We went tubing down a river in Townsend, TN last summer. It was really fun. It was called River Rat.

Not the person that this was addressed to, but I wanted to throw my two cents in anyway! I am a Christian, though not conservative. I do not primarily think of "moral" relating to sexual conduct. In fact, if someone was described to me as being immoral, I would think first that they were a liar/cheat. Misrepresenting something or taking advantage of someone. I guess I think or moral as being very close to the word ethical. I also so think your acts of omission ARE immoral, but it is also a sticky situation. If I donate to one food bank, but not another, could I afford to donate more money if I bought a cheaper car/didn't vacation, I do NOT think that is immoral. But if God put someone/some situation in front of me and I did not respond/help as I could, I do believe that would be immoral.

Sweet Magnolias It is on Netflix.

We just had Covid and mucinex helped my husband a LOT.

I answered before I read the post. I voted closed, but I was thinking when people are in them- not when it is not in use! Of course doors should be left open when not being used- so you can tell at a glance if someone is in there.

My vaxxed, 14 year old ds has been sick for a week now with congestion, coughing, and headache. His symptoms started on Tuesday and are just now letting up. He tested positive on Thursday. Dh and I started feeling sick- coughing, sore throat, fever, chills, etc. on Friday. We’re all vaxxed. I’m really glad because of this is the mild version, the severe version would be really horrible. The two youngest have not had any symptoms and I wonder if it’s because it hasn’t been as long since they got vaxxed. Anyway, I know there are cases that aren’t so bad, but we’ve really been miserable.

My 7 year old just insisted that hair was longer when it was wet than when it was dry. I didn’t bother arguing with him.

Adults would be different, my kids are between 7 and 14. And a couple times a month is NOT too much to ask. We have (quiet) tea way more often than that. Honestly,if my kids were adults, I would tell them that dad and I were having an at home date night and they needed to make themselves scarce for a few hours! Honestly, when my oldest can drive, I will be paying him to take the youngers to the movies regularly!

Well, on one hand, we DO brew tea while the kids are awake. But, it is more inhibited than it is when we have an empty house. I'm sure my kids will someday realize why our door was locked and we yelled at them to go away. And when we do have an empty house.... Well, that's fun.

You ARE lucky! Kids being awake definitely impacts things here. They are awake at night and in the morning!!

Phone chargers!!!! Maybe not fun, but always useful!

I have taken many antidepressants without weight gain. I have taken 2 that did make me gain weight. When I realized that was what was causing it, I switched meds. One was realized right away, the other I gained 50 pounds before making the connection. It was a mess for sleep and it was NOT working - I thought the weight gain was because I was literally too tired to do anything. I just laid on the couch and had the kids bring me their school work for several months. My brother is on ADs. He eats/drinks tons of protein shakes to get/stay heavier. (Not in a dangerously underweight way, more in a bodybuilder way) My son has taken Prozac or Zoloft for about 7 years- he is and always had been super skinny. My dad takes a LOT of meds. He is bipolar. He is overweight, but not crazy so, and I wouldn’t blame it on the meds. Several female members of my family have been on antianxiety meds and no one gained a significant amount of weight.

I used to tell this to my older kids too! Then one day, my then 8 year old dd said “mom, stop trying to argue with an 8 year old!” 😂

Maybe message him about how much fun you had with your husband? Just like he is dropping hints about being unhappy, you drop hints about being happy! If his intentions aren’t good, he’ll stop texting pretty quickly.

There were two golf carts that were driving their kids around- the big 6 seater kind. I found it super annoying because they were not going any faster than we were, so they kept pulling up right behind me as I was waiting in the street while the kids ran up driveways.

A 5 paragraph essay on “why dressing out for PE helps you succeed in life” is insane. I would be talking to that teacher.

Beautiful!

Mine use Messenger Kids as well. They use it to video chat and leave text messages. You can probably use it on any device.

I have major depression/anxiety and have had no trauma or abuse or anything like that. My ds has many of the same issues with no trauma. My dad has similar issues and I don’t believe he had any trauma either. (Although there could be parts of his life he hasn’t shared). With my ds, though- I have been with him every single day of his life. I whole heartedly believed that I could raise him “right” and he could be spared some of my issues. I did everything from healthy eating to never letting him cry it out, etc. Doesn’t matter. In fact, I kindof think that his complete lack of real trauma causes him to experience slight discomforts as trauma. Like, if we don’t go where he wants for dinner, he accuses us of loving the other kids more because we went where they wanted. Stupid stuff like that. Every day. He has been diagnosed with all kinds of things. And I’ve completely given up thinking I can do anything “right”. I think this has a genetic link.

Apparently, I am paying too much too. Ds’s were $7000.

Wooden train/train tracks. Play doh might be something special if mom doesn’t want to deal with the mess at home.

Oh, I wanted to add that neither my dad or my brother thrive with “low pressure” lifestyles. They thrive with being completely immersed in something. With my dad, it was his work. With my brother it’s work, but also working out/martial arts/boxing, etc.

Ha! I didn’t realize this was almost a zombie thread.

My dad is bipolar type 2. He is a very successful person. He had a good, long career and has written a book. He is retired now and writes for a website that focuses on mental health. He was not diagnosed until he was probably 50. There was no abuse/significant trauma in his life or in my childhood. There were times when he was emotionally absent from us, but my mom did her best to shield us from that. He could be described as a workaholic. (I was shocked that he retired at all- although when he did, he frequently “filled in” for people. He didn’t relax or anything.)That’s how I viewed things when I was young. I thought he just cared so much about work that he didn’t care about us. This was before he was diagnosed/medicated. At any rate, he is certainly independent and has had a good life. My brother and I have significant issues that are inherited from him, although not a bipolar diagnosis. I’m diagnosed with persistent major depressive disorder. We were both diagnosed and medicated in our college years. I have not had trouble holding down a job, though I have been home with my kids for a really long time! My bro is quickly climbing the ladder in his chosen profession. He has also found that martial arts/boxing/working out helps him a lot. So he does that. A LOT. Anyway, I wanted to share a “success” story. It is HARD. But it is doable.

You guys are very inspiring people. We just went white water rafting as a family. I feel like more adventure opportunities are opening up now that the youngest is not little. (Well, he’s 7, but the age for rafting was 6!) Not carting around baby stuff and kids all being able to handle themselves is great.