revisiting this thread, now that she's older and knows her letters (not the sounds though) any new suggestions? anything new you all have tried out and liked?

Hi everyone, My kids are 6.5, 4 and 1 and I've only spoken english with them so far. I do speak arabic, but my husband does not. Arabic is my "first" language, because my parents spoke to me in arabic as a child, but I was born and raised in Canada and English is definitely my FIRST/proficient/fluent language. My arabic is not the greatest and I feel like I can't express myself the way I'd like to with my kids and so because of this I'm ambivalent. We did visit an arabic country for 6 weeks several years ago, but the whole time we were there, all the kids wanted to practice their english with my kids so they didn't pick up anything. Especially now that they are older, for me to just start speaking arabic scares me. I feel like I'll be explaining everything 3 times, arabic/english/arabic again. Should I do that? Or should I stick to *just* arabic for a long while to get them used to it? Is or Has anyone been in this situation that you all of a sudden started introducing a language to them at these older ages? Is it too late for my 6 year old? They do know some arabic vocabulary words for a few foods/household items, so some sentences they can figure out from hand gestures and by picking out the word they know. Any advice? Been there done that? I'm upset with myself for waiting so long. Fear of failure has been holding me back but I want to push through. Thanks everyone

Hi everyone, Can you recommend an easel you really like? I'm looking for something with a big enough tray, but folds up easily/compactly. My kids are 6 and 4. Thanks in advance.

Oh, just saw the 'craving salt' comment. That's another sign of adrenal fatigue. Check out "THE adrenal fatigue" thread on mothering.com. LOADS of information.

:iagree: Low BP is a sign of adrenal fatigue. Depending on how 'fatigued', it can take up to a couple years for the adrenals to heal in an otherwise healthy adult. Licorice root, epsom salt baths in warm water before bed, staying hydrated all help with low BP. I've been suffering from it for a looong time. I recently started taking licorice root (I'm pregnant AND nursing, but I have my ND's OK) and within a week my BP is now 100/60, and it was 70/50 before that. Licorice root should only be taken for 1-3 months max, but under a health care practitioner's supervision. Lots of people seem tothink low BP is fine/healthy, but if you look into chinese medicine, ayurvedic, unani medicine in those cultures it's NOT a good thing, and lots of NDs also recognize that. It also relates to poor circulation (my hands/fall asleep in a heart beat!), sluggishness, low energy, etc. You might want to check out Maca root as well. Since you have an ND, ask him/her what they think.. Do you mind sharing what the electrolytes are that you are taking? Hope this helps and congrats on the pregnancy!

Thank you! It's almost exactly like the one I had a couple years back, that I never refilled. Do you buy a new one each year or just buy refills? If refills, where do you get them from? Thanks again :)

:bigear:

Off topic, but I have *never* heard people call ground beef 'hamburger' until last week. Is that an American thing?

I don't think I've actually ever done it, but seriously, at this point, something has to give. Up until now I have been making at least 4 separate things every night for dinner, besides the lunches and breakfasts for myself and the kids and I just can't do it anymore. He'll have to wait for his 4 course meals until after they've grown a bit. edited to add: The "4 separate things" is not because each person is requesting someting. It's because my husband "has to" have certain things, like his mom used to make.

What is MCT and what's so great about it? :leaving:

Hi everyone, I am looking for ways to speed up cooking prep. I do make mostly everything from scratch and am almost allllways chopping onions, garlic, ginger, tomatoes. I know I can freeze onions. What other time-saving tips do you have that I can do in advance, on a weekend or something. Here's what I have do/plan to do so far: 1. Browning tons of ground beef and freezing 2. Making some freezable meals (meatloaf, lentil soup etc) 3. Chopping and freezing cilantro and parsley Also, where can I find a list/book/site with information like how long bread can be left out or if it can be left out at all without being covered. Or how to best store certain vegetables etc. Thanks in advance! Sorry if a thread like this exists, wasn't sure what to search under.

I was on vitamins/supplements for about 3 years to correct several health issues. More recently I ran out of a few of them and at the same time was like "enough is enough" and stopped. I, too, felt better. There is such a thing as taking too much. In my case, especially, I was taking specialized supplements, apart from regular multi vitamins.

:iagree: This. And also look into EFT (emotional freedom technique). It'll get to the core issue of the anxiety and get rid of the negative emotional charge so things won't trigger the anxiety.

Thank you everyone! I will be sitting down this afternoon and writing down the rules which are NOT negotiable and that I can uphold and be consistent with. My kids definitely need more outside time (not to mention daddy-time. SIGH). I just hate that everything discipline-wise is on me, you know? Anyway, that's what I have to work with. I always just had snack time in the afternoon so I will definitely add one in the morning. I know especially for my 4yo, from these posts (thank you!!) that she has not been eating well for months and while I did comment on it, I really didn't make a full connection with her behaviour and her eating habits so that will definitely be something I will work on. When we were all on the allergen diet, it was going really well, because I had a list of things we COULD eat up on the fridge. I'll have to re-do that list, not for allergens, but just for ideas so when I go shopping, I make sure and get them. I will also close the pantry with one of those child locks, because I'm really sick of food being wasted! I can see how my level of frustration is 10 out of 10, because it's literally so many issues at once! And I'm the type that gets swallowed up by stress and then retreat into a cave because I can't handle it, and I know that I feel better writing/typing/talking it out with someone, especially because I'm very visual, hence all the 'lists'. I'm also making a list of "biggies" and "smallies" for myself to post on the fridge, so that instead of being super mad at every little thing they do, then I can really see which issues are absolute NO-NO's and which ones are age-appropriate exploring behaviour (which in general I don't mind, and in theory I encourage!! But when everything else is out of control I can't handle one.more.mess) For toys, they didn't have much but we just had a big holiday and my mom and sister got them toys with lots of small-ish play food etc. We got rid of bags full before we moved and they played together much better then. I'll have to go through again and read the toy suggestions. Baby's nursing now :) Once I have my 'plan' in place (and in writing!) then I am going to enforce things 100%. This post will serve as a reminder. Babe's crying, but I really want to thank everyone for your input. I obviously let this go on for too long not being able to really break down the separate issues and feeling like *everything* is going wrong. I did hire a mothers helper that I love to come 3 days a week and she's only come 3 times :s I'm emailing her now. Thank you! I feel like I actually have a community here that cares about discipline which is so important to me but I have no good role models, despite reading lots of books on the subject.

Magnesium helps with headaches/helps relax the muscles. You could do a supplement, or eat foods high in Mag, like pumpkin seeds, dark leafy greens, etc. A nightly epsom salt (Mag sulfate) bath might help too. At least 1-2 cups per bathtub of water. Also, could have an emotional component. Did she ever complain of headaches before, do you remember any head injuries in the past etc? Hope she feels better soon. I feel so sad when my kids don't feel well and can't really describe what's wrong.

Thank you for all the replies. I am feeling really sensitive maybe, but I felt like some posts were putting me down, when I really am doing my best. I didn't realize I was being negligent or something by not bringing all 3 children with me to the *bathroom* while I use the toilet.??? First, I studied nutrition and we eat very healthy. We have snack time everyday, 3 meals, most of which are made from scratch. I worked very hard to get this family healthy as we all had food sensitivies and had to go gluten-dairy free for over a year. Supplements, chiropractic care, naturopath etc.. Regarding hunger, they are not finishing whatever they are taking out. Especially my 4yo. She is a grazer and I can't keep her out of the fridge. Well, she is very obstinant, and does it anyway. But most of the time a couple bites are taken out, or 1/4 bowl of cereal is eaten, etc. I hate saying 'no' to food, it feels so wrong to deny a basic need, but I might have to rethink strategies or something. It's late, not sure what to think right now. As for structure, we have a plan to our day, and it's up in writing on a bulletin board, but sometimes people have to go to the washroom or I have to get the baby out of something you know? Other times, yes, I'm wiped out on the couch, but in the main area of the house where I can for the most part see everyone. As to the question "Where am I?" I am here, there and everywhere. Not all the children are in the same rooms at the same time. One person goes to the washroom, another is on the couch, I'm with the baby who is also nursing. I have not allowed them anymore to go together to the washroom to wash hands because of the tag-team stuff. I also have mandatory quiet time everyday, but even then, they sometimes switch back and forth in the rooms (I separate them because of the fighting/not doing something quietly) and it drives me nuts! I really need a break :( And when I say I'm exhausted, I'm talking like if I stand to do the dishes for 15 minutes, I'm OUT for 2 hours, down to the bone wiped out, and getting up is an effort:( I have to add to this, that we are car-less so we are home literally 24-7 for days at a time sometimes. Hubby works across the border and commutes each day and so it makes for a *long* day. I do encourage them to go outside, but that lasts 1/2 hour max. They've never really been interested and I'm not about to wrap myself and the baby up in 3 layers of clothing due to the cold, just for and extra 10 min. or so. I'm not trying to be negative. I appreciate the advice and I will be looking through the posts again in the morning and taking notes of some different techniques. I appreciate all the help. I was part of another site for years and whenever I'd post in the discipline section it was like kids can do whatever they want and just make it all accessible to them, basically a free for all, and it never really sat well with me, so I'm happy to see some concrete ideas here. I'm burnt out, but I'd say I enforce the family rules at least 95% of the time, the other 5% is my actual physical state keeping me from doing the back and forth thing and letting them "get away with it".. not sure how to get around that just yet. I've been working on my health issues for years now and while I've improved/healed in some areas, some aspects it's barely made a dent. Sorry for rambling. Again, thank you.

I need honest answers. My girls are 6 1/2 and 4. All. Day. Long. they leave messes in EVERY room of the house. This is a typical day: They pull off all the cushions off the couches (I allow it for jumping) but when they are finished they leave the cushions and pillows all over the living room. Then they head to the kitchen where they proceed to put cereal in a bowl and pour their own milk. I have the cereal on the highest shelf, but they find a chair/stool and/or climb the cupboards to get it. They drop a full bowl on the table/floor and all they can do is tattle on each other, rather than even *attempt* to clean it up. I do NOT expect perfection or even 90%, but AT LEAST show that you know what to do about the mess!!! Then 4yo, takes out a bag of frozen veggies (we now have a freezer-on-the-bottom fridge :glare:), dumps some in a pot, and starts eating. DD1 brings the bag into the living room and ds who is 1yo, dumps the bag all over the carpet. OF COURSE 6yo blames the BABY and walks away, leaving me to go back and forth with them about cleaning up the veggies on the carpet. The bathroom has some weird pink gunk inside from the biodegradable packing peanuts they found. They squeeze out soap and toothpaste on the counter. There is blue mouthwash on the baby's potty. Their room is a disaster, despite the decluttering and organizing shelves they have in there. I *know* they need help with their room and that's totally fine. We can line up the baskets and put each thing in the right basket, but EVERY room in the house??? We *have* a no eating except in the kitchen rule, but they SNEAK every time I head to the bathroom, go down to put in laundry, or putting baby to sleep, all of which take no more than a few minutes. I find apple cores under the bed. Nothing works. Talking to them, yelling, early bedtime, losing out on computer time (only on Friday), going to their room. I'm so tired of yelling and so sad that it's like this more often than not now. I feel they have NO empathy, no responsibility, despite having chores. they will literally sit and whine all day long, just fighting, tattling and generally being extremely annoying. I have some health issues that makes it hard to me to keep up (though I think this is much even for someone in perfect health?), and am also pregnant with #4. Dad's helpful when he's around, but that's not often. He comes late from work and about an hour later it's bedtime for the kids. Help. I admit I'm not the most organized, but I'm really TRYING. But the day-to-day messes make it difficult to do anything else! Am i expecting too much from these kids??

Who is Ree? *ducking*

I saw briefly on the legos thread most (I think ALL, when I last saw) were boys. Do anybody's girls love legos this much? If so, what ages did they really get into it and what sets did they like best? I really would love for them to be into it, but I always assumed they weren't too into it, after I bought some a few years ago. They were younger though and I didn't exactly get an interesting set, just regular legos. Oh, how I would LOVE for them to be playing/building for HOURS!! :lol:

Have you tried magnesium and/or melatonin for sleep? I, personally, would do magnesium on my own, but the melatonin would make sure to email the ND and let her know. Also, a 20 min. epsom salt bath might help. Hugs to her. I've dealt with the same health issues, even down to the low cortisol in the a.m. The ND had me take licorice root extract for that.

I plan on making or buying one of these http://www.haramakilove.com/. I tend to lose so much heat from my sides. For now I always wear tanktops under my tops as well.

Aprons! there is a simplicity pattern that is sooo easy, takes about 45 minutes beginning to end and using pretty/funky fabrics makes them soo fun!

Are there any single moms homeschooling? I know I saw at least 2 on the boards. I'm wondering how you manage financially? Do you have a good support system? Do you ever get time to yourself? Are you coparenting with the kids' dad? How do the kids cope? etc etc etc. Basically I want to hear the good, the bad and the ugly. ( I have 3 and one on the way, for what it's worth)

I do, but I do trust that most people are trying their best.

We always have 30-40 books each week and I use the basket on the baby's stroller.