maybe an aoli?

I do feel like this sometimes too. Between being teacher and mom 24/7, I do need a rejuvenating break both from the teaching and the parent responsibilities as they go hand in hand for me. If we can afford it, I will get a massage and go visit my BFF (who's out of town) or do a long weekend retreat away. This usually requires DH to take day(s) off work, but we have and agreement that 3 of his work vacation days were "mine" to have a "me vacation." If I can't swing several days, either do to time or money, I still try and take a "me" day. I usually do things that I enjoy like a hike, meet a friend for coffee or lunch, go to the library, visit the art museum, take a fun class, walk around and window shop in a cute downtown, read a book in the park, etc. Occasionally DH will take the kids for a weekend visit with his family while I stay home to a quiet and empty house.

Only as a child. It was brief since my dad plead guilty, and it was only the sentencing hearing.

I do have mine. I let my kids play dress up in it. I doubt any of my kids will actually wear it if they choose to marry, but they sure have had fun playing in it. I"m not super sentimental, and I'm happy they are enjoying it rather than it just taking up space somewhere.

I'm off the hook tonight! Oh, the things kids say. 😃

I have struggled with low iron all my life. The only way my body gets boosted is with red meat so I have it at least once a week, but I try for twice a week. All other sources just maintain my levels. In additional to taking my iron supplement with vitamin C, I do not take it with anything calcium rich. Depending on the iron supplement, it can make me sick to my stomach so I have been taking a plant based one that also has all the other vitamins that help my body to absorb the iron.

Near the end, the last month, we did not take the kids to go see MIL (it's a 3 hr trip.) 1. We wanted their last memories to be positive. 2. She was having some serious issues like blood pouring out of her mouth and major twitching and convulsions. Thankfully she did not seem to be in pain, but we still thought it may be quite traumatic to the kids. 3. We wanted DH to have as much time as possible with his mom. When he went by himself (the weekend before she passed), he was able to be with her whatever time of day or night she was awake and lucid. This is such a personal decision. I don't necessarily think there is a right or wrong way. It's a difficult time to navigate. Many prayers for you family.

We got my MIL family photographs done a few years back. We did a variety of poses: MIL with grandchildren, MIL with children, MIL with each family, and MIL with whole extended family including spouses.

My oldest says she would like kids. My middle says she doesn't want kids, but if she does, she only wants to adopt kids. My youngest talks about when he has kids, but doesn't specifically say he wants kids. I don't really have any strong feelings either way especially since they are on the younger side, but I really believe that it is a choice each person/couple needs to decide. I would enjoy having grandkids, but I'm not set that they have to be biological. I would be happy being an "adopted" grandparent.

I was going to opt out but it was a pain with many steps so instead I will just adjust my DH's withholdings to make up the difference. That is way less painful for me, literally a logon to his employee dashboard and two quick clicks and it's done. ~Cassie

My MIL had a foam fold up chair for kids, that would unfold to lay flat for a bed. Even as my kids got older they used it for a good long time because it was comfy for them to use when watching a movie, night sleeping, playing video games, etc. My MIL actually kept them unfolded, stacked, and under the guest bed when we weren't visiting.

Mailed beginning of February. Refund deposited end of February. We have very uncomplicated taxes. It takes me less time to prepare using the PDF form than trying to use a program as well as our income is high enough that we do not qualify for the free e-file.

I do for certain things, but overall no. Social situations such as a meal eaten all together or short-term visit, I teach them to be present with those around them and encourage them to engage in conversation and/or play. School work & chores need to be done before pleasure reading, and I do have a lights off for bed or my oldest would be up all night reading. Visits with family and/or friends that are for a whole day or longer, I do allow the kids to read, but not at meals and when an activity starts I encourage them to participate, sometimes it depends on the activity.

A "game" that resulted in a lot of laughing and breaking the ice at the tables was "In Your Purse." Basically we had to fulfill a list to "create" a diaper/mommy bag from all the items we had in our purses or pockets. 1. Diaper - Someone had a pack of tissues 2. Drink for Mommy - Someone had cough medicine 3. Diaper Cream - Hand lotion Things along those lines. Another game that involved your purse was for the table or person to get a point for a list of items that could be found in a purse. There were generic things like pens, chapstick, tissues, license, etc. but there were also less common like a pair of underwear, deodorant, nail polish, sandwich, scissors, yarn, etc. Whoever (or the table) had the most points or had the most creative solutions got a prize or got to be first in line for food.

My DH is getting a nice meal cooked by me, a chocolate dessert baked by the kids, and a trip to the ropes course close to our house for him to do something fun with all of us. The ropes course is expense so it's always a special treat when we do this.