[This feels... not quite right]

Wow, that is unethical, for sure. At a minimum, I wouldn't take my child and really, I would want to speak up, though I'm not sure I would.

[Nephew/ds piano teacher moving to a bad neighborhood..how to handle this?]

Daytime isn't an option. He has a 9-5 job.

 

I really don't want to change teachers and I know my son won't either. My son and nephew are quite similar in many ways...including how they approach music. So my nephew "gets" how to teach him. It's also nice that he can have that time with his cousin.

 

 

 

Wonderful for you! However, that really isn't the point of my post/question.

I see her point in that another option is to give it a try and and maybe it isn't nearly as bad or dangerous as you think it is. Like others, I've lived I plenty of areas others might consider "dangerous," but I have never felt unsafe in any of them.

[Can you educate me about bike helmets (for adults)?]

Go to a bike store if you don't mind spending extra money on the helmet. The reality is they are all certified , so more expensive helmets don't protect you better, they are just lighter weight, have more ventilation and can be more aerodynamic.

 

 

You could go into Dick's, REI or even Walmart and get a perfectly fine helmet. There are many that are "adult universal" sized. You do need to fit it to your head snugly and adjust the straps so that it doesn't wiggle back and forth, but I don't think you need a bike shop to do those things.

[Would you consider this meal "so weird"...UPDATE in #55]

It's not traditional in that there is no main course, it's all sides. I would assume you were on a diet since there is no bread or starch. However, I would never comment on your choices.

[What would you suggest for bedroom situation?]

What about a portable air conditioner for the garage room? They aren't too expensive and that would be the least disruptive to everyone else.

[St. Louis B&M schools]

The Parkway School District has a program called Mosaics Academy. My son was in it for two years and loved it (and then we moved out of state, unfortunately). There are approximately 10 kids in each classroom and they ability group within the academy for math. The program continues through 8th grade. The student must have a 140 or higher fsiq or gai on a Wisc to be invited.

[Would you find this odd? Maybe a bit disturbing? Normal?]

None of those would be a deal breaker for me, but the weight loss comments would bother me the most as I am more of a love your body and see all the fabulous things it can do rather than trying to lose weight person. If I wanted to lose weight, I would do it quietly and not involve my kids.

[S/o- just how much is your deductible?]

Ours is $2600 individual/$5200 max, but my dh's employer gives us $2600 in a health savings account and we only pay $200/month for our share of the coverage, so it's a good deal, imo.

[Would this make you feel defensive?]

Unless you were reading something into her tone of voice that I can't hear from reading text, I don't think her fancy pen comment was out of line. However, i could see her taking your reply personally and being offended as you basically told her that you didn't want to touch s pen after she had used it. Her comment to the next customer was unnecessary and equally rude.

[This scares me]

A back flip is "safer" than a front flip as you can see your landing and catch yourself. A front flip causes you to land without seeing the ground. I wouldn't want my kids learning either one without experienced coaching, but I would be more anxious over a front flip than a back one.

I am more concerned about a lack of height and rotation. The back flip is more likely to lead to a broken neck if not done correctly. I agree that proper coaching is ideal, but I would still be more concerned about untrained people flipping backwards than forward.

[This scares me]

I would be far more concerned about him trying to do a back flip, than forward. Sign him up for a tumbling class, if you can, or at least take him to a an open gym to practice on a trampoline (but make it clear that he is not to try to go backwards).

[when your house rules keep family away]

No smoking would be a rule I wouldn't bend, but we don't have any smokers who would visit, so it's a bit of a moot rule. I also wouldn't allow anyone to open carry or knowingly bring a weapon of that sort into my house, but again, we don't know many/any gun-toting people, so I doubt it's a rule I would ever have to enforce.

 

Otherwise, I value my family, especially my kids, over arbitrary rules, so I would do my best to make any situation work.

[Anyone have an unfinished basement?]

We are having ours finished this summer. It's costing about $30/sf, but we are having vinyl planks installed (instead of carpet) and a new sump pump with battery backup, which is adding a few dollars per sf. Also, there is a full bath in that price, but the house already had the rough plumbing for it, so I'm not sure how much that added. This is with drywall ceiling/walls, canned lighting, flooring, and painting (and includes the stairwell to the basement). Everything will be done professionally, by licensed contractors, and up to code. I feel like it's a fair price.

[Would you leave a teen home alone overnight?]

At 14, no. At 16, yes, if I trusted her.

[Fitbit/Garmin fitness tracker---how/how much do you use it?]

i don't watch my steps closely enough to be positive when it's not catching steps, but I am pretty sure I get credit for mowing the grass and my arms aren't moving then (but the mower is vibrating so that could be causing the step count).

 

Activity trackers are definitely not perfect. I racked up a lot of steps one day painting.

[Amazon shipping, a vent disguised as a question]

I live very close to a warehouse and I find that my orders take several days to ship and then often arrive quickly once they leave the warehouse. I have always assumed the delay was to encourage people to pay for upgraded shipping because why would I pay for expedited shipping if i knew it would arrive quickly at no extra charge.

[Fitbit/Garmin fitness tracker---how/how much do you use it?]

How does it record activities other than walking? I saw it was supposed to record cycling, kayaking, cross country skiing, etc.

 

Is it really big and bulky to wear all day? My wrist is bigger so I am at the top end for the regular size band so might have to go with the longer one.

It is a little bit thick, but not enormously so size-wise. I do not notice it, but I was used to the Fitbit (which is a bit thinner and narrower).

 

I've only used the watch to track running and cycling and that uses the gps. When I am done, I download to Garmin Connect on my phone and it gives me the route, pace, elapsed time and heart rate. It also provides elevation, calories and graphical information. I love data, so I enjoy looking at the stats.

[Fitbit/Garmin fitness tracker---how/how much do you use it?]

My daughter and I had Fitbit charges and both stopped working and were replaced by Fitbit. The replacements both died and I will not buy another. I now have a Garmin Vivosmart Hr+ and I love it! I wear it all the time and I don't have to worry about getting it wet. I also love the gps feature on it.

[House questions- possibly moving]

We had 1900 sf + 300sf finished basement (another 300 unfinished) and never felt cramped.

 

We moved to a 2800sf house + 1300sf unfinished basement and now have a spare bedroom, an unused loft and unnecessarily large master bedroom and bathroom. It's nice to have the room, but if I had it to do over, I would have gone with more land and less house.

 

ETA: there are 4 of us.

[Would you get a barely over min. Wage job knowing 40% will go to taxes?]

I did it last year and it was way more of a hassle for my family than it was worth. Added to that, I lost my IRA deduction because my employer offered a plan (that I didn't use because I was planning to use the existing IRA and it was even worse).

 

I would not do it again unless we either really needed the money or it was something I really wanted to do.

[New Interiors Doors Dilemma]

Option 4. I would never notice if the doors were different on two different levels (and even if I did, it would never be a deal breaker on a home purchase).

[Would you pay boyfriend/give a gift for fixing my laptop?]

That sounds like a a very nice gesture, especially the backup drive, if that is in the correct range you were thinking of giving.

[Cost for private swim lessons]

I would expect to pay $20 for a 30 minute lesson (and that is what I paid 6 years ago to high school senior).

[how much money]

If the food is for everyone, then $15 is reasonable. I can't imagine why the coach should fund the party or goody bags (though you could lobby to not have those), he already volunteered his time to coach.

 

Why not just skip the party? It doesn't sound like you've had a good experience.

[DC....plan B.....now what?]

If you go early, you should be able to get bureau of engraving tickets. There is a both behind the building that distributes tickets. They still had tickets after 1pm when we were there in late March.