For both of our mothers this year, we bought personalized mugs from PersonalCreations.com. They were cute mugs with "We love [whatever you call her]" and stylized, custom figures to represent each grandchild. We also added figures for our generation, so we included all of the moms' descendants and the spouses of the married ones. You can even add figures to represent dogs and cats.

I would vote to keep looking.

I'd go--like others have said, leave the valuables with a trusted friend, or take them with you, or otherwise secure them in a way that won't impact the showings of the house. Make sure the house is clean and well-staged, then tell your agent to have an open house and as many showings as possible while you're gone. Just make sure you leave yourself with enough time to get it all clean and staged after you're done packing for your trip--I always have end up leaving random plastic bags or unneeded travel items laying around in the last minute rush when I go on a trip, so leave yourself time to at least stash them in a dresser drawer or something, and time to wipe down the shower door if it's glass, clean up the breakfast dishes, etc.

I'm also curious as to what people recommend we do say to our children. My 4yo so far has shown no indication of noticing skin color. She primarily has been around White people of various nationalities and languages and Khmer (Cambodian) people. In our current location, ethnic Albanians and ethnic Serbs tend to be very prejudiced against each other, but she hasn't been exposed to that since she is rarely around both at the same time and doesn't speak either of those languages anyway. She has no understanding whatsoever of racism or of the history behind current prejudices. She is, however, going to be forced to learn to view things through the lenses of different cultures just because of our lifestyle as Americans living abroad and moving to a new country every few years. I'm not certain if that will be enough or if I should be a concerted effort somehow to expose her to race relations issues in the US, or what to say to her if we move back there or while we visit. (Of course she'll learn about slavery, civil rights, etc., as we move through our history studies, but that's still a few years down the road, and knowing the historical facts is a necessary but not sufficient condition for existing in a modern multi-racial, multicultural world.) My daughter was too young to be affected by it, but I also have experienced statements that people of certain races couldn't be beautiful, or couldn't be as beautiful as others. An Egyptian taxi driver told me that all White women were more beautiful than any Egyptian woman, because of the lighter skin and hair--I was shocked but regained my senses quickly enough to tell him that he was absolutely wrong, that I had met many beautiful Egyptian women and that Egyptian women were just as beautiful as White women. Then, in Cambodia, no one said anything explicitly, but it was obvious in so many small ways that lighter skin--White skin--was viewed as more beautiful than darker skin. It was much more difficult to argue against the subtle cultural cues than it was the direct statement of the Egyptian taxi driver.

I'm so sorry you're going through this. And that people are idiots.

I would trust that the neurologist probably is right and it's nothing to worry about. However, for my own peace of mind, I'd probably make an appointment with the child's regular doctor to make sure it's in his files and to discuss it. I'd probably want to make an appointment to discuss it with the neurologist as well, if that's possible. I'd google it enough to go in with a list of questions to ask, but I wouldn't freak out about the horror stories--after all, it hasn't caused problems to this point, and you're making the doctor aware of it, so even if it caused problems later (unlikely, based on what the neurologist said), they should be caught early.

I despise videos like that. If women took those videos seriously, how much respect and love would we feel for our husbands--who must be incompetent, bumbling idiots? Why would we marry to begin with if men were such buffoons? If men took those videos seriously, they'd completely check out of fatherhood--after all, they're so obviously unable to do it with even a modicum of competence, so why not take off on golf or hunting trips every weekend and leave the women to do what only women can do? I am tired of people portraying motherhood as something it isn't. It isn't a job; I don't want a made-up job title to make it sound impressive. It isn't the impossible task that only the very special, gifted-by-God women can do correctly; I don't want to be placed on a pedestal because I love my daughter and do my best to take good care of her. It is a role that has value, and I don't want it to be put down, but I also don't want it to be elevated as if it's more important or more difficult than the role of fathers. I think it was more condescending to men than to women, but it was not a fair or healthy portrayal of either.

:grouphug: Praying for you and your baby.

:hurray: :party: :driving: (Just couldn't resist ... drive, girl, drive, get home and let your mama hug you!)

I'm sorry. I hope all is well. Please update us when she shows up. :grouphug:

We love the original Curious George stories. We also love the Paddington Bear stories--there's a compilation called The Paddington Treasury for the Very Young, which has great illustrations and slightly simplified storylines. That's the one we've been reading to her so far, though I think we may add some others soon. We also love several of the books from Sonlight's P3/4 core--their website is a great place to look for ideas.

No advice, but lots of empathy. It's hard. It's worth it (to me; others may make other choices), but it's hard.

Following, as I have some weight to lose and this has been a concern for me as well--not enough to make me not want to lose the weight, but a concern nonetheless.

Publisher websites (so far, Sonlight, but planning TOG and several others next year as we switch away from Sonlight) Amazon.com RainbowResource.com (ok, so I haven't ordered from them yet, but they have the cheapest prices of several of the things I intend to buy for next year, so I will be ordering from them this summer)

Praying for you and your family. :grouphug:

I don't know, but I also am interested in the answer.

We have a will that specifies who will take custody of our daughter if we both die. We had to accept that there wasn't anyone who would homeschool her. Our extended family consists of nuclear families in which both parents work. Even if the life insurance provided them with enough income for one spouse to quit work and focus on raising and homeschooling our daughter, there is no one who would be willing to do that in exchange for an annual salary comparable to what they could earn. They wouldn't find it satisfying. Our situation is different, though, in that our daughter is not 2e and probably would do fine in school, at least when she's a little older. I'm not sure what we would do if she had special needs--maybe research to see if there's a private school in our family's area that could accommodate her, purchase enough life insurance so that tuition could be covered, and put it in writing that she should attend school there? I pray that when you find out what's going on with you health-wise, it will turn out to be something that isn't too serious. In any case, though, these are good issues for you to think through so that your family can have a plan in place. We don't have known health issues, but we do know that accidents and injuries could happen at any time. It's best for all involved if you have a plan, in writing. :grouphug:

:iagree: I'm glad I stopped typing and read the new response because this is a much more succinct version of what I was going to say.

Beatrix or Trixie Thumper Hopper or Hopsy Carrot or Carrie Smudge

I think I may do the same thing your friend does, OP. It's something I've caught myself doing and something of which I've started trying to be aware. When I find myself processing things by talking to others and it isn't crystal clear to me that they're actually interested, I stop talking. I resume my verbal processing later by writing or by discussing it with myself inside my own head. (I do have fascinating conversations with myself at times! :lol: ) Because I've already recognized the tendency in myself, I think I'd understand if someone else pointed out this tendency to me and/or asked me to reign it in. However, it would still hurt. And if I hadn't already recognized it myself, it would hurt and confuse me. I think it would be kinder to change the subject, and if that failed, then end the conversation.

We have family identity theft insurance through Zander. http://www.zanderins.com/idtheft/idtheft.aspx We have not had to use it (no identity theft), so I can't say how they'll be if there's a problem.

I like Lane Bryant's activewear, at least the pants--I haven't tried the shirts because I can get cheap ones to fit me fine. Pants are a different story. I have huge hips and a waist that, while still large, is proportionately smaller than you'd expect based on my hip size. (I think I count as a pear.) I do prefer to buy the ones that are advertised as "low rise," though, because in my experience, those sit at my waist. The ones that are not low rise are too long in the torso for me. I think if I were more of an apple shape, they would fit better.

I would love to be free range, but my daughter is too anxious. We live in a great neighborhood right now where the other kids, many younger than her, safely roam the neighborhood at will. If I try to convince my daughter to go out into our postcard-sized backyard without me, or to the playground just beyond it, she cries that she doesn't want to go without me. She does this even if I would be sitting just inside the patio door with an unobstructed line of sight to her. It's a rare day when I can even leave her to play in a room by herself other than her own room during her after-lunch rest time; any other time or room, she cries that she wants to be with me. We're encouraging more independence but trying not to push too hard.

You may want to add a picture or a link so we can see what you're talking about ;)

Thank you all for your suggestions! I'll check them out :)