I like February. Some of my favorite people were born in February! Like Abe & George, and any one else who drives a holiday sales weekend. :)

I'd be very sad if wheat and I could no longer be friends! And if I had to spend a weekend painting my own home, much less my in-laws' ... But I'd be a very happy bear if my kids preferred cleaning to school! I made them that offer today, and they enthusiastically chose school. Which is just as well because I much prefer my cleaning to theirs. ;) I'm not sure I could do 12 days without a car. I've been 2 days without, and am going crazy. I'm borrowing my brother's car, but it's not "home" - you know? The cup holders aren't in the right place, his radio stations are awful, and it doesn't have that funky kid-smell to it. LOL (I suppose I could get used to that last bit.) Tomorrow my son, brother and I are re-certifying (soccer refs). Sunday is Super Bowl, and we always get together at my brother's. This year he got called in for an emergency work assignment, but we're going to hang out at his house any way. :D I just have to remember to leave some chili and fixin's for him, for when he gets home. I may or may not leave some beer, it just depends on what he has on hand - if it's good or not. LOL Happy the weekend is here!

I'm Asian. I'm hard-wired to insist no. LOL But honestly, it is a cultural thing for some people - not just Asians. I think it's also a personality thing - some may not want to "owe" you anything (and that's not to say they think YOU will expect them to; it's their personality to feel they THEMSELVES will be indebted somehow) (and yes, I think that's unfortunate because as you suggest, they'd never feel YOU were indebted to THEM should you accept the gifts you're offering.) I just feel uncomfortable taking gifts. Even at holidays and my birthday, and even from my own family. But I love to give gifts, so go figure. I'm exactly the person you are describing and I have no real good explanation for it. I'm sorry! I do have one very close friend who asked me point-blank about it about five years ago; until she pointed it out, I didn't even realize I was doing it. So it's something I'm aware of now, and better about. My friend is also better about handling it also ;) she'll say no to the money, but suggest I bake some cookies or something instead! Or maybe even couch it as "my treat this time, you can treat another time" - leaving it open, but with the recipient of our gift feeling less "on the hook" so to speak?

Poultry carcasses will make several, varied meals - watch for sales, buy and freeze. Chicken soup is a cheap, easy one. I usually make a huge batch, and we eat it for one meal ... with leftovers for lunch or snacks the rest of the week. Rice and beans can be flavored a variety of ways, also. Chili is another one - find reduced price meat, stretch it with beans, season it with bay leaves and cumin, some onions and serve over rice.

Mine likes fajitas, and will offer to make the meat if someone else fixes up the fixin's :) He also is big on breakfast for dinner - eggs and biscuits, pancakes or crepes.

My parents raised many teenagers, and we're all still very close to them (and to each other). When I had my first, I reflected on what they did right and vowed to be the parents that they had been to us. And what it boils down to is the Golden Rule - really and truly. My parents treated us as humans, worthy of the same respect and time they expected of us. But at the same time, they weren't our friends and didn't try to be. They were reliably our parents. We are not the house that kids land at - in the traditional sense. I traveled 4 days a week for work (until last summer) and I was very protective of my days off - I much preferred the kids land at someone else's house, on days I worked AND days I didn't. LOL I'm also a more strict parent, and the kids know they have more leeway (and fun) elsewhere. What's happened, though, is that while they're not over here hanging out ... they DO come here when they're in trouble. I'm that safe "other" adult they tend to come to, for whatever reason. We've dealt with many heavy issues, and seeing how I've helped other teens handle their situations has definitely (positively) impacted how my own kids view me. I can say a million times "I'm here for you, come to me with your problems," but they've seen me in action and really KNOW they can. I've been vetted. :D It helps that my kids are generally easy to parent. That's because we have similar personalities - the good AND the bad. I intuitively know how to communicate effectively to them. I'm hard when I need to be hard, soft when I need to be soft, and have a pretty good read of where they are and what the need at any given time. I'd say that I lucked into that, but it doesn't always feel lucky raising little clones of myself. LOL

I buy mine at Gap. Where she'd normally be a 10 in regular jeans (with those being super long), we can pretty much do a size 8+ at Gap and wear it right off the shelf. It will still be an inch or so long, but that reconciles itself after a few washes.

It wouldn't be a deal-breaker, but ... at least one more shower would be nice! LOL That's a whole lot of teenage smells going on at once!

We're a strong aviation family. Several licensed pilots in my family, and also in my ex's family, plus many employed in the aviation industry. We spend a lot of time, on/in/around aircraft! Not surprisingly, I have one child very interested in a career in aviation. Also not surprising is that he wishes to pursue this via the military, which is another thread common to both my family and my ex's. I don't know if this is genetics, or just exposure. I was adopted as a child (not infant), and have always been in regular contact with both biological parents; aviation isn't something that's been any part of either family.

Carpool. :) It's how my parents managed, and it's how I manage. I used to travel half of the week for work - I relied heavily on carpools to get my competitive athletes to their practices/games on days I worked. It did require developing relationships with coaches and teammate parents, which I enjoy doing anyway but I know not everyone does. I was lucky that three families on my son's team had other children going to the side of town my daughter did - so between the four of us we were able to work out a plan that helped ALL of us. I also volunteered with the board, and spent years as a scheduler. It was something I could do even while traveling, and it allowed me to stagger my kids' events to my convenience - somewhat. Enough so that it was worth my time. LOL That won't work for all situations (dance, gymnastics) but I'm glad it worked for mine! Good luck figuring it out. I always think I do more juggling than any circus clown ever was paid to. I know lots of us do!

My 8 year old is 4'3" tall and weighs 80#. She has an athletic build - more swimmer/linebacker than jockey/dancer - and is solid. LOL Her shoes are 3-4, her pants/skirts are 10-12, her tops/dresses are 12 (sometimes 14). She has broad shoulders and has to size up for those, but the fit is baggy. It seems like most girls' clothing today is the skinny-fit, which doesn't work for her body type. When she wears her (boy) cousins' clothes, she wears a size 8-10/MED in both pants and tees. I think it's the fit. Her dad has the same issue with tees, now that so many stores sell the Athletic Fit and he has those same broad shoulders. Me, I'm petite and have a hard time dressing the both of them!

I'm working on a jeans project, too! I'm cutting out back pockets. I'll use them as utensil/napkin holders for our summer meals outdoors. I'm aiming for 50 pockets, which is a lot of jeans! Everyone on my block knows to bring their "beyond repair" jeans to me :) and as much as I hope to be done before summer arrives, I'm not paying more than $1 per pair of jeans so it's slow-going right now - no garage sales this time of year, and the thrift stores are priced at $5+ a pair. I'm at 23 pockets so far. I had one pair of jeans with a ripped pocket. LOL

A failure would let pride and desire take the driver's seat. That's the opposite of what you're doing! Sara's correct, and this is just a speed bump; it always feels bigger when you hit it .. but then you finally make it over, and watch it shrink in the rearview mirror. :grouphug: Keep watching the mirror, you're further over the bump than you realize! I can see it, so it must be so. :D

All you can do is to control your own reaction, right? So I'd just accept that this is how they are. But in doing so, I'd take the adult road and calmly call/text/email (once per incident): "Look, obviously I upset you. I can't fix it if you don't tell me what I did." That feels like you're at least taking some control of the situation, as much as you're able to any how. And it may be that you have to say it time and time again. And it may never sink in - old habits die hard, after all - but maybe, in time, they'll come around. Though, ... nobody likes (or deserves) a cold shoulder; still, sometimes it might be better than the alternative. The tongue of the wounded can sometimes make things worse, IMO.

My office is a deep charcoal (SW Peppercorn). My living room is a deep gray-blue (SW Smoky Blue). My laundry room and guest bath are a deep truer blue (SW Distance). My son's room is a dark gray (SW French Gray). My kitchen was a super deep purple-gray (SW Quixotic Plum) but I recently switched it to something lighter (SW Light French Gray) when I got a new dining room set with a funkier color chair. I may paint my hutch the Quixotic Plum because I love the color so much, but I don't know - I really like the "color" of natural wood; we'll see.

Since she lives with you - are these things she comments on or notices regularly? And if so, might she be trying to attempt some light-hearted humor that has fallen flat? Way flat? My dad is a sarcastic and dry person. He'd write something like that. And there would be truth in it, like a back-handed compliment kind of thing. But it's usually his attempt at levity, and it usually comes off as mean and rude. I'm used to it and I don't care, but others tend to be mortified on my behalf. Really, though, I credit his attempt. He'd keep attempting even if I didn't ;) but I know deprecating humor just isn't his thing (and that it doesn't go over well because he's too cranky to carry it off well). I don't know if your mom is like this, or what the relationship is like, but hopefully this is the case here. I hate to think she really is just horrible and meant it just as she wrote it! Happy birthday to her adorable grandson. :) I'd draw a big, fat sharpie line through the offending parts (even if I assumed they were a joke gone wrong) and display the card on a counter with the others. LOL

My girl was heaviest, at 10#6.

Yes. It woke me up. :glare:

I homeschool because it's convenient for me. I'm way too ego-centric to base my decision to homeschool on any outside factors. LOL But in the past year, four families I know peripherally (through extra-curriculars) have decided to homeschool. These are families we've known for the past two to five years, who swore up and down they never could (or would) homeschool. They didn't know how we did it, they didn't know why we did it, they couldn't do it, their kids wouldn't do it, they didn't want to do it, their kids didn't want to do it, ... there were always reasons why they were opposed to the IDEA of it; they sure as heck weren't going to DO it themselves! I should share that we live in the state's top-ranked district and in an affluent area. Our public schools educate the children of area CEOs, CFOs, and wealthy families who have pulled those children out of pricy private schools due to the superior offerings and results turned out by our public schools. Academics aren't a factor here. The families I know are opting out of public schools now because of the social climate. Their kids aren't bullied, rather it's becoming an increasingly toxic scene. Old money usually still attends area private schools for the prestige; new money breeds social competition at the public schools that make the Real Housewives franchise appear amateur and the movie Mean Girls look like an elementary how-to.

My ideal public school would have a later start time, a lunch HOUR that includes free/outside time, and multi-age classrooms (think Montessori). There is no regularly assigned homework, but remedial work or extra credit and occasional projects do come home. State tests are given, but they're not taught to; they're secondary and necessary, not the lifeblood of instruction. I like a later start time because I respect the need for sleep; mostly my need. LOL But I like the idea of kids sleeping in, at least past sunrise. My neighbors are up before the sun, rush through breakfast, and greet the sunrise on their commutes to school. It seems too early. Naturally, and unfortunately, this would require funding for before-school care for families that need it. It may also extend the school day, which not everyone will love. In my dream world, school runs from 9:00-12:00, breaks for an hour lunch, and resumes from 1:00-4:00. I like a lunch hour because I respect the need for good digestion. LOL And, a mid-day break! You know how one of the first concerns outsiders have about homeschooling is the (lack of) socialization? Well that's dandy, but the kids at our elementary schools get a 20 minute lunch during which they're not allowed to speak, then 10 minutes of free play - seems rough on the stomach, and too short a true break! By middle school it gets better, thankfully. I like multi-age classrooms because I respect the need for learning at one's level (as opposed to at one's age or grade). This might look like the Montessori model in the elementary years, and/or a university model in the upper grades (offering a class, "Algebra," for which students enroll themselves based on need and level).

I'm so annoyed on your behalf! I kept reading, hoping it'd have a happier ending. LOL I have three Target stores within a 10 minute drive, and a fourth that's roughly 15 minutes away. All four are in different cities, and I definitely have them ranked according to service.

She'll want you to still come. Sometimes just your presence can be a huge support. But more importantly, even if you can't swing a purchase ... you CAN (and appear willing to) spread some word-of-mouth. That can prove just as valuable, maybe even more, than a single purchase. I'd go. If she's inner-circle and you're comfortable confiding your lack of funds ... do it. But I don't think it's really necessary to. Take a brochure, manhandle the product and ask her for some business cards to pass out to your friends. She'll appreciate that.

How frightening for you :grouphug: I hope they're able to get in contact soon, and that all are safe. Prayers for you, your family, and all affected by this shooting.

Barefoot Contessa The Rifleman Shark Tank ... these are shows none of their friends have even heard of, but of which my kids are devoted viewers. ;) MacGuyver Iron Chef Austin City Limits ... these are shows their friends may or may not know, but are willing to sit through with my kids. LOL

I grew up in the 80s, but I lived in a multi-generational home with a bunch of Asians. And my neighbors were multi-generational homes with other bunches of Asians who apparently had my parents on speed dial. :thumbdown: If I so much as picked my nose by the wrong window, the entire block found out and would tsk tsk me. I was so envious of my best friend - a quiet little white girl, two working parents, and she got to come home to an empty, quiet house and no adult oversight. From the time we were in second grade all of the way through junior high, she did this. Oh how we envied each other. LOL She and I are still great friends, and our oldest are now teenagers. Her style of parenting is very different to that of her own parents - she's not mad at her parents, but she often expresses disdain and disgust at how little oversight they showed over her. She talks about seeing movies she was too young for, etc. And it's true that she is highly controlling about the movies and books her own kids are exposed to. Very interesting about the pendulum theory! It seems to fit the way she and I grew up, and consequently chose to parent.