We loved the whole series, and really enjoyed the audio version as Tim Curry does a great time with it all. All that said, yes each book has them getting into another bad situation then getting out of it only to be sent off to another uncertain situation which turns out to be bad. But at the end of the series things are better. What my dd loved about the books is that the kids got themselves out of the situations, with little help from adults. My Mom HATED the series, because of the non-helpful adults.

It might have been a spambot that messged you and then got deleted before you had a chance to respond.

My thoughts on Rudolf Steiner are pretty simple - he was a crazy wack-a-doodle with no proven science behind his theories. It's easy to spot if you read any of his full writings.

I don't *know* that G-s exists, I just plain believe it.

I was too old for the AG dolls myself. Really, I only had stuffed animals. My favorite, and I still have her, was Belle - http://www.amazon.com/Plush-Snoopy-Sister-BELLE-Vintage/dp/B001TOAQA0 and she had outfits - http://collectpeanuts.com/wp/toys/stuffed-animals-dolls/outfits/belle-outfits/

Stranger Danger is a huge myth - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stranger_danger and I quote "The concept has been criticized for ignoring the fact that most child abductions and harm are not due to strangers, but rather someone the child is familiar with or related to." Which is illustrated by your own story. Also, thanks for quoting my response to you. If you hadn't I would have thought it hadn't posted. Some Moderator seems to have deleted it without talking to me about it.

Well, doing something like "23 and Me" would help your son know what percentages of heritage he has. Many, many North Americans believe they have Native heritage when in fact they don't. For example, the Mexican heritage could all be Spanish heritage, or it could be mixed. However, DNA testing does not come up with a tribal name. In fact, it comes up as "Asian" heritage. The only way to find the tribe is to do the genealogical work. Not only is southwestern American a patchwork of Native tribes, but many tribes were shipped there from other parts of the country.

There is, it's called the report button. If you feel the need, then please report me. The passive-aggressive attacks on my person are unnecessary.

Wow, people have their panties in a knot over my expressed view. Everyone needs to take a breath and calm down. Since my memory of grocery stores started, there have been candy/toy vending machines at the front entry of stores. Put in a coin, turn the crank, and our rolls a gumball or a small hand full of candy or the like. That memory starts around 1975. Often times those machines are outside the front door. So yes, I ASSumed when you said "my eldest takes my middle son to the side rack with the candy" I thought you mean a rack of the aforementioned vending machines. I did not and would not every attack a child. I would, however, call into to question the actions of the responsible adult and the training a parent has put into a child. Let me be more blunt - you need to teach your children better basic safety. Just because someone is wearing a uniform does not mean they are trust worthy. Again, yes, you should have asked what "whee" meant. It is a very basic rule to human interaction to ask someone for clarification when you don't understand what they are asking. The employee did not have bad intentions towards your child and never has. She is trying to give them fun experiences (the "whee") and protect them from bad things (the candy). She has gone about it incorrectly and those issues need to be addressed, to the manager and face to face.

Uh, what are you talking about?

*HUGS* Please don't feel bad or guilty for feeling your feelings. You're grieving, and that is okay. Sorrow, pain, sadness, loss - no one has a corner market on these things. We all feel them and not one drop of those feelings is any more or less than another. *HUGS*

You should have asked what "whee" meant, not responded with "sure". So yes, your fault. So you let an eleven year old take a child over near the door to get candy. One hand, that's a good choice. On the other, it's not. What if it hadn't been this employee, but a person with a car idling by the door that grabbed the younger child? They, and your baby, would be gone in seconds. That's why it's not a good idea to leave a child in charge of another child. Did your oldest child even scream when the younger one was grabbed?

In this case I don't really see why it matters.

Wellllll... the first time was your fault. She asked, you said yes, and then there was head trauma. The second time with the cars, she needs to be talked to about that so you did well to talk to a manager about that. Today, all of you were at fault. She shouldn't have stopped your son. Your daughter should have defended him, and you needed to talk to a manager right then. Yes, the girl/woman has issues. She is learning. The staff need more input in ways to help her, and just making a call is not good enough.

I'm a firm believer that Global Climate change is a reality, and that it is a result of humanity and our over use of fossil fuels. I use to read a lot about it, and now I watch a variety of documentaries.

Well, if you really believe the teen girl is pregnant then talk to her. Have an at-home testing kit with you as the teen might not know if she is or not. Then, IF she is I would do what I could to help her. Because, I'm helpful like that and teen pregnancy is HARD.

Ask me why I live in the Mayo Clinic's back yard. Travel for good doctors is worth it.

There is not much to do in Sioux Falls other than shop or see a doctor.

For me, I am good with the barking. She only does it when there are strangers too near the house. If they are walking by the fence she'll likely bark. If they ring the door bell, she *will* bark. If they come into the house, she will bark at first. Once they sit down she'll grumble but be okay. Freya is a WONDERFUL traveling companion. We've driven across the country with her a few times, no problems.

We have one, a sweet girl named Freya. The only real drawback is that they are barkers at anyone new/not known well. I can't imagine life without a Miniature Schnauzer now that we have one. She follows us everywhere, likes being with us, and is content so long as we're around. Freya is rarely naughty and loves being in my lap or next to it. Have you thought about getting a rescued dog?

Cat Dancer is hands down the best, followed closely by a laser pointer.

Yes, they did record kids in orphanages. This is how I found out my great-grandma sent off her two sons from her first marriage when she got married a second time.

I think this is correct. Clearly the book-holder-openers haven't been filled with rice yet and will be shorter when filled. The round ends might rest outside of the book pages so as to not mar the books. Remember, textbooks can be HUGE and HEAVY.

I have no idea, but I've added it to my list!

As with many who selectively vaccinate I get shots for what people in my family have had. One of my great-great grandmothers died from Lock Jaw and from the stories past down it sounds horrible. My dd was a taste-test-and-get-into-everything toddler, so she did get the DTaP. I've stuck with the boosters for it too. The mortality rate is so high that I just don't want to risk it.