We use a giant mirror. I haven't told them they can do it on the windows. I'm afraid it won't stay to windows.

I do expect my children to do their best, whatever their best may be. I don't expect perfection. However, I do not accept lack of effort. On the same note, I expect myself to put forth my best effort in all that I do. Do I succeed with perfection in everything? No. Do I slack once in a while? Yes. Is my slacking acceptable. No, not in my opinion.

Is spanking legal in Canada? I know there was some legistlation about it but I don't know the outcome. When we were on public assistance the nurses would ask vague questions about my parenting skills. I knew the nurse, she was the mom of a friend of mine and a professor at my university. Anyway, she explained that part of her asking is so she can provide resources for parents who need them. She was also a mandatory reporter in our state for different child protection violations.

If we had good planning we could have made it on my income alone after my husband was forced out of his job and we had a 2 year old and one on the way. We weren't planning for that so it was significantly more difficult for us. We had recently purchased a brand new car for me and I had student loans. Without those two expenses we could have made it work for us long term. With what your daughter's carreer would be it is something she can continue to do without too much added burden after she has children. A very good homeschooling friend of mine stayed home full-time after her oldest was born but she continued to work as a stylist for her friends and previous clients. She would either go to their house while her husband stayed with the kids or she would bring them along or the client would come to her house. It was how they paid for their homeschool for a long time.

I love my mil and my fil. I really am blessed. We lived with them for a number of years and even looked into buying a communal property together a few years ago.

We had very little to spend last year. I made jammie pants for my kids in fabrics that reflected their interests. Using coupons for the fabrics I spend $12 for 4 yards. They were so little that I also used the fabric to make matching juggling/bean bag balls and fun shaped boo boo bags for each of them. I salvaged some broken necklaces from freecycle and made each of them a necklace and bracelet set. I made an apron for my oldest. I then made her a cookbook full of meals she enjoys and can cook on her own using mostly pictures because she was a struggling reader. I made a butterfly doll for my 4 year old daughter from some old curtains and t-shirts. Then they each received a "new" book from the gently used book store that was purchased using credit I had from selling them some of our old books. As much as we use the library my kids still love to have a favorite book to haul around the house as their own.

We use all three rows all the time. The back doesn't work for some of the carseats because it isn't deep enough. We only put children in boosters back there. When in need we can fit 3 car seats across in the middle fairly comfortably. When I took the Brownies camping last fall we were full. 4 boosters and two girls who didn't need them. We had their sleeping bags under their feet, bags stacked in the back and all the other supplies in a top carrier. We can't use a top carrier when we camp as a family because we need both the hatch rack and the top rack for our bicycles.

I didn't know that about Sears. Thank you. I'm going to pass that along to my mom. She buys the kids clothes from there but never gives me the receipt. That would be great since my girls hand down from oldest to younger without storing it at all.

Hope it goes well for you. I also have house buying anxiety. Just the thought of it sends my heart racing. Super glad Bart announced we are staying where we are.

That is my middle child. She hates public bathrooms. She even refuses to use the one bathroom at my parents house because she doesn't think my mom keeps it clean enough. She only uses the guest bath because very few people use that one. She is also in charge of cleaning our half bath, the one she uses most. Her standards are strict!

We wash, when the conditions are acceptable to me, and use hand santizer. My son's best friend is seriously immune compromised as well as my sister. Hand washing is a big big thing for us to be able to continue to see and play with the ones we love. If we don't wash in the bathroom I do make a point to remind them that I have hand sanitizer in my bag.

Pants never fit Pirate for more than one season so I have no idea which ones can handle his abuse for the long run. Pirate is so rough on pants that I refuse to buy them new. He gets 2nd hand twice a year.

:iagree: Read it. I wouldn't use this "method" if you are not open to having more children earlier than you would like. Also, it isn't just your husband who needs to have self-control in the matter.;)

That is a good point.:) I think it was an honest oversight to think about that option considering the number of sick children right now. We had vomitting as part of the flu last week so that is right where my mind went. I was that kid who got carsick. Actually I still am. My oldest gets carsick too and it really does kick in when you stop for a meal hardcore.

Oh, Ack! My kids don't know what to do when we leave a restroom without washing. (Only the restrooms where you look at the sink and it is dirtier than the toilet and there is no soap and the paper towel dispenser is broken.) Then I remind them that I keep handsanitizer in my bag for a reason. We are vigilant hand washers and I might be just a touch bit of a germaphobe.