to convert the seating to accommodate luggage and/or extra passengers.