Thanks everyone. I appreciate your honesty and I sure hope I didn't offend anyone. I never meant to do that. I just wanted to give good advice to someone I love very much. If I could offer any insight that would be helpful to her, I wanted to do that. But, I guess in the end it's just a decision she will need to make. (obviously)It appears that there is no right or easy answer to this dilemma. I appreciate your stories and heart felt responses. You all are the best!!!!

:iagree:

Oh my goodness- Yes, yes, yes!!! I did this yesterday. I cleaned my attic which looked like a bomb went off in it. It's perfect now. So much room. I put everything in totes (like you) and went through every. single. thing that I didn't want to do before now. ;) I now have this huge, clean space that is totally organized. It' such a good feeling!!!!!:001_smile::001_smile:

You are a very strong person! How blessed your children are to have such an amazing and STRONG mother as their role model! God Bless you!!!!!:grouphug:

Yes! Isn't that the truth!!!!

Oh my goodness! I could have actually written this myself! Wow! Good to know I am not alone with my thoughts. I've been pushing through a marriage with a lot of emtional abuse. Watching my family member struggle with her choices is really making me think more and more about my own. I've always held on to the hope that staying together is just simply better. But, as I get older, I don't know. Life is just simply hard, isn't it?! Thanks for sharing!:grouphug:

Thank you for your thoughts. I'm sorry for your pain. :grouphug: This is just simply an honest, heartfelt thread born out of my trying to understand and help someone I love. No judgment.

What a blessing for her to get out and find something she can do to provide for her kids! My heart breaks for the children. I think that is the number one reason women stay...so sad to think of all the lives that get hurt...It seems in some situations you get hurt staying or leaving. :grouphug:

Thanks ladies! Night Elf....I didn't think of the thread getting nasty. I guess I was assuming only those that had been through a divorce would be interested in chiming in...sorry. I mean no disrespect for anyone. And, I have no interest in debating the Biblical 'rightness' of divorce. I am in complete agreement with anyone that feels that they need to get divorced b/c of ANY reason. I am not the judge. So, I hope that no one will post to judge or ridicule others for their choices...that was not what this was about!

I do too. That's just the point...I cant decide if that's a viable option for her, or if it would be just another mistake. I've never really discussed it with anyone before. It's not something that comes up in conversation. ;) Well, I have a brother that has been very honest about regretting it. Other than that, I have no idea what to offer up for advice. In general, I think you might be making a bad situation worse. I just don't know....

This is completely unacceptable and I would be VERY angry and make a phone call to the coach. I would NEVER let my child walk in the dark home. Absolutely not ok! The other circumstances really do not matter. An 11 yr old walking home in the dark is just simply NOT SAFE! Furthermore, the distance isn't even the issue. You didn't know she was coming home and had no idea if she didn't make it that something might have happened to her. Either way, a call should have been made. Just my 2cents....but I would be extremely upset!

There seems to be a few threads lately about this topic and I am very curious about the effects of divorce. Does divorce offer real comfort and happiness or does life just get worst, much worst. I'm thinking dealing with an ex husband, kids, holidays, and future new spouses would just be a complete and total nightmare. If you have survived a divorce, would you do it again? Do you think it's better than staying in an unhappy marriage? A family member of mine is very close to this point. I just don't know what to say to her anymore. I just can't imagine divorce making anything better. Am I right or wrong? And why? There is no physical abuse. There are anger issues, there has been addiction (p*rn) issues, and seems to be emotional manipulation on different levels. But, the kids love him and he is a good provider. He's just not necessarily a nice person or easy person to live with. I guess the easiest way to describe him would be selfish. Everything is about his personal happiness and he doesn't seem to understand what her life is like or care. He does nothing around the house, carrying kids here or there, errands, schooling - nothing. He provides the paycheck. He doesn't make himself available on any level. So, she has no formal education. What do you think? It seems to me she would be foolish to pursue a divorce. I just do not know what to say. Any thoughts about what divorce is REALLY like? Does it really offer peace or do you trade one set of problems for another? Thanks so much!!

Maybe you could sit down with your husband and make a plan for the holidays. You could decide which holidays your family celebrates and which set of parents would be the best fit for those holidays- given distance, size of family, and travel involved. Or, you could try to find a way to incorporate everyone in the BIG holidays like Christmas, but divide the other holidays up- Thanksgiving, Easter, etc...

:iagree: Yes, I completely agree. My children have very much enjoyed Holy week...reading scripture and reflecting in greater depth this week about the sacrifice of Jesus's death. It's been very important for our family!!

Here is my menu: Appetizers: Veggies/ dip Chips/salsa Dinner: Turkey Potatoes au gratin Salad Green beans Fresh Corn Home made rolls Deserts: Cheese cake Carrot cake Easter cupcakes Everything sounds so yummy on here! I'm getting excited for tomorrow! You've also inspired me to take it up a notch. I tried the carrot cake recipe and it smells divine! :) It's in the freezer waiting to be frosted and decorated! I also have decided to pull out the china for tomorrow! You all are the best and I love reading your responses. You all inspire me! :)

We used JAG not AG for 6th grade. My son did very well with it, but i thought it was too light. I really think that it depends on what you want for your child. I mean...I just don't think there is enough, but like I said, my DS only did JAG. I didn't feel as if there was enough for him. He is doing Abeka in a co-op this year, and he will be doing R&S next year. These programs are more inline with what I think is more appropriate. HTH!

We raised them a few yrs ago.We have a pond in our back yard. It was perfect for us, but they are messy and a lot of work in the beginning. If you get them as littles, You'll need a big box or something to put them in and a light...plus food. Your feed store should help you with the supplies. We took them out every now and then and put them in our bath tub to practice before the pond! :auto: It was really cool...but again...a bit of a commitmen!;)

:iagree: I had lots of bleeding with my second. I was in for miscarriage "counseling" every wk until it actually happened- but it never did. The ultra sound was too early to detect a heart beat...lots of bleeding...my levels werent what they should be...so I was diagnosed with a miscarriage. About two wks in to it, I was feeling just awful. I called the dr to schedule a DNC b/c I just felt so bad. They did blood work and viola! i was very much pregnant! There was no explanation to me other than a "miracle" but it sounds just like this experience with your hormone levels. This must have been when they didn't know much about that condition b/c they absolutely couldn't explain it. Hang in there OP. You never really know what is going to happen. My son is a perfect example of leaving these things in God's hands. Pray! Keep us posted! :grouphug:

Fantastic! Thanks ladies! This is great! It feels good to do these little things for yourself!

Essie and OPI can be purchased at Sally's?

good news! I will pick up a couple of the diamond strength and test them out.

I hear ya! That's been my problem for all my 'mommy years'. :confused:

Ok, maybe this is my midlife crisis, I don't know. However, I have been obsessed with painting my nails- again (you know...like you did *before* kids). Maybe it's the weather and I just want to be cute. :001_smile: Whatever the reason, it's been years, and I do mean years, since I've put any effort into my nails. Having children, my nail polish never stayed on one day. So, things haven't really changed in that department. I'm a mom and my hands are always in water and cleaning and digging in the dirt and..... you get the idea? Because of this, I need a REALLY durable polish. Do you have any recommendations for me? I need something that will last at least a couple of days. I appreciate your thoughts! :)

Xanax!!:D:D seriously....xanax! :tongue_smilie:

Well, I didn't read the entire article. So, I should say that first. But, what I did read was so sexist. Basically, she is implying that a happy, healthy marriage is completely the *wife's* job?! Seriously? So, if I want to model a healthy marriage image to my children, I just need to do less for them and more for him- eeeek! That's just not cool. Why not ask the question: "Are you a better father or husband?". Why are we still blaming women for their choices in marriages and the result of failed marriages? WHY???? Has it ever occurred to others that maybe if fathers were more hands on mothers wouldn't be so stinkin tired at the end of the day that they would have *something* left? Oh...these women and articles just are so very insulting! Personally, I think in a healthy marriage both man and woman acknowledge that the young yrs with little children are hard. They will just have to both put their needs aside for a time. I think that marriages get into trouble when they have unrealistic expectations for each other. Children mean change. Grow up and deal with it. Obviously, I'm not implying that if someone is seriously being neglectful to their spouse, but just in a general way of being busy. If someone is intentionally being neglectful and disconnecting from their partner, that is a diff. story, but that is not what I am reading in this article. The article seems to be implying a general 'busy'ness of life that mother's have to deal with. just my 2cents!