I don't have teens but have dealt with this with relatives who are divorced and such. I fully believe it is the parent's responsibility to initiate the relationship with the child. Meaning if dad wants a relationship with his kids he can call them. They should be under no obligation to call him. If he wants to remind them that a call on the holidays or his birthday would be nice that is on him to do. You do not need to be a part of their relationship with their father unless they want you to be. So you can have a conversation with them and ask them if they'd like reminders like that from you or if they want to handle it on their own. And support whichever answer they give you.

Wow! Had no idea this was an old thread. And I'm usually so careful about looking at dates

Of topic but I thought of it because everyone keeps saying Santa wraps or doesnt wrap his gifts. But I've never indicated on the kids gifts who they are from. They know about Santa but any talk of Santa bringing gifts comes from them. I simply acknowledge their excitement and talk about what they're talking about. They know mom and dad give them gifts too. Now I wonder how they decide which gifts are from us and which ones are from Santa.

I honestly have no idea what I'm doing today aside from school. I'm just going to let it play out.

I couldn't imagine keeping a pregnancy a secret if I had a healthy relationship with my family, which I do. A pregnancy is a joyous occasion that I would share with anyone close to me no matter how they responded. If they responded negatively then that would hurt our relationship and I'd be keeping future pregnancies from them but would also no longer consider myself close with them. If they are worriers that is on them. My joyous news is going to be kept a secret because they can't control their emotions. But that is just how I would handle it. I'm 30 weeks now and never told most of dh's extended family,grandmother, aunts, and uncles, because I am not close with them and they have been negative about our spacing of children, birth plans, and the like. I know they all know from my fil, which is fine, but they lost the privilege of being told by me. His grandmotyher was very upset she found out from someone else and tried to chew my out about it on my bday. I simply told her "we told the people who have always showed genuine joy and positivity towards our pregnancys. I'm glad to hear someone else informed you."

I put sometimes because I don't wrapped the kid's stocking stuffers but I wrap dh's because he's more likely to come across them during the month than the kids are so I don't want him to see it ahead of time. I can't remember if he wraps my stocking stuffers or not

5 people in our house. I do laundry 2 times a week but it's at least 2 or 3loads each of those days. Currently I wash all the laundry and we all fold and put it away together. When each kid turns 9 they will be responsible for their own laundry.

Today we are constructing our advent construction paper chain with a small act of kindness written on the inside of each link? Every morning we cut a link and reflect on the importance of that act and how it relates to our preparation for Christ. It has been a wonderful tradition that we started 2 years ago. We also light the advent wreath candles nightly and reflect on that weeks candle. I'll be spending some time this afternoon looking for resources for that and post if I find anything. My biggest step in making Advent more meaningful for us this year was getting Christmas shopping done before today so we could focus on Advent

We have entered one of my favorite seasons of the year, Advent! This morning will be spent working as a family to get the downstairs cleaned up then we're out of the house until about 9pm. -clean downstairs -grocery store -pet sit morning, afternoon, evening -Mass -lunch at my parents' house -make Advent chain with the kids -dinner with mil -keep laundry moving -hand in Giving Tree gifts -not sure what else

Not much got done today in my house. Dh and I both felt run down all day, I even took 2 naps!! I did my pet sitting and finished my Christmas shopping before advent! Yay me! Dh almost did. He only has his gift for his grandmother to purchase. I love that he isn't he one who wants to handle her gifts because I would be clueless ever year. He always seems to get the perfect thing for her. Kids are in bed so dh and I are gonna watch a movie we'll likely both fall asleep to.

Luckymama's city is my city! I hadn't heard of that awesome deal on gift cards to some awesome places!

Um why did I not know about this!?!?!? Where did you get them from? That would have been an awesome deal

I would have let dh and ds decide but now that it is done I wouldn't worry about it. Its not a huge issue. I might tell my ds I was sorry I interfered in something that should have been between dh and him. But I might not, it would depend on how he was taking everything

Hmmm. I have a lot to get done this weekend so I'm just going to make a list for the weekend. -kids kung fu -ds acrobatics -meal plan - grocery list - grocery store - trip to Michael's to get my last Christmas gift! - clean my room -help kids clean their room - clean computer room - do one last pre holiday sweep of each room for decluttering - pet sit a bunch! - pay bills - deep clean downstairs - vacuum upstairs - get out Advernt stuff -laundry

Thanks!

Still sitting around Mil's house! Dh fixed the leak, did the laundry while he was home, and cleaned downstairs! I love that man. Now we're waiting for him to pick us up because we have friends coming over for a game night.

That's fun! I've been decluttering for the last few weeks but I feel like I could fill my van at least one more time before feeling good about our stuff.

Sit around Mil's house while dh does some Christmas shopping and fixesour plumbing leak.

So I was almost tempted to head out to Macy's because the bearpaw boots I want are super cheap today but luckily they aren't available at either Macy's near me. I would be thrilled to get them for under 50 but am glad I don't have to go to the store for them. Not only if Macy's online had free shipping today

Help me pick winter/snow boots. I have thick calves so keep that in mind. I'm looking at sheep skinned lined shoes but don't really know how much I care. I want a durable boot that will last years and can be worn in the snow and just the cold days of winter. Thanks

Only sane one in the store!

One disappointing Thanksgiving my family somehow managed to forget about who was providing the pies. So we had no dessert at all!!! Ever since we always have way too much pie!! But that is never really a problem is it.

Nope! I'm done my Christmas shopping! I have gone in twice in the past with my best friend mainly just to people watch. It's interesting to watch the frenzy and how different personalities handle it. I should add, the people watching isn't a judgementing thing. I genuinely have a fascination/love of learning about humans thru observing them in everyday life.

Meh. I of course say thank you and am grateful for them but I find it quite rude to go home and immediately toss a gift out of my house that someone spent time and money on. If they are going to do that then I will happily oblige with a wish list request because they would rather give me something I want than something I might want to get rid of right away.

I used to hate lists because the idea of knowing what I was getting each year was not fun. But then I had my first Christmas with dh's family and realize if I don't have a list they will get me things that are typical go to gifts for women like candles, home decor items, make up, clothes, romantic comedy movies, etc. I do not like most of those things. I have loved lists ever since!