Parenting - December 2007

I have been feeling unwell (exhaustion) and am mourning my brother and I *told* everyone that I wanted to be alone this Christmas and they accepted that.
I sent my grandsons' presents round three days ago and 'phoned them earlier today to speak to them.
Now my daughter-in-law has just been round here with the boys *knowing* that I could not just shut the door on them on the pretext of "cheering you up".Not only that she allowed the eldest to make a lot of noise and chatter when I said that I had a headache and also had the cheek to ask me if I was eating properly (as if *she* knows anything about that!) and also gave a meaningful look at the cherry brandy bottle that my son bought for me - as if she never drinks!
My son has been called into work and I suspect that she was really after asking me to babysit because she has some party to go to but she wouldn't dare ask as she could see that I was really unwell.
Now she has taken them home to watch television again - her ...

2007-12-26 05:01:57 · 28 answers · asked by Anonymous

My 13 year-old stepson came home with a $100 bill and asked his mother to use it to buy a digital camera for his girlfriend. He says his girlfriend gave him the $100 bill for Christmas so he is buying her the camera in return. I think the whole thing sounds fishy and don't really think any 13 year-old girl would give her boyfriend a $100 bill for Christmas. My stepson has a tendency to lie about things.

My solution would be to politely make sure the girl's parents, who we haven't met yet, know about the initial gift and make sure they feel it is appropriate.

His mother's solution is to just trust him and buy the camera and wait for the next thing that doesn't make sense to pop up. She is embarrassed to admit to strangers that she might not trust her son.

This is our first experience with a teenager, but when I was a teenager, we exchanged cassette tapes or maybe clothes, but never cash and never in that amount.

Has anyone else had an experience like this? Any advice?

2007-12-26 02:12:59 · 8 answers · asked by wwbrad90 3

Do you agree with this review or not -

http://www.kids-in-mind.com/s/spy_kids_2001.htm

I am not sure - they will be watching it on their own I am sure so I am not sure where the "parental guidance" comes in - there seems to be too much violence for my liking.

The only saving grace is that the children seem to be smartly dressed (the ones in the *film* that is).

2007-12-25 22:31:58 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous

Serious answers only please...My 15 year old son leaves wrappers everywhere...under couch, behind things....he can't seem to find the garbage can. I have tried taking away T.V. (he mostly trashes the play room where his tv is)...taken away that room from him, made him clean the entire playroom up (all siblings things), it seems like all the obvious things I have done ( I did begin by nicely asking, explaining why we need to throw things away....this has been going on for 4 years).

Anything would be appreciated. Thanks

2007-12-25 17:59:48 · 22 answers · asked by jennyjj 1

How far apart did you space your children? What was your favorite? 1 year apart? 2 years apart? Pros and cons of it? .... I've had kids 12 months apart and 2 months apart. But never more than that. I would love to hear from you. :o)

Note: Please no family haters here or pessimists. Only talking to moms and dads here. Thank you. :P

2007-12-25 16:59:27 · 13 answers · asked by Mom2Five 2

Ok so im 22 and i have an 18 month old baby and i am thinking of stopping my birth control pill as soon as my son turns 2 that way by the time i get pregnant and have the 2nd baby my oldest will be 3 ,has any of you moms done that and is it hard or do you think i should wait another year .
I dont want the age differance to be too much between the kids and btw i only want 2 kids so i am done after the 2nd so i was thinking i should just do it .

2007-12-25 15:53:39 · 13 answers · asked by Pregnant with baby # 2 :) 3

... I used to sing a version of Brahm's lullaby (his tune - my own words!),"Rock-a bye baby" and "Hush Little Baby" (my words too!) and other songs that I found calmed them (and me!).
They all love music today so I think that singing them to sleep helped develop that in them.
Do you sing lullabies to your babies/toddlers?

2007-12-25 15:52:11 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous

This parent suggest the kid “it is wrong thing to do or say” almost every hour. I mean these parents are really bitchy. For example, when he game the Christmas present gift card, the parents said that was the worst present ever. Another example is when he was enjoying the listening to music that he likes at music, the parents said “U should turn on the music that everyone likes.” Last example was when he said about emergency while the person was talking to him, he said “where u listening?”From this cause, the kid doesn’t know what to do and what to say, he gets scared to do and say things. He doesn’t have any freedom, Parents treat this kid like a failure, but what made this kid failure is parent. Their parents always talk about negative things about this kid, where the kid can hear. I feel so sorry for this kid. Do u think these parents are bad?

2007-12-25 15:03:51 · 5 answers · asked by Nopicture 1

I feel it is always a parent's right to know what is going on with their 14yos and that sexual experimentation - whether it be heterosexual or not - is off base at that age. Yet, 'Margo' doesn't even direct this writer to ask her niece about it.

DEAR MARGO: I was checking out my 12-year-old daughter's MySpace (she knows I do this as a condition of her having it) and found my 14-year-old niece's MySpace (that my brother and sister-in-law do not know she has), where she alluded to having a "relationship" with a lesbian friend. The last time we spoke, my sister-in-law said she was wary of this girl, so I don't know whether I should tell her what I found. They live several states away, and we only see each other a few times a year. Their daughter is a good kid, and I don't want to cause problems, especially if my niece learns how her parents found out.

If it were my daughter, I'd want to know so I could at least talk to her about it. This kid is barely 14 years old.

--- WAVERING AUNTIE

DEAR WAVE: I suggest you say nothing. Assuming the "relationship" is sexual (and it may not be), the youngster is experimenting and should be allowed to do so without parental input -- which would not change the outcome, by the way.

It's not as though your niece is robbing banks and popping Quaaludes, dangerous behavior requiring intervention. She is figuring out her sexuality, and parents trying to steer a child away from a natural inclination are not going to be successful.

When next you talk to your s-i-l, you might ask what she dislikes about this friend, since she told you she is wary of her. If there are complaints about the girl that are valid, they should be the reason to put the kibosh on the friendship, not that she is a lesbian.

--- MARGO, JUDICIOUSLY

2007-12-25 15:00:49 · 8 answers · asked by wider scope 7

2007-12-25 14:55:12 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous

My 3 y.o. daughter is just starting to notice Santa and points him out when we go out. For next year, I'm a little confused about what to tell her about who Santa is and the whole gift issue. Does Santa buy all the gifts or just a few and the parents buy the rest? What do you tell your kids?

2007-12-25 13:53:14 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous

My daughter's father has his visitation currently suspended untill a future court date in January. His family calls and asks to see her, I know they love her, but they allow her dad to see her while she is with them and they FREQUENTLY bring her home an hour or two late and get upset and argue with me if they can't have her longer than I tell them. They continually push my buttoms and constantly argue with me when they can't get their way (with what time to bring my daughter home). It eventually gets to the point where I don't allow them to see her because they don't respect my wishes with the set time to bring her home.

2007-12-25 13:26:10 · 8 answers · asked by Ari's Mom 1

My cousin's daughter moved in with her boyfriend. He's been claiming for weeks he'll go over there and beat up the boyfriend.

2007-12-25 13:16:32 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous

My oldest daughter is 21yrs. She's a senior in college and living at home by choice mainly b/c she has suffered from anxieties and slight depression on and off for the last 3yrs. She started dating a wonderful guy about 8ms ago who was here in NJ on business from Italy. He's moving back in Feb and asked my daughter to go back with him last night. She wants to go in May after graduation and has asked for my opinion on the decision several times. I personally don’t think she should go for numerous reasons and worry, but at the same time feel that she should get out on her own, away from home and try things out. But is half way across the world far to test out the waters?
Should I just keep my mouth shut or express my feelings?

2007-12-25 12:51:47 · 10 answers · asked by Jen Y 3

Okay, i understand there is people on here that hae children but, some of you are LIARS! I met at least three people on here that said they have kids but, when we became better friends, she said she lied. Now, you people...... Having a kid ain't too easy! STOP lying about it!

2007-12-25 12:44:28 · 11 answers · asked by TiasaurousGoesRawr! ♥ 3

Including all gifts, not including meal (I shudder that add that stuff in). Family of 4, kids 9 and 22 months- we spent about $800. Didn't put ANYTHING on cc, gift wise, HAD to put $600 ER vet trip Sat. on cc though :(. All in all not bad, we really tried to rein it in, will try to spend even less next year. And yes, everyone got decent gifts- kids were happy. Just got lots of stuff on sale throughout the year. How did you do? Any plans to change next year?

2007-12-25 11:47:06 · 14 answers · asked by magy 6

It's just wierd, it's like they don't exist. They are in their 20's.

2007-12-25 11:36:36 · 8 answers · asked by jacquie 6

There was a question here posted by a mother of a pregnant 12 or 12yr old girl. In her question..she wanted 2 know how 2 be ready 4 this child. She also pointed that she was ok with her 12yr being pregnant. Parents were like ...what? what do u mean u are OK...with this. I'm sure that she wasn't ok when she got the news, and she learned 2 accept the situation. I am sure .like all the moms ..u teach your chidren and hope 2 c them grow with no problems,.....but they make bad choices. Some even told this parent 2 abort the baby. That was not her question.....but if she had came with that question...again she was going 2 be jdged.....you do right you are judged...you decide to do good but ppl won't give u a break. Can pls all the mothers work together and give advices that u would want someone else to give you. Come with the great thoughtful solutions and let the person asking know that you all feel her pain.

I'm thankful 4 the great answers i get everytime i post a question.

2007-12-25 11:19:23 · 6 answers · asked by Boom 1

How do you cope or come to terms with things if you know your partner is bad with chldren? I mean if the partner neglects and shouts at your child, and doesnt teach the child any of things the child needs to learn to grow up
The problem is as parents you have to leave the child alone witht he other half sometimes to go to work or to go shopping for example, but it makes me so sad that the child is not getting the care the child needs all the time
I love my partner so splitting is not an option, my partner does love our child but is just failing in their job as a parent
It keeps me awake at night Im so sad for the child and just racking my brain trying to think of how to cope

2007-12-25 09:07:23 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous

... I am *not* as I came across when I first started posting but just had a *particular* problem with my DIL (over teflon) and now that is resolved - but we will always have other differences and I will welcome genuine advice in the New Year when the boys go back to school.
I'll leave it to New Year's Eve to decide.
I don't mean trolls and clones - I mean those well-meaning people who genuinely misunderstood what I was saying and my character too.

2007-12-25 08:59:15 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous

Would you still let you toddler watch Diego if you heard them say freeze Bobo out loud while the two of you where out in the store?

I guess it's just that I don't want her to think it's ok to either call people bobo or tell them to freeze bobo. Because some people might take it a little personal than those who have kids her age.

2007-12-25 08:43:57 · 10 answers · asked by JG78 3

What age were you?

2007-12-25 08:22:56 · 35 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-12-25 05:35:04 · 35 answers · asked by Anonymous

if a mother and father is not married.and they have a child together and the mother yakes the child and skips the country without telling the father is that kidnapping? how can it not be concidered kidnapping?how can it be kidnapping? kidnapping is when someone who isn't the parent takes the kid. if it is your child and you were never married to the person

2007-12-25 05:10:24 · 4 answers · asked by Hmmmmmm 3

2007-12-25 04:36:04 · 5 answers · asked by Rayna T 1

why and why not?what were their strong points and weak points in your eyes?

2007-12-24 20:48:15 · 21 answers · asked by wintersnow 2

Just curious because when I have kids I'd like to know when it is ok to lie to their faces and when it isn't.

2007-12-24 16:40:27 · 15 answers · asked by Jordan (guy) 3

Ok, my son who is 14 wants to go to a boarding school in Florida. He's always wanted to go to a boarding school. I'm not sure though. He has a little sister who is very attached to him. I have to money for him to go.
What should I do?

2007-12-24 15:57:24 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous

Ok, so my parents are very religious. They are very strong Christians and me not so much. They only let me wear skirts and dresses. I want to wear pants. I think Japan is a cool place but my parents don't let me associate anything Japanese. I want to buy a Wii and I would be buying it with my own money but my parents don't let me have any video games. I can't watch ANY PG-13 or R rated movies. They don't even let me watch Full House. I'm 14 and my parents a WAY to strict and WAY to religious!
What should I do?

2007-12-24 15:03:26 · 12 answers · asked by Jenna W 1

I refuse to clean my childrens room for them!!! I have two girls ages 4 and 8. They share a bedroom and they have a playroom attatched. I have been telling them for 2 months to clean both rooms. They sit up there and play and fight. When I ask them if they are almost done they reply with "almost" or "not yet" I give them time limits or there will be punishment. Like have it done in 3 hours or you're going to bed an hour early. MY KIDS HAVE NOT WATCHED T.V., PLAYED OUTSIDE, STAYED UP LATE ON WEEKENDs in weeks.
They dont care!!!
Now it is Christmas Eve and Ive been telling them all weekend " If you do not have your rooms cleaned by Christmas, You will not open your presents. They will sit there under the tree untill the rooms are clean."
Its 9:30 pm and they keep comming down stairs to tattle on each other and Still i hear them up there playing.....
What is wrong with my kids? Then my 8 year old has the nerve to tell me she dosnt want any presents.

2007-12-24 13:29:43 · 8 answers · asked by raeellenscountrycandles 1