Maybe? Our 20 yo ds has struggled for years, and I know he has self-medicated with marijuana, alcohol, and cigarettes. He has mentioned maybe getting counseling sometime. (He had several counselors as a teen and once saw a psychologist, again, as a teen.) Who would he go to for a medical diagnosis? They said ADD and depression when he was a teen, but never an official diagnosis and no prescribed meds. (I take that back, he took Wellbutrin for six months after a health scare.) I have wondered if he has undiagnosed mental illness. Where does one start?

This discussion made me wonder about Webster's definition of "inner city," since I too tend to think of that term as a urban area with high crime. Merriam-Webster Unabridged: "The usually older, poorer, and more densely populated central section of a city." So, I guess, in the US, it does have a connotation of low income.

Thank you for the ideas! I hadn't checked all of those places. I was really hoping someone on Etsy would make some fantastic, magical snow globes, but I didn't find what I wanted there.

According to Chicago Manuel of Style, it would be technically written '80s. (The apostrophe indicates the missing 19 of 1980s.)

I am looking for a detailed Christmas village or Christmas themed snow globe for a gift. I was hoping to find something beautifully detailed, but I'm not impressed with what I'm finding online. Anyone know of a company or craftsperson who makes snow globes?

Elementary: Brownies, church children's choir, church solos (my idea), track club in 4th grade before we moved to another state, any of the parks and rec type classes we wanted to try—I remember trying ballet (didn't like it), gymnastics, and trampoline Middle school: dance and gymnastics (once a week and one yearly recital), school track, voice lessons High school: everything was associated with the school—track, tennis, cross country, choir, jazz choir, musicals...oh, I did community musicals in the summers too as well as youth choir at church that toured in the summers...and junior olympics in the summers (track)...and continued voice lessons I guess we're following the same pattern with our kids: not many (or time-consuming) activities when young but letting them put in the time and more of our resources during high school ages. I liked the balance of play and activities I had growing up.

I so agree! I didn't take that kind of picture either, and I had a brother-in-law who would try to sneak up and get a profile picture of my stomach. So uncomfortable.

We know several families who are involved in Safe Families for Children: https://safe-families.org/ Volunteers provide a role similar to an extended family for those in crisis before Social Services is involved.

Parenting • Pressure to perform (mine—to be wise, loving, balanced, cheerful, to give them the support/direction/etc. they need me to) • Discouragement (about my "performance" and things in their lives) • Irritation (much less now that they are older—but definitely a factor when looking back at my 22 years of parenting) Life • Accidents/serious illness (physical and psychological) in the family • Lack of dh's home upkeep (needed repairs—major and minor that could be done or hired to be done) • One-sided relationships with family (detached/Aspergerish husband; narcissistic mother)

Well, I don't at this point, but I have two who completed technical college programs. We are fortunate that, while they are in high school, students in our state don't pay tuition for technical college classes. DD1 completed a early childhood certification while in high school at technical college, as well as earning an associate's degree elsewhere through CLEP and online classes. She is a ballerina and teaches ballet, and the early childhood classes and experiences were very helpful additions to her knowledge base in teaching her classes (child psych, how to look for abuse, etc.). DS completed half a graphics design certificate his senior year of high school and then finished it the semester after he graduated. He works for a T-shirt print shop and sells lots of artwork on the side. This year he is also taking etching and human figure drawing classes at a local art center. DD2 (a high school senior), although not sure what she wants to do, took Fundamentals of Baking (mom and dad loved what she brought home from that one!) and another culinary class the last two summers. It was a great way to explore an interest. She also works at a local bakery and, through these experiences, has learned that although she loves to bake and is a super cook, she does not want to pursue culinary as a career. This fall, she enrolled in a Photoshop course to learn more about digital art as she is also pondering the field of graphic design. So, for us, technical college has been a valuable way for our children to strengthen skills and explore interests. Of course, it is a huge boon that we don't pay tuition for these courses so that they can dabble or go deep without a large financial commitment.

The officer at the station (someone different) apologized and said the officer who came to us was very confused. I'm sure we'll be joking about this for years. We are just so, so glad we had not told our son about his bike's supposed recovery yet! He morns that bike!

So, our son's motorcycle was stolen a year ago, and—hooray!—the police found it! We learned the good news at 4 a.m. this morning when an officer rang our doorbell to tell us. The adrenaline pump (from the doorbell and seeing an officer at our door—not the happy news) kept us up for hours. Does that sound like normal procedure? (I'm not angry; actually, my husband and I are laughing about it.) UPDATE: To respond, yes, our first instinct was fear and thinking of family members' safety. But—I am really not making this up—my husband just got off the phone with the station. They did not find the motorcycle. They found the license plate! :001_huh:

Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen? (may be shorter/easier than you're looking for).

Since your MIL is doing well now, you might look for a group that offers palliative care that can transition to hospice. Palliative care offers support and lots of know-how about managing pain, and the patient can receive some types of medical care that she cannot with hospice. My mom's oncology nurses and the area hospices here confirmed for us that my mom could not receive an IV if she is on hospice. She had a rough few weeks last month and was losing fluids faster than she could take them in (diarrhea). Her oncology team gave her a saline IV a couple times that week, as well as potassium through the IV as her potassium level was low. She will not be able to have that kind of intervention when she transitions to hospice. So, you might check for a spectrum of care. Many groups offer palliative and hospice, but some offer only hospice. ETA: My mom is still living independently at home, driving, etc. too.

Another thought: Caringbridge.org has been really helpful to me. It was too hard trying to get updates to different groups of people, and I knew I would eventually forget someone.

My mom was diagnosed last Dec. 23. Once things are in order, hit the bucket list! I took my mom to the Colorado Rockies (her all-time favorite place and the area she lived for many years) in June where we helped her hike and invited Colorado friends and family to drive up and hang out with us. Take lots of pictures. Put them in Shutterfly, or the like, books. My mom loves paging through her Colorado book. We had a huge 80th bday party for her in July, with over 200 people coming from seven states. She had a dinner catered with all donations going to the senior center in her town. I made a big picture board. My 17 yo made her a fancy cake. My nephew played the piano. We had an eclipse party on her deck with lots of friends. She plays bridge and is working with her church to decide how best to leave money to benefit the congregation. So, after all the details (or at least the most vital ones) are in place, I suggest that, if she feels up to it, you brainstorm about things she would love to do and people she would love to see. Hugs to you. It is very hard. My mom is an overcomer, but this time she can't beat it, and not being able to do anything (diet, rehab, exercise, etc.) to help much is very difficult for her. ETA: Record memories of her life in some way. This is something I need to work more on! And remember, for anything you want to do together, sooner is better. Take advantage of any seasons of feeling really good if she has them.

Thank you for sharing that! My brother and family are in a voluntary evacuation area in Sugar Land, and I have been searching for updated news about the Brazos.

I really like my organic millet hull pillow from Pillow Company: https://www.pillowcompany.com/night-pillows/millet-hull-night-pillow/ It has great head/neck support.

This thread gives me some good perspective. We have been in and out of lots of hospitals, and, most recently, I have spent a lot of time in and out with my mom since she was diagnosed last winter with pancreatic cancer, but you all have spent much, much more time in medical settings. All my comments were already included (favorite lunch, know the staff by name, know which bathrooms to use, etc.).

Thank you all! This board is a wonderful place to share when there is no one IRL that we want to know a personal backstory. So, many struggles and joys tend to go unshared! Thanks for being a safe, supportive place and celebrating with me! :001_smile:

I couldn't find my older post on this topic when I searched; for some reason I am not seeing current (last few years) posts in my content. But I wanted to send an update. Recap: Mom had huge 80th bday party on Sunday. She is in late stage of pancreatic cancer. I invited her estranged brother (about 15 years' breach) and was concerned he might be angry with me for the invite. Update: The party started at 11 a.m. (Dinner from 11–2 and snacks from 2–4.) Several people asked me if brother and wife were coming, and I didn't know, but doubted they would. About 2 p.m., I was carrying things to my mom's sister's car, and the brother and wife pulled up beside us to say hi. They showed up!! I saw my mom and uncle talking quietly together. Later I told my mom how glad I was to see Uncle there and asked my mom how the conversation had gone. She said she gave him a hug and said she had missed him and that he said he had missed her too, and then they quietly and comfortably caught each other up on life. I'm so, so thankful they reconnected. They were very close in earlier life, and my mom was brokenhearted to be cold-shouldered (left out of family gatherings, etc.) after my grandma's death. Thank you for all who encouraged me after I had sent the invitation that it was the right thing to do.

Homeschool requirement here is 1,116 hours in a twelve-month school year.

Discount Dance has girls sizes in their palazzo pants in several colors. Maybe you could start there? Children's Place has some pretty short sleeved lace trimmed tops on sale: http://www.childrensplace.com/shop/us/p/girls-clothing/girls-clothing/girls-tops-girls-shirts/Girls-Short-Sleeve-Lace-Trim-Top-2086110-SV

I didn't "like" this because of your outcome, but I'm glad you posted. The same thing happened with my son when he was 10 or so. They did treat with steroids, but it had been several weeks since onset, and he lost some upper range hearing. I had never heard of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. I wonder why pediatricians, baby books, etc. don't better educate young parents so everyone knows about it. Even his ped. told us to give it the common 7–10 days to clear when I took him to the doctor. Then, of course, ENT offices are hard to get in. I wish this was well known and could be treated in an ER or walk-in clinic. Here's a link that explains: http://www.chicagoear.com/Medical%20Info/hearing_loss.html

Yes! I'm not short, so I actually look more like a triangle than a cube (my daughter said it's the first time she could apply the term "pear-shaped" to me). ...And I could have been mistaken for a troll too, but I'm telling myself that house elfs are cuter. I don't mind these styles (although I agree with others that there are an awful lot of inconveniently placed cutouts). They look really cute on some people. But I wish they had a variety of styles (like the swim industry has finally learned). I agree that shirts from the sports areas, as someone mentioned, are a good option. They fit me well. But I would like to buy a new dress for my daughter's graduation next spring, and I hope there is something to choose from besides swingy and A-line and swingy with an empire waist. Even fitted bodices with high waists don't look great on me. Maybe I'll wear a skirt and a sports shirt. :laugh: