Look for self-help books specific to the childhood baggage you are dealing with. Look for relaxation/stress reduction books. A good one that has been around for a while is The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook by Martha Davis. What about videos for relaxation such as yoga/meditation? Many library systems carry such videos. Maybe positive affirmation messages? Would you be interested in a self-help group if there is one in your area that focuses on issues you want to work on? Spiritual help may be considered. Could be faith based or not, depending on your preference. You might find it helpful to be part of a larger group that has a positive focus if you are not already involved in something similar. Sometimes volunteering for something you may be interested in/passionate about can be very helpful if you feel you have the time and energy.

Glad he WANTS to vote. For the last couple of elections here I had to have the "While you live in MY home you WILL vote!" talk with my eldest.

Yes, with my first. After that first ultrasound we went for a higher resolution ultrasound performed by a doctor. The cyst was no longer visible and the doctor said they can be common - some of her own unborn children had them and then they simply went away. She presented us with our options but did tell us that there is a risk of miscarriage should we have an amino. We chose not to have one. That was 20 years ago - our daughter just had her birthday and she had no problems. Wishing you and your dd all the best and sending you prayers/positive energy.

I lived in Chicago at one point so I had to learn to parallel park. However, I have a confession to make. While I can still parallel park a car I have never parallel parked my 15 passenger van!

These are great tips! Please keep them coming. One main concern is entertaining my son who has autism, so we were planning to bring an iPad with movies on it. He also tends to be a hoarder and loves to bring a ton of toys, books and other items anytime we go somewhere. We have slowly been able to reduce the amount of stuff he brings with but I need to make sure we reduce it further if we do this trip.

Luckymama, We are planning on taking the California Zephyr from Chicago to Glenwood Springs, Colorado. My parents have taken this route several times and travel light, but it is just the two of them - I still want to help my kids. We have vacationed with one large suitcase in the past and while it has worked to some degree I would like to try individual bags. I hate digging through the shared case trying to find clothes for myself. I will take a look at LL Bean luggage. It has been years since we have looked at and purchased luggage.

Our family is considering a trip next spring and we are thinking of taking Amtrak. The vacation will be for 10-14 days and the train ride would be approximately 24 hours. I would love to hear from those who have taken Amtrak and any tips are appreciated. I would also appreciate ideas on packing light. I am thinking one duffle bag and backpack per person. I would be grateful for suggestions for types of bag/backpacks I might be interested in purchasing as well as specific packing tips. Thanks!

Bible Gateway has an app for android and iPhone. The app has many features - the dashboard has a featured verse for each day, Bible versions to choose from, audio versions, reading plans, study tools, etc. It is a really great, free app.

I worked with at risk youth and kids in the foster care system. From what I saw, it was best to foster kids who were younger than the bio children. In homes with older foster kids there were often problems, including sexual abuse on the part of the older foster child towards the younger bio child of the same sex. I'm sorry, that is crude and harsh but is an unfortunate possibility. I know you said you will not take youth who act out sexually but I personally would still be hesitant.

We go to the movies but usually only on the discount day. There are risks everyday. Ships sink, planes crash, impaired drivers cause accidents, buildings burn, riots happen at sporting events and concerts, marriages end in divorce, children are born with disabilities and, unfortunately, bad people hurt others. These things have not deterred me from going on a cruise, flying to Scotland, driving to the mall, visiting the sky deck of the Willis (Sears) Tower, attending a Bears game and rock concerts, remarrying after divorce and having our third child even though we knew something was wrong with our son. While I don't think I take foolish risks I refuse to live my life in fear of a "what if". When we go anywhere I look around at my surroundings and scope out exits and encourage my children to do the same. I was not pleased when my eldest told me her classroom at Community College had only one entrance/exit and no windows as that leaves everyone in that room vulnerable should the need to quickly escape (fire, tornado, explosion, active shooter, etc.) occur. We discussed possible scenarios and how she could handle them but the reality is the options are limited but we are willing to have her take the risk. I am 52 and I have met people who were rude and nasty to me but only once have I encountered someone who actually threatened my life. While I was not physically hurt I was badly shaken and it took a while to get over that situation. I learned a lot about myself and how to be more aware and vigilant in the future. I also decided the odds were still in my favor and I refused to live in fear or never venture out of my home again. I feel that is a decision that has to be made every day . . . to live life and love fully and not in total fear. I also believe my personal faith helps me feel safe and grounded and is something I draw strength from.

Fifth grade, Catholic school, new lay teacher. She insisted that my first name should be pronounced "Andrea". I had to point out that the first part of my name did not contain the letter "n", but I did have two near the end of my name and it might be good to follow the rules of phonics. Problem solved!

I have been driving a Dodge Ram 3500 since 2003, love it, and would consider buying another. I feel it has been fine to maneuver and turn. I very rarely have made a U-turn. It does require more room in order to do that. The one thing I have never done is parallel park it but my husband (who is skilled at parking large work vehicles and large portable generators) has. We live in the Chicagoland area and frequently make trips into the city to visit museums, etc. I do make sure I know where I can park for these trips and am mindful of height clearance for covered parking so that is something you might need to consider. You will become an expert at using the side mirrors! The height and size can be an advantage. I like being able to see traffic further ahead and I have noticed that most other drivers give me more room and rarely cut me off. I feel I am more visible to other traffic as well. ETA - I did bump a wall and tree in the first year when I was backing up. No damage done - my van has a large bumper - but I needed practice on judging distance behind me using the mirrors. Sometimes, in very tight spots, one of my children will spot me.

$50 Kindle touch and $80 Kindle Fire on sale now for anyone who may be interested.

Social workers sometimes do divorce mediation. It may be recommended by a lawyer or judge as a less costly way to divide property and agree on terms such as custody, etc.

Not at all. At a therapist I would encourage it. As a client I often did it.

Keeping it lite here. I lived through the blizzard of January 1979 in Chicago. Mayor Michael Bilandic was blamed for the poor snow removal efforts and was defeated by Jane Byrne who promised to make sure the city was never paralyzed by a snow storm again. My parochial high school (and Jane Byrne's alma mater) - which NEVER closed because of weather - shut down for a week. Snow was being dumped into the lake - there was so much they did not know where to put it. In the park across the street from my house there was a mountain of plowed snow that took months to melt. My mom and I pushed snow off the roof of our house and jumped off the roof when finished rather than use the ladder - there was so much snow! People began the habit of "dibs" where they dug their car out of their street parking space and then put a lawn chair in the spot to indicate the space was "taken". Fights broke out when someone else tried to park in the spot. It was crazy!

I am sure there is a great deal more to this story than we know but I am confident that what this judge has done is abusive towards these children. These children have been abused by one or both parents (contentious divorce where they are in the middle) and now this judge has taken it to a whole new level. Before children, I worked as a social worker for an agency which had group homes and a therapeutic day school. Abuse at the hands of other group home youth was not uncommon. If the judge felt the children neededed to be apart from the mother they should have been assigned to a loving family member or even a close family friend but kept together as a sib ship. Intensive counseling and supervised visits with a highly trained therapist who can clearly see the parental interactions is probably warranted at this point in an effort to untangle the entire truth. It is possible the father has been emotionally and physically abusive. It is possible the mother has tried to turn the children against the father. A very skilled therapist will be able to see this in sessions and be able to figure out what is really going on. These children need help, not punishment, if there is to be any hope of them having normal family relationships themselves as adults.

Thanks so much for this clarification!

Oh Dear Sister, I am so sorry for your pain and for this situation. I am so sorry to hear your husband has been unfaithful to you in the past. No, it is not okay for him to have a discreet girlfriend. No, you do not need him if he is going to abuse you this way. This is mental and emotional abuse. You are worthy of so much more! You deserve to be loved and cherished and an equal partner in a committed relationship. Please go forward with your meeting with the lawyer. Do you have a friend or family member who can go with you to be a help in hearing what the lawyer has to say? And as a previous poster suggested, please make an appointment with a doctor for a complete checkup and testing for sexually transmitted diseases. I am praying for strength and wisdom for you during this difficult time.

You mean it is something other than a city in Iowa? ;-)

This is what we use for our homeschool support group. Yahoo groups have been around for a long time. A group can also be private and by invitation only. Documents may be uploaded to the group for easy download by the group members and there is a calendar for events.

Unemployment is higher here in the chronically bankrupt state of Illinois. We can't even properly fund special education in this state which is one of the main reasons we chose to homeschool. We are paying $121.00 per credit hour for my eldest to attend the local CC. I would love to see everyone who wants to go to college be able to do so without going into massive debt. However, from where I am, I just don't see this working if my state is supposed to help fund this. Perhaps there is a plan to seek funding from the private/corporate sector.

I have not read all the comments. I think it is a great idea . . . in theory . . . but how will it be funded? Offering all these "free" benefits concerns me as I don't think it is sustainable, especially with the unemployment in this country.

If your 4 year old is mature enough you could warn her about the impending lecture and coach her to say something like "Thanks Grandma! Mom and I already talked about this!" And then move on to something else. I love the suggestions to leave the room, etc. The other option is you could say something similar, with a smile of course!

We have a pop up camper. I prep meals at home. Breakfast consists of cereal and oatmeal. We will do pancakes, eggs and sausage a couple of times. Lunch is usually DIY snack foods and sandwiches. Dinner may be steak, burgers and dogs, pasta, etc. I also keep a small crock pot in my camper. Last year we did foil packets with marinated chicken and veggies on the grill. Tasty and easy clean up!