I'm not ready for Tuesday. I tossed and turned last night, and finally got up rather than wake my bedmate. But now I'm getting drowsy again. I have to officially be up in 45 minutes. Yuck. It's going to be one of those hook-me-up-directly-to-the-coffee-pot days. And a good day to see if I can bring back the afternoon siesta.

I love anything the kids make me, even if it's completely impractical. (Like the year I got knit socks. We were living in the Tropics and I hardly even wore SHOES.) My ex-husband will graciously accept anything the kids make him. But in private he always asks me how long he has to keep it displayed or in use. So for him I try to steer the kids towards either the consumable or the highly practical. And practical by his definition, not by mine. (Because I see the practicality in cloth napkins or placemats. Alas, he does not!) We've also done coasters (ceramic tile or cork), mouse pads (cork), custom address labels printed from home ... paracord lanyards (for keys and work IDs), duct tape (wallets, iPad carry cases, a wildly unpopular tie) ... tie-dyed sleep tees w/store-bought boxers, a hot pad made of framed wine corks, rice heating pads ... desserts in a jar (just add eggs types AND the ready-to-pop-in-the-oven-straight-from-freezer pie types) ... personalized stationary (blank cards/envelopes from craft stores), a perpetual calendar w/important family dates ... DIY snow globes w/personal pictures, custom burned CD and case art, embroidered pillow cases, a recipe book ... hand-stitched "deodorant" sacks (filled w/scented baking soda - for shoes, closets, sports bags), garden stones ... beads: bookmarks, rosaries, eyeglass chains/holder, wine glass markers, jewelry, memory wire napkin holders ... bottle caps: necklaces, zipper pulls, magnets, (<-- w/resin and 1" circle cutter), a wind chime for my grandmother ... bra strap hair ties or headbands (my mom loves these for tennis), DIY infinity scarf for the discerning g'ma ;) LOL ... This year we're venturing into the world of leather crafting. My FIL purchased a leather holster; my son will custom stamp it for my ex. If that's a success, he'll stamp belts for the other boys, bracelets for the girls, and key fobs for the grandparents. The leather stamp tool set is $30. I used 40% off coupons from Michael's & Hobby Lobby to get a few different sets. Blank belts, bracelets and fobs are available in the same aisle at most mega craft stores - reasonably priced IMO. I'm using IE. Is that why I can't link anything? Sorry. But not sorry enough to switch to Chrome or Fox :leaving:!

Jack of all trades? Or master of one ... My parents came from different hemispheres and cultures, but never was it more obvious than this. One believed in being well-rounded, and encouraged us to pursue many things of interest - for the fun. The other felt strongly about mastering a skill by devoting every free waking moment to it - and a set future. They came from a shared religion (Catholic), and as was typical of the era had a rather large family. We're an odd number, but pretty evenly split among us children. Half followed Da; the rest, our Mother. My rules are intentionally vague - I require one sport, one instrument/vocal, and one activity. At least one must be group/team and at least one should be individual. It can change from season to season, session to session, year to year, or never. I feel this allows each kid to follow their own inclination as to whether they wish to be well-rounded, or to specialize. I really think personality has a lot to do with it, as will natural ability and interest. I have a "so well rounded she'll never hold down a job that doesn't involve mixing or serving drinks" ... to "so specialized she has a 1:1.000.000.000 chance of landing that dream job but try convincing her of that." And a few in between. I see merit and value to each, not just in my kids but in my brothers and sisters. My bartender brother is as happy with his career/life as is my surgeon brother. It gives me relief, and perspective. As for social skills and other good habits ... I have a large family. I use them, their social skills, and other habits (good and poor!) as living examples LOL. My kids also come with me pretty much everywhere. I didn't have much other choice, nor did they ;). When I joined garden club, they did to - by default. In addition to gardening, they learned to interact with people they shared nothing in common with and never cared to see again (but knew they'd have to next meeting), sit through a lecture respectfully no matter how bored or disinterested, how to pose questions appropriately. When I volunteered at the assisted living facility, they did to - by default. They learned to play chess, host bingo, read aloud, adapt crafts to disabilities, let the elderly reminisce without appearing bored, and to not grimace on karaoke day because it's rude LOL. Bingo was a hoot, the residents had a hard time hearing the higher-pitched voices of my then-younger boys and every time we hit "B" or "I" letter the same, tired old jokes went flying as if for the first time ever :lol:. That skill has come in handy as my boys find themselves in positions of leadership - younger scouts, youth ministry at church, even just being around the very young siblings of our family friends. When I joined the library board and the sports association boards, they did to - by default. They learned to anticipate boredom and prepare accordingly, all about Robert's Rules of Order, successful and UNsuccessful strategies for negotiation and discussion, how others could be affected when someone neglected to do their job/live up to a promise, what happens when everyone wants to participate but no one is willing to volunteer, and how ridiculous it looks when two people engage in a pi$$ing contest and refuse to budge - be they children, or more sadly, adults. When I coached their teams, they learned time management, that teaching requires different skills from just knowing and telling, that periods of boredom will exist and you CAN survive those without electronic devices, to check weather and dress appropriately, and how to navigate obnoxious parents. The latter has helped the older ones succeed as referees and umpires, since they run into those same parents in that capacity LOL. When I worked outside of the home in a job that kept me on the road frequently, they learned time and household management, interdependence, and the fine art of ordering takeout then hiding the evidence before Moms got home. Really I think exposure did a lot to develop their social skills and life habits, but also to introduce them to activities they might not have known about enough to determine if they had an interest in or talent for. One took up lacrosse after years of lunching with a fellow garden club member who had played as a youth. Our town had no lacrosse league so it meant a ton of driving to the Big City but he played for years. My daughter cut her teeth on piano by learning at the hands of a former music professional at the assisted living facility who suffered dementia but was so gentle, sweet, and decidedly able to remember her music - win, win.

I think there are always people who will care more (and those who will care less). Your husband and daughter aren't the same brand of people - at least not at this point. I can see your approach ending one of two ways: 1. My mom loved me unconditionally, and let ME be ME - I care less about appearance. OR 2. I resent my mom for not making/teaching me to take better care - (now) I care A LOT about appearance. And it can happen as soon as a few months from now, or not until she's an adult. I suppose it just matters on when an external force (outside of her parents) motivates her. For my boys, this happened between ages 13-15 when girls became more of a priority ;). For my friend's daughter, it happened when she overheard others commenting on her greasy hair :(. SHE falls into the camp of #2 (above). My friend feels it's caused a bigger rift than would've been from more forceful hygiene expectations/nagging. Hindsight is what it is, though, and she really did believe she was doing the right thing for her daughter. And it's the kind of thing where you're damned if you do, damned if you don't. It just depends on what brand of person she becomes/remains as she gets older. And to a lesser extent, which filter through which she will view your relationship. So it sounds like she wants to look good naturally, without the putting forth much effort. Gotta say - I feel the same way and I'm in my mid-thirties LOL. I wish she'd realize that maintenance is way less effort, and that she can have both. Can you do a spa day type thing where the info comes from Someone-Not-Mom? I'd require teeth brushing and face rinsing (at minimum). It's not a popular activity in my home, either. I found they're more willing to JOIN me, though. So we crowd into a bathroom and brush together; and wash our faces together. As the boys got older and assumed their own discipline, they stopped being "invited." I never made it a rule or anything, just designed a way to make it seem they were doing me a favor. Or had come up with the idea themselves. I'm not above Manipulation Lite for a greater common good ;). I'd let her keep her wily hair, but would require a handkerchief if we left the house. There are cute ones, she could have fun with that; or a hat. I'd let her ashy knees stay so, and figure that'd remedy itself in time. Dishes I'd require; else I'd do them for a fee (monetary or chore). Gerbil - well, that's a responsibility issue that needs addressing. GOod luck. You're stuck with some of the least fun ages, but good news is there's a corner ahead. Once they turn that corner, the battles of these years seem so petty and silly.

He looks so healthy now, what a difference in such a short time! Like you, I'd wonder about his "life" story and how he got his start. Something tells me he's happy to forget it and enjoy the life he's got now :)

** I was so excited to know I wasn't alone, and to share that you weren't alone, that I had trigger finger! ** / Double Post

You're not alone! This is me, too. I like the thrill of a splurge, whether it's a $4 coffee or $$$ toy for my hobby. Shoot, even an hour and $20 to spend in the pen aisle at Office Depot gets me hot! For me it's really about the impromptu, a bit of the impulsive, and a tad of recklessness. It's a nice, brief departure from the everyday balm of being responsible (fiscally, or otherwise). I used to hitchhike. Now I get all wild and crazy in the nail polish aisle at the drugstore :D. Much of the time I can satisfy that urge by going to the mall, trying on clothes, and leaving empty-handed. It's like what I really want is to SHOP, and maybe feel RECKLESS - if even for a few hours. It's sometimes a much-needed break from the mundane. I guess some of us need it more than others ;). Sometimes I'm able to satisfy the urge by going to the library, so I hope that works for you today!

I'm not a huge fan of fundraisers, and I think many of the fundraisers chosen by larger organizations (e.g., schools) tend to be more money gluts than anything else, but I do feel fundraisers are somewhat of a necessary evil for many organizations. But any time a child asks me directly, I absolutely buy. If it's the parent asking on behalf of their child, I quite comfortably pass. I can appreciate kids that will go out there and hustle (whether it's for a stupid prize or simple expectation). I value the experience of learning how to face the unknown and - more importantly - rejection. It feels wrong to say no to a kid (the messenger) because it's a scam or stupid, useless product. I come from a sales and marketing background LOL I feel their pain!

Oh, how funny! That happens early in my family because I have really small feet (size 5-6). The year each of my teens wore the same size as me, they got LOTS of shoes! (We wear similar styles. Not because I want to look young but because I REMAIN young ;)) They outgrew them so fast that they felt close to new by the time they were exclusively mine! I have one more kid to go; this one is the only girl so I won't be limited to Vans & Docs the year she's my size. I'm kinda giddy about it, we're getting close. The downside is when their feet get so big you have to special order shoes. Boo!

I like the idea to focus on item and host a drive to donate the goods. When I lived in another state, we had a local school that catered to the migrant and homeless populations. Every year our organization hosted its Back to School drive (backpacks, school supplies, school clothes). Is there a similar school near you? You might do a food drive, winter clothing drive, etc. if so. But other than that, I'd stock up on blankets and winter goods and leave them in my trunk. I'd drive around and pass them out as needed. I'm okay with that, myself, but I know some aren't. You probably are okay doing that, too, if I'm getting the right vibe from your posts ;) :). I'm on the social justice and outreach committee at my church. Three years ago a fellow member and a representative from a non-profit group hatched a plan. Twice a month our church hosts a "party" - it's drop in, come if you can. We run an assembly line, making lunch bags for area shelters to hand out. Needs were/are: soliciting donations from grocery stores and private donors, soliciting volunteers, advertising the party, running the party, set-up/take-down, and delivering the bags. Our lunches are generally a peanut butter and/or PB-Jelly sandwich, a side, and a fruit. The side depends on the donations, but are usually chips or a granola/protein bar. Fruits are oranges, bananas, apples - sometimes fresh, sometimes pre-packaged (applesauce, raisins). We include small bottles of water, too. Oh, and a napkin. Are you interested in a project of that size and nature? I retired last year, but when I worked I had a lot of overnights away from home. One of my "regular" flight attendants collected hotel toiletries for a mission she volunteered at. You could do a similar drive and donate to a shelter, or pass around on the streets. She said she'd buy pallets of bottled water to give out. They could use it for drinking, cleaning, or both.

Oh, please be much kinder to yourself! :grouphug: Screwing up looks more like this: I sat down to watch a Real Housewives marathon and got so sucked in that I forgot to reserve a campsite. OR Instead of reserving a campsite, I went for a mani/pedi and by the time I got my Glam on, all the sites were taken. OR I got online to reserve campsites but there was this WTM thread - cupcakes, kilts, some ugly white guy everyone fawns over ... LOL Screwing up does NOT look like: I had a sick kid. I cared enough to ask my not-sick kid if she wanted to camp without the sick-kid (especially after an emotionally draining week). It's understandable to feel awful, and it sounds like you both could use some respite, but there was no screw-up. Life happens, and sometimes not in the way that allows us to neatly bundle the other areas of our life. Any chance you could swing an inexpensive hotel for one night? Check in one afternoon around 3pm, extend check out until after lunch the following day? It's not camping, and maybe not as cheap, but when people need a break to re-charge ... Can she set up a mini-camp in the backyard? I have one teen who does this when he needs a time-out to re-charge. It's not quite the same, but when he needs a time-out that is sometimes the best we can do. I'm very protective of his need for a time-out, and require the other kids to leave him 100% alone. I'm sorry your weekend plans didn't go as planned :( it sounds like you guys could really use a break.

I need gift ideas for two boys ages 4 and 6, whom I don't know very well. Or website suggestions beyond amazon and the brick-and-mortar toy store chains. They squabble a lot now that the younger can hold his own. Which is better - identical gifts or very different ones? Both boys spend a lot of time on their individual iPads and likely have all the extras - are there any off-the-beaten path iPad accessories you can think of or recommend? Art/craft stuff, small or many pieces (Lego), and games requiring an adult have been discouraged. The parents aren't the type to make use of experiences like a zoo or museum pass. I thought about outdoor play but was reminded to consider the boys' tendency to fight ... hmm, what's a noisy gift? Are they the right age for harmonicas and a drum pad? :lol: Price range is variable. I'd prefer to stay under $50/each and would LOVE to be at $50 TOTAL. But I'm wasting more time picking my brain than it's worth, so suggestions at most prices are welcome. I'm not buying a trampoline or anything in that price range LOL. It was easier when the wrapping was as exciting, if not more, than the gift itself. I appreciate any bone you can toss my way, I'm at a loss here.

The boys are thinking about dressing up like ballerinas. Big, tall, hairy, not delicate and are far from lithe :) They're going shopping this weekend for pink Chucks. I love that they're past the "it's embarrassing" stage and are dressing up again. Teens and their sense of irony are proving to be as amusing as anything on cable. My youngest gets fixated on things, which usually makes my life hell. Halloween is one time of year it actually works in my favor :) We're doing a repeat (again): Charlie Brown's sheet ghost. $1 from the thrift store four years ago and it'll never be physically outgrown. Cue the rim shot, and picture me doing a sign of the cross.

I like to sort. I micro-sort: khakis, lights, darks, jeans, uniforms, kitchen linens, bathroom linens, bedroom linens ... It's relaxing to me :lol: it also breaks up laundry for me, ironically. I find several, smaller loads more manageable than a few, larger loads. I hang-dry everything but undergarments (which are another separate load) LOL. Here's an easy tweak to your current system - it's especially easy if you only sort minimally (lights, darks, others): Instead of dumping everything on the laundry room floor, have the kids dump everything on the living room floor. Turn on a 30 minute show, have THEM sort while they watch. Each kids' hamper becomes a holding place/hamper for one of the sorted piles. The hampers go into the laundry room pre-sorted and contained. I love laundry baskets, and carrying them on my hip. That didn't work so well with my laundry room set-up, though. So I bought those inexpensive collapsible mesh ones from Target or Walmart - like $5-8/each. They take up less floor space when open and virtually none when closed. If it's easier, label each kids' collapsible hamper with a Sharpie - on one corner write the kids' name and on the other write the load. So one might read *Sarah* and also *darks* or something like that.

Mine is nine. She does a lot of this stuff on her own. Like you, I have an art background. Like your girls, she's trustworthy and careful with supplies. I have outsourced art for the past two years. Her teacher is certified, taught for 15 years, and is a friend. I talked her into quitting and homeschooling her kids :) - so we joke about my "obligation" to help her support her family ;). Class runs 90 minutes - an hour was too short, two felt too long. It meets weekly for about 10 weeks, at her home. My daughter enjoys art, but isn't INTO it the way I've always been. She and I would both sign up for your class. We pay and commit semester to semester, not yearly. I like that. My cost breaks down to about $10/class, which is very reasonable to me. I feel like she may even undercharge, considering the projects they do. They use real supplies, real technique - it's not a class at the rec center IYKWIM. It really sounds like what you'd like to offer. I'm pretty sure she raised everyone's fees but mine. I think it may be $13-15/class. At that it's a close call making her numbers every semester, but she has so far. Any less and she's doing it as a ministry; any more and she's out-priced herself. She isn't looking to get rich, just to earn enough to keep the kids in their martial arts. $5/class would attract those who can't afford her now ... and those who value art exposure but don't have that budding artist. It happens at all fee levels but babysitting might be more likely at lower fees. I would equate $5/class with someone lacking your art background, experience, and/or age. I'd assume it would be an intro/exposure class, not something for the more serious art-kid. I'd expect generic supplies and projects sourced from the first page of an internet search. I'd feel like I won the lottery to walk in and see you offering what you plan to, at the price you mentioned! Have you considered $8-10/class or thereabouts? Perhaps you can include ALL supplies into that - buy in bulk, online, for the best deals. Or if you do offer it at $5/class, call it an Introductory Special so you give yourself room later. I've learned that if you don't value your time, nobody else will. You need to be reimbursed for your time, not just your supplies - even if you don't want/need to get rich off of this. Good luck, it sounds like a great idea!

We get out family photos and letters. We talk and cry. This year my boys have a baseball game at 6:00pm. If I'm still sober, we'll go enjoy the national pastime. If I'm not, then they'll put me to bed before they leave. I make no plans, the day takes its own shape.

I'd want to protect them from their own barriers towards self-productivity. Depending on the kid, that could be protection from a propensity towards laziness ... or protection from a very debilitating tendency towards perfectionism. I have kids with both, and each extreme is very annoying in its own way!

I saw several of you liked Unbroken and got curious enough to look it up on Amazon. I had never before heard of this guy or his story, but it sounds really interesting. Would it be something teenage boys might enjoy? They're from 19 to 12 years old. The boys are strong readers, competitive athletes history buffs, and from military families. It sounds right up their alleys, but the more negative reviews said the book got wordy and long-winded. My question is more about the writing style. I know they'll love the background and story. Thank you for the recommendation - I always get great ideas from these kinds of threads!

This brings to mind another idea that I think my parents, especially, would've found helpful. A cheat sheet of sorts - commonly used words, phrases, sayings for the person to have. Make it available without putting the person on the spot to accept it - though I think many people wouldn't mind being offered it directly. Never know though! The cheat sheet would be specific to the event or group's unique jargon. That was challenging for us, learning words that weren't necessarily in our dictionary. And not often heard on radio or television, which is where a lot of our exposure came from :). This is something do-able with limited translation help. And the comments about not assuming people can understand you are hilarious. I tried to learn my ex's native language but struggled to get it beyond a child's level. But I did know enough vocabulary to piece together what the in laws were saying about me. I never told them or my husband that I was trying to learn their language. I wanted it to be a surprise. The joke was on me! :smilielol5:I wish I knew enough to have been able to chastise them in it!

I'm not very good with technology outside of basic things, like typing and email. I can't figure out the whole cloud, syncing, digital calendar stuff so I don't bother with those. I keep a paper planner (really it's just a spiral) and it goes with me everywhere. If you have a smartphone, you might set reminders to yourself for blacktop assignments. I'm not organized enough to do a daily to-do list, so every Sunday I make a weekly one. It might say: rough draft due WEDN, post to blackboard TUES/FRI, tuition due FRI. My instructors would say "Post twice this week, one new content and one reply." Instead of leaving that so open, my weekly to-do list would specify days to post. I work better with a more firm deadline. And if I didn't get to it that day, no biggie - the firm deadline kept it fresh in my mind and I knew I could do it the next day. Monthly calendars overwhelm me and daily calendars make me too anxious. Weekly calendars have always been the sweet spot for my busier seasons in life. I went back twice for advanced degrees. The last time my youngest were in elementary. When my papers were due, things got tricky because the interruptions KILLED my flow. Papers were taking way too long to write and weren't as good as they should've been. So instead we'd do school at the library for a few hours - separate study rooms for me/them. I was more productive and they had the library at their disposal once they finished school. My tip is to find an outside place without distractions or disruptions for your writing - it'll save time and anxiety in the long run, even if it might not seem so in initially. Good luck this semester, and this year! It sounds like it will be a crazy busy one for you, but how exciting to be moving forward :).

What helped us was handouts or notes or a calendar that could be brought home and translated by family. If there is no official handout, maybe someone can take concise and clear notes (dates, volunteer positions, etc.). It always helped me to have something I could look over again and again, especially if a meeting was recurring - (names, people's positions, volunteer responsibilities, times/dates/locations, etc.) With today's technology, a follow-up email with any important information is a good alternative to handouts. The person can print out if they need to, but will still have access to that info at home. Then they can use real or digital translators if they require translation. If it's more of a social thing, we felt overwhelmed by large group conversations - we much preferred small group or one-on-one conversations within a larger group. Anyone who has studied a foreign language might remember how self-conscious it feels to speak among natives/fluents. There's much less pressure to try and keep up, understand, and "get" or respond in a breakout conversation. I want to say how great it is that you're thinking about this. It's easy to ignore or simply not notice someone on the fringe struggling with language issues. We always appreciated a warm smile, and occasional checking in with us. What we hated was people speaking more loudly, overly slowly, or like we were idiots (rather than non-native speakers). It also made us uncomfortable when we felt singled out in front of a group. Sometimes speakers would stop, address us directly to ask if we understood, and then carry on. But the whole room turned our way. They meant well, but it was awkward and sometimes set the tone for how others addressed us.

Congratulations on her success on the test! And yours, too, as someone helping to keep and grow this program for your community. Cheer loudly at her recognition, and enjoy that ice cream :D.

I missed where anyone suggested the OP vilified her SIL or SIL's character. I understood those sentiments to be directed at other posters. I know mine were directed to the person I quoted. It's very apparent the OP cares about her family, including the extended family. On a related, but separate tangent: It's plenty reasonable for any person to call it as she see it, not just the OP's friends. People bring personal bias into any situation; it's not unique to people who take the unpopular position. It's just as reasonable people are applying their perception of OP's situation to their own, past or present, and getting offended. I'm not sure why or how any of that matters, though, really. I mean, if a person wants to surround herself with Yes (Wo)Men that's her prerogative. And there are channels and ways to ensure you only get feedback from those friends/Yes Men. There are ways within the WTM site capabilities, even. But I don't think the OP is like that, nor had that in mind. I don't think she wanted only the warm fuzzy thoughts from friends/Yes Men - as welcome and maybe needed as those are, she asked the wider audience for it's opinion. And she has gotten a wide opinion. Some posts are written nicely, some are more acerbic. But that's true of all posts, regardless of specific content. I do feel like some people vilified the SIL. I believe you can show support for the OP without doing so. I believe it shows MORE support for the OP to not do so - you yourself established that the OP never vilified her SIL or was anything but sweet re: SIL. Why would she want to read sentiment that she, herself, didn't feel appropriate or necessary to use? I relate more to the OP than the SIL. I retired last year to keep up with my (free) babysitting duties. My three teen nephews live with me full-time and I babysit my toddler nephew six days a week. I don't get any extra money to keep these boys or the others I keep on school holidays or sick days. Like the OP I have a chronic illness that's unpredictable, I homeschool, and I have my own brood to care for. I get why she can't take on childcare for her SIL. Heck, even if she could, I get why she wouldn't WANT to! But again, I don't need to assume the worst about the SIL to empathize. And I don't understand the need to try and justify those who do. It's fine to have different perspectives - on both the issue and on how to best support someone. I suppose this is where some of us agree to disagree with others of us :). I think we can all agree that OP did a great job of asserting her own needs. And that we collectively wish her well growing the relationship with SIL outside of free babysitting LOL.

Not because she (SIL) refused to, but because OP has never asked SIL to reciprocate. Spin matters. OP never asked for reciprocation of any kind, be it bartering care or being paid for babysitting. It appears there is nothing SIL can offer that OP will feel is worth the interruption to her day/health. Which is probably why the OP feels very put out by the SIL's requests. I have a chronic illness that comes with tolerable days, bad days, and wish-I-were-dead days. If anyone understands how important it is to be productive on those rare good days, I do. And there's no one more sympathetic than I to struggling just to survive an awful day. I believe the OP at her word that this simply isn't something she can do right now. But I can show her support without vilifying the SIL or negatively assuming SIL's intentions.

English is FIL's third language and MIL's fourth. FIL studied it in school for years, but MIL didn't learn any until they moved here. Both of them speak decently, but slang sometimes trips them up. My oldest was their first grandchild. At four months old, he and I flew overseas with the in-laws to visit their family. So as we were waiting for our bags to unload ... MIL saw another family with an infant, obviously a military family (like ours). She walked over, cooed at the baby and talked to the soldier about where he was headed. She followed that up with, "So how old is the little shit?" :lol: That momma was NOT amused, and she shut it down LOL. MIL didn't initially get it, but FIL did - and that embarrassed MIL even more. Their neighbor's three young grandkids were very loud, rambunctious and wild. FIL always called them little shits - "The little shits are visiting," that type of thing. They'd throw rocks in FIL's pool, have crazy loud bedtime tantrums, and taunt the dog. But they also left pictures of FIL and his bike, picked flowers for MIL, and brought over cookies. MIL figured it was the acceptable way to refer to little kids in English, why else would FIL say it? It was awesome. When my ex-husband and I feel cheeky, we call our kids little shits when we're talking to MIL. "Oh, the little shit mailed you a birthday card today, let me know when it gets there!" :D She's not amused. But we are, and that's more what we really care about LOL.