That is going to vary for every single person, I think. What is prideful for one, might not be for someone else.

Leaner Christmases when I have spent less than $50 per child, they got a bike (on sale from Wal-mart$25) some books (bought used) moonshoes, (picked up in Freecycle and Yard Sales) and a few matchbox cars per kid. I have made gifts too, like hanging on to big cardboard box and painting it to make a playhouse one year. One year the boys got a dumptruck load of dirt to play in ($50) and Tonka dump trucks. (though I think that may have been a birthday gift.)

I don't know anyone who does that either! We will spend (on a good year) maybe $200-$300 total on the kids gifts, last year it was $200 total. I can't imagine what I would buy for them that would cost more than that... If my kids ask for something that is $75 or more, they know that item will be their only gift that year, so they don't. Topping my 6yo's list this year: plain white paper. Kid wants a ream of white copy paper. :) We are replacing the Wii that broke last summer so that is $80 gone. Their grandmother will get them Nerf Footballs. My dad will spend about $50 per kid, same with my mom. With the remainder, they will get some books, a couple of new games and maybe those Perplexus balls.

Depends on the kids. Mine have all seen them. Oldest was probably six or so when he saw the original ones.

I'd say get the better razor. My boys have had the $20 version and it was not as durable. The handle seemed to be at more of an angle to better fit a little person.

I think I'm with the "must do something to recognize a 9yo birthday on the actual day" camp. How about birthday lunch? I'm not sure who would be "in school" if sister is coming from out of town. If there are other kids in the family involved, I'm sort of surprised that they are going to school that day.

The LEGO City sets are nice and easier for younger kids. They have a large variety of choices and they are more gender neutral which may or may not appeal to Princess. The little car sets are fun, too. You can go by the ages on the packaging for the most part, as far as difficulty. If it is their first set, I'd go with smaller sets rather than a huge one so that they will be able to see progress/put them together with little frustration. We bought those plastic, under the bed, storage bins to store them.

I think 11.5 might be a little old for snap circuits. I guess it depends on how into electronics he is. My boys got some when they were about 8 and 6, but they were/are REALLY into electronics. They quickly built everything and then were done. I got ds 12 this last Christmas when he was 11 and he has enjoyed it. We recently got rid of all the K'nex. They all still play with the LEGO's daily, and have moved on to FIRST LEGO League competitions.

I don't know... I can't think of anything homemade that a teen is going to actually use except maybe a hand knitted hat/gloves/socks, or food. The girls might like pretty handmade soaps. What about cookies or candy wrapped up in a box, just for them?

As a Christian, unless you believe that this person is dangerous, then I would say YES, it is wrong. I say this from the POV of having my only cousin in and out of jail, he is obviously on meth, both uncles are recovering addicts, one has been dangerous in the past, but is doing better with treatment. My kids will spend time with all of them at Christmas/Thanksgiving and they will be nice and polite, because those guys have had a rough life, much rougher than I have or they have. It is one day... not even a whole day, just several hours. Your aunt is old, she loves her son. You said it yourself, she won't be around much longer. The son must love his mom and kids and girlfriend in order to make the effort to spend thanksgiving with them, lots of guys wouldn't make the effort. Lots of guys will spend the day high or drunk. I'd make every effort to distract the little guys, but the type of guy teasing that you mentioned above is just that... guy teasing. No, 3yo's don't get it, but that doesn't mean that just because he doesn't relate well to 3yo's, he is a waste of space. Let dh or a grandparent be on point to play/distract the kids IF it becomes necessary.

Well, I think that going to the doctor is certainly the right call. If nothing else, it will ease you mind if they say you are fine. What will certainly help is if you write out everything that you can remember and what you had been eating/drinking/ any activities immediately prior to these episodes. Maybe look at what type of diet, how much exercise you are getting, etc... (((Cheyenne)))

I have a Sherlock Holmes, a Peter Rabbit, and a Ron Weasley.

If you get the gnomes, I'm definitely coming for a visit!

Mrs Weasley is such a great character. I want to live at her house.

Hmmm.... Trinity (from The Matrix) in the kicking butt and taking names sort of way. DH says Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing. I'll add more if I think of them.

(snickering) He'll love it when you get to the more bawdy parts! I LOATHE reading aloud... it always makes me feel like a bad parent.

Mine: Little Women: I profoundly identified with Jo as a child. Pride and Prejudice: helped me decide that I was looking for equality/respect in relationship. Travels with Charley: was one of the first books to shake me out of a "comfortable lie" Harry Potter: reintroduced me to children's fantasy 'Til We Have Faces: changed the way I think about everything... Lord of the Rings: "The road goes ever on and on..." and more...

If the birthday falls on a weekday, then all kids get that day off. Only one of mine has a b'day during the school year. Dh also takes the kids' b'days off.

We are Christians, but we found the constant Bible stories and "instructional" stories to be overkill to the point of sacrilege (for us). The children are always so helpful, and if they aren't, they get what is coming to them. That said, my oldest has used R&S since 4th grade and has exceptionally good grammar skills. He hates it, but he is good at it. He tells me that the example sentences are usually things like "everything you never wanted to know about the dangers of fruit bats" My middle only used it for two years before he was crying over it. I've moved him to FLL 4 and it is going swimmingly. R&S lacks: Dictation passages Good poetry (The poetry is truly awful.) R&S abounds in: Gender stereotypes Stories about helpful children Stories about Biblical characters. Very good grammar instruction. Painfully boring example sentences For example: "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." Mother said, "I have assigned the boys some chores." and "The congregation listened reverently to the message."

Mine were 5, 3, and 0. They are all time favorites around here. In MANY ways they are far less scary/violent than Disney movies.

Well, what I have done is try to teach my kids that while there are some bad people in the world, overwhelmingly, most are good, helpful people, including the people you haven't met yet. I refuse to view every guy as a potential predator. I encourage them to talk to strangers, make eye contact, start a conversation. I don't really worry about strangers at all. In the Penn State thing, the kids were from situations where t seems lie there was no one there to get creeped out. Not that any of this was in any way the parent's fault, they were targeted, I would guess, because they were vulnerable, in the same way that kids in the foster care system are.

I would agree, but you have to define degree. For example, making a point to speak to a kid each week when you see them... Is that over the top? What about inviting them over to hang out with your kids? What about offering to take them out for ice cream? There is one guy I know (dad of my kid's friend) who creeps me out a bit, and I don't let my kids just go hang out at this man's house, Another dad might suggest the same type of activity and I would be fine with that. I just don't like this generalization that EVERY MAN should be viewed through the lens of "potential predator". It really just makes me sad. Our boys, who we are trying to protect with this suspicion, will grow up and be viewed by the same lens. Our daughters-in-law may just decide that their FIL is "too interested" in the grandkids. Or my son's future wife may decide that her dh's brother is just not normal for wanting to take his nieces and nephews out for ice cream.

Macbeth: first play I ever saw... it hooked me on Shakespeare. I saw it in an old abandoned lime quarry that had been converted to an outdoor theater. Much Ado About Nothing Henry V A Midsummer Night's Dream: See it outdoors if possible. Romeo and Juliet: since Bottom and his friends just performed Pyramus and Thisbe in MSND King Lear As You Like It A Winter's Tale

I know all parents want to protect their kids, but I think that whoever this social worker is, they are just dead wrong. I am often interested in other kids besides my own, and so is dh. It absolutely IS normal that some adults are interested in the welfare of children besides those who are blood related. I find it disgusting that anyone would caracterize "interest in a child" as "a huge red flag." No wonder no one will volunteer for scouts, 4h, Sunday school teachers, etc... So as a social worker she is either stating that: A: She isn't interested in her clients. B: She IS interested in her child clients and therefore "not normal". The lack of logic astounds me.

Yes. I shop almost exclusively at independent bookshops. I do pay more than I would if I bought online, but I figure it is worth paying a bit more to have this awesome little shop in my town. It is worth it to me to pay a bit more to keep them there. They suppost the community, don't stock trash, will order anything I want, and are friendly... All qualities that are not true of our local B&N.