This seems almost more related to friend choices than texting itself. Maybe it's more about cutting off the texting relationship with certain kids. I agree that not all relationships are fit for the kind of constant interaction that texting involves. Our kids can't have their phones on at school, during baseball/dance, during dinner, or in their bedrooms/overnight. What that leaves is the spaces in between, and my kids do text a ton during that time, but it's not a problem for us because we have clearly portioned off phone-free times. And their friends are healthy (enough).

Oh, that's a hard one. We haven't dealt with cyber bullying as much as opting out of the drama cycle. One kid has felt pretty left out of that part of the social scene, though that seems to be less of an issue currently. (I think because snap chat has recently had a decline in use, so it doesn't feel like he's missing out as much). The other one has friends whose parents are more like us so it hasn't been an issue. We're liberal with texting because it hasn't been a problem. I'm sorry that hasn't been the case for you guys.

Yep. Based on what we learned from our oldest, we’ve decided not to allow any social media at all. Ever. They have smart phones w texting, but no web browsing and no SM apps.

You might consider paying the $50 to go get Live Scanned at your local police department. It’s kind of the gold standard for working with kids.

I haven’t heard of that one but those are standard BR check requests for criminal and driving record checks. Dd works with Care.com, but she’s found her best gigs via local Facebook pages.

Are you on a well? Wondering why electricity affects your plumbing...

I have to say, celiac level gluten elimination is waaaay beyond anything I realized. My friend’s 3 kids were all dx’d with celiac and they basically had to replace their entire kitchen set. All pots and pans, dishes, food storage, utensils, appliances that had direct gluten content. It was a big financial hit. They have had to miss a ton of activities that involve food because their kids are young enough to not have a great handle on how to avoid cross contamination. They have to pack their own food everywhere they go. It’s so much more than casually going off of gluten. To the OP, I would at least do the blood test. Also, beyond investigating celiac, I would look into getting your son into see someone about the OCD behaviors. They sound like they’re really impacting his life. (((Hugs)))

Really? IME, Americans have a crazy variety of vowel pronunciations. ETA: I know this has been posted before, but I think it's super cool. I've taken it a few times and it never fails to peg my city within 25 miles. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/upshot/dialect-quiz-map.html

I got East Midlands, though I don't pronounce withdrawal with either of the options they gave, so I just chose one. I love how we're all trying to have British accents. Nope, I still sound like an American. :lol:

Something else to think about, my friend’s child used to have extreme meltdowns until they discovered she has celiac. It was kind of a miraculous change.

With my eldest, it was a relief. Homeschooling was contributing to a really unhealthy dynamic in our relationship. With my second (homeschooler, third kid), it was a natural transition because we sensed it coming and planned for it. With my last, it was kind of hard. She was wonderful to homeschool and we only got word 4 days before school started that she got the transfer needed to go to school (vs stay home for another year). I felt like a failure with my first, because it was such a hard relationship and hard decision. With the last 2, it felt like a natural ending, if not a little abrubt with the last one. It probably helps that I never saw myself hsing all the way. We pretty much always had brick and mortar high school in our sites. It was a long time plan that I would go back to school when we got to this point, and I am. And no, I don't love everything about it.

These are pretty much my numbers unless I intentionally go out for an additional walk, which I need to get better about. Everyone's baseline is different. If you have a job that has you up and moving, or you live in the city, you are going to have higher numbers. For you and I, I think the only way to hit 10K is to add a walk into the daily routine (or get a job as a server :-).

Hmm, that’s wise. As an introvert, I can totally see myself in that position.

If someone asked me that, I would answer with my best girl friend, because that’s just how I process what it’s asking. But if you asked me who I consider my closest life friend, I would say dh hands down. But I do think of them as 2 different categories. Not right or wrong, just how my brain organizes things. As for the bigger question, I don’t think a spouse must be a best friend, but I do think it’s a great thing (and also pretty common if you factor in the different definitions that I touched on above).

Can you downshift your participation? Go for 1 class and lunch rather than the whole day. Without another regularly scheduled point of contact, I think it’s pretty much inevitable that those friendships will start to fade out.

IME, yes. My crazy active, hellion toddler, was also the baby who contorted my stomach so badly that I took video saying, “I hope he’s not this active once he gets out of there!†He was.

It seems like a degree in a bio field would be more relevant. Is biochem its own degree?

I cry in church all the time. All. The. Time. I don’t think anyone even notices anymore. The one that embarrassed me recently was that I burst into tears in my English class. My professor was reading Joyas Voladoras aloud and she got to the last paragraph and there I went! Surrounded by 20 yer olds who could not relate at all. She saw me, made meaningful eye contact, and just kept going.

Leave a yelp review describing her mistakes (after picking up your records).

Word. It’s not a pretty quality. Bloom where you’re planted! We live in Orlando for 8 years and I loved it. I would not say I am a heat person, but somehow I acclimated. My biggest piece of advice is get a house with a pool. It makes alllll the difference. I loved the people. Central Florida has a lot of transplants and I personally find places like that great to live. There’s something friendly about it. Homeschooling there is awesome. Just so many opportunities.

You rock! And also...

I couldn’t get into it. It was a 3-Star for me. Dd loved it.

I noticed that the shooting wasn’t coming up on my FB news feed when it happened. The gun control stories come up now, but the actual event didn’t.

IKEA sells a great, cheap press. It even comes apart nicely for cleaning. I love it.

Unless this is one of your kids, avoid as much as possible. My relative like this, I literally bow out of conversations that are deeper than the weather. I just can’t do it. And she does have a personality disorder (not npd). And don’t become the rescuer in a crisis. Screen your phone calls.