Blueberry chutney for cheese and pork is yummy. I also prefer savory to sweet. Blueberry BBQ sauce for chicken is delish. I'm sorry to not link recipes, I've made both just by making them, but there are probably great recipes to be had for both.

I'm starting to plan a new approach for rising junior dd's US History. I taught this class for her cohort in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades and she does not want me teaching her again! But I also want one last out-of-the box class for her and so have started to arrange "field trips" corresponding to the info she'll be learning with an on-line class. She was the baby when my older kids were doing interesting projects and trips so didn't actually experience any of it, just got hauled along. One of the long-term volunteer positions she's had was eliminated so that frees up some time. It's the high school-based extras that are currently the planning crunch. I would looooove to have a semester free of high school drama (literally, the theater kids are so dang dramatic) but it's her social life-line so we'll see. I love planning but this upcoming fall is kind of kicking me with unknowns. Way will open.

Oh my word, this is beyond. Great photo, thank you.

I didn't want to hijack Jenny's thread. In my district (can't speak for the whole state) the high school required ds3 to take the PSAT with his 11th grade fall cohort because he was on the soccer team and therefore in their system. My first two kids didn't take the PSAT since they weren't doing anything at the high school. Dd4 is in show choir and theater, so I imagine they'll want to sign her up for the PSAT. Is there any good reason other than the National Merit stuff to do the PSAT? It would seem more helpful to me to just take the harder one in fall of 11th grade to have a first crack at it. We're not a family that starts testing any earlier, though I know many on this board do that. I also don't want my kids ticking the box that says "send my scores to wherever" because I really dislike the barrage of recruiting information that my friends' kids are subjected to - I've seen so many kids get the "we're interested in you" letters and emails that are so obviously efforts to keep their admissions statistics low and therefore ratings high. So many parents I know have fallen for this, it must be very hard to resist. So, another question: is there any worth to ticking that box in 11th grade? Thank you for all responses.

Longest game of Uno ever! January 4, 2009 A lot has happened in the last twelve years. You may need to sit down.

I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law. Rev. Dr. MLK Jr.

25 married, 31 together. The sizzle is in the past though we sometimes make sizzly comments to each other, just no follow-through. Our lives are completely woven together in that we've been business partners for all but about 1 year of our relationship. We call each other if one isn't at the business but otherwise we are together more or less 24/7. This may seem odd to people who don't experience it but I can't imagine not working with my spouse every day. We are total opposites on nearly everything other than politics and we think that has helped keep it interesting!

My local police department just called me at midnight thirty to tell me that a neighbor's tree fell on my husband's truck while it was parked in town , which is why I'm awake and reading this - it's always a good time to take down dangerous trees! You offering to pay and arrange it all is beyond generous.

I've been gone all day and just now reading the continuing thread. Again, many thanks to all who've posted, every post has given me food for thought. I'm grateful for this group of no-nonsense, fiercely loving parents!

I don't think of it as verbal abuse, but the posters who have pointed out that things can progress from bad to worse do strike a chord. That's why I said that it may be me that not seeing it throughout Covid makes it seem worse, but it might just actually be worse.

She does. She's kind and funny to the rest of us, which is part of why it's so confusing.

Thank you all for such wise words. Thank you. I too had losses and it was so hard. I was a basket case each time until I had another child. This. I thought a lot about this before they were married and rather than "speak now" I held my peace for this very reason. This is my goal. I do like this approach. If I were to say anything, it would be this. Carefully. So wise. We are like this too, but maybe because she's an only child she never received the pushback that told her "enough". I think maybe she feels that she's doing just what we do. I am reaching deeper. I'm sure I will go back and forth in my mind some more, but I feel more at peace with the thoughts you've all given me.

Ds and dd-in-law have been here for the fourth. It's so nice to have all my kids home and we've had fun adventures. But. The two of them snipe at each other a lot, and have a dynamic that I can only describe as exhausting. I'll be honest - daughter in law snipes at ds. He kind of laughs it off or changes the subject but occasionally engages. It's sort of funny tone but mean content. She's an only child and has always been pretty high maintenance, but it's really getting to me this time. We haven't had them here since before Covid so it's possible I'm just more sensitive to it after not seeing it for a while. My other kids are blown away and are very concerned for their oldest brother. We are very different from dd-i-l but have taken an unconditional love approach that has allowed us to bond with her over the years. She also snaps his first and middle name out sometimes as if she's his mother and is reprimanding him which I find creepy but is just her way. I have compassion for people who suffer, and perhaps she suffers and takes it out on him? But her life looks pretty good from here. They both have jobs they love though his is quite stressful, they have a sweet house sold to them by her parents, he does all the cooking and most of the cleaning. She and her parents are very close and loving, they live near to them and see them all the time. They do and buy whatever they want. So I'm having a hard time mustering compassion. One exception is that they want children and have been trying, they've lost two so far and are starting to investigate - I have huge compassion for that part. So here's my ask of the hive: say something to ds? Our relationship is very solid and loving, but he is tight with his emotions and could easily take offense. If I did, what would it even be? "do you feel happy?" "are you guys ok?" "does she ever stop hassling you?" Just kidding, would not ask that last, but you get the idea. Or not say something and just wait for him? He once said one thing about how it was hard; they've been married for 7 years. Have any of you suggested marriage counseling to dc? Why or why not? How? They live near her parents who maybe are just like her - her mom at least. I've seen her dad back up my son in a male-bonding kind of way which fully cements the sniping behavior because it gets trivialized. Thank you for any advice.

Dd has a Medtronic, but we've heard the Dexcom 6 is the way to go. We borrowed the money from a friend with zero regrets. And Go Oklahoma! with the forward-thinking insulin regs.

I'm so sorry to read this. We have ACA exchange-based insurance and it does cover dd's pump supplies and CGM but with a co-pay and of course a deductible. I don't know about your state, but here we can see online which durable medical devices and insulins each type of insurance covers and with what co-pay. The exchange website allows you to put in all of your family's info and see different price and deductible options, but having lots of kids will take a while to input! If your COBRA isn't covered, you can get insurance right away on the exchange. The people who answer the phone and will do it for you have always been very easy to work with for me. For non-Type 1's reading this, a CGM sensor is programmed to shut itself off after 1 week. They cost about $75.00 each. You have to replace the pump set and reservoir every three or four days at about $20 and $10.00 each. Two weeks of insulin is about $350.00. Strips for the meter that work with the pump can run about .50 each, and you might use 2 - 5 a day. Lancets for checking blood are about .20 each. Two weeks of self-pay Type 1 diabetes with pump and CGM: about $600.00. This is not counting the cost of a pump ($10,000.00), emergency glucagon ($250.00), the CGM sensor charger ($700.00), doctor's visits ($150.00 - $300.00 depending on what type of practitioner, twice a year) or yearly lab tests usually required to stay in the practitioner's care ($300 - $1,000). I am holding your family in the light.

For me, one of my children having a chronic, autoimmune, incurable condition makes me feel a) guilty that I somehow caused it or at the least couldn't protect her from it and b) that everything I deal with is relatively easy, compared to what she has to do and feel every day.

Following this. I did a foolish thing late this winter and put all our books into the outdoor sauna (water- and critter-proof, lined with cedar so they're happy) to wait while we build them a new home. Now the house feels so spacious! We have a small house and no closets. We want to rebuild a wall of shelves we used to have but the piano is hogging all the room. Musician dd and I believe the piano stays where it is, dh and two of the dc are for getting rid of it. Non-negotiable, we're blocking consensus. The pics here are helpful!

Does anyone have experience with this online language school and can give some feedback? Thank you.

No, I said it has taken us 400 years to get to where we are now. I did not say or imply that we are no better off than 400 years ago. Straw man fallacy.

Still finishing here. Hit of the year: PAH AP Psych with Bonnie Gonzalez. She's hoping to be a TA next year. No real misses. She's finishing chem and mostly hates it, so more an attitude miss 🙂

That is a lot. I'm holding you in the light. Your fortitude in your adoption story has been inspiring to me, and this post reminds me how hard you work to keep it all together. Hoping you can rest and recharge this weekend. Harpy

I agree, I'm talking about educators, school admins, curriculum directors, gatekeepers. It took us 400 years to get here, it will take a while to get out. An equitable society will need to encompass both ending personal bigotry and structural, generational oppression. Reparations, a re-working of the economy away from capitalism, ending for-profit health care, replacing the current prison system are specifics.

I think the answer is that there is a silent "white" in front of "kids" in your sentence. BIPOC kids see color all the time, and are taught from a young age how to navigate the world to try to stay safe. White kids don't have to see color to be safe from racially-based violence. Separating is not my preferred strategy. Presenting concrete, workable ways out of the current (400 + years) situation should be the goal while helping all kids see where they are within the system only as a means to ending it. Leaving kids with just the present facts is to leave them in despair.

Angry.

We usually make a float for our small-town parade. We're running real late this year, but expect to pull it off at the last minute.