Recent content by akmom

That seems absurd. Get her 2 carat plastic diamond earrings. It's all the same to her. It sounds like your husband doesn't know much about children, or how to give appropriate gifts they will enjoy. Save the diamond earring idea for another ten years, and she'll probably actually...

I moved to Hawai'i and had more kids. There still doesn't seem to be much activity on this board. Perhaps everyone got the parenting thing figured out after all these years!

It's kind of hard to sympathize with your sardonic tone when you never divulge what actually happened. Was this "personal and private information" actually something that the school or law enforcement had a duty to investigate? Or would a reasonable person, from the same culture, agree that...

It sucks to go to bed when you're not tired. I still hate it. I feel like screaming hysterically or doing a million other things when I'm expected to go to bed. But as an adult, I've learned to just behave and then sneak out when everyone else falls asleep so I can binge watch Netflix until...

I know you didn't come here for potty training advice, but I have some anyway, so take it or leave it. Your child isn't making the distinction between sitting on the potty and using the potty. I don't think he's necessarily mentally "not there yet." Most children can potty train by age 2...

It sounds like your mom was making excuses. She didn't go out to show you anything; she did it because she wanted to. I don't see any problem with parents going out on occasion, but they should still have quality time with their kids. If she left every weekend, without you, and left you...

I agree, it was not her place to buy your child things when you specifically said no. My mom tried this a few times and we also had to put our foot down. No one benefits when parents' authority is undermined. It sounds like you want to kind of put your kids' lives "on hold" when you go on...

Invest in a humidifier and he won't have so much dried mucous causing him discomfort. Also advise him to use a tissue and do it privately.

That's what I thought when I read this. Why would you need to babysit a 19 year old or a 14 year old? My parents went on vacation in another state when I was that age, and left me to babysit my younger siblings. I guess I don't know why your boyfriend would even care if his teenager was home...

I don't know, I guess it seems bossy and parent-centered. I liked it back when birthdays parties were about celebrating and getting something fun for the birthday kid. Not being reminded of all the troubles in the world, and being bullied/guilted/coerced into contributing in order for my child...

I think I saw this post before. Didn't it have more responses from weeks ago?

Ah, yes. I've seen this behavior too. The easiest thing to do is make them play outside. When they're inside, have them clean up after themselves. Don't let them have free time or access to toys/supplies until they've cleaned up everything from their last ordeal. Eventually they will get tired...

It doesn't sound like anything is amiss based on what you said, but I do agree that it's not too much to ask to meet the family that your daughter spends time with. It's okay to say no sometimes, or to specify that Haley can come over to your place but not hers this time. She might be snappy...

I understand not wanting a bunch of crap for your birthday. So just say "No gifts please" on the invitations. That's what I do. No need to inconvenience the guests anyway with charity requests. How do I know you're not just going to feed your own dog with the donated food? And like it or...

I agree, Cybele. The more I learn about how charities typically operate, the more it seems like the "charity" part is an afterthought. Charities run by volunteers are one thing, but it gets kind of shady when donations are paying someone's full-time salary to supposedly run things. I mean, I'd...