This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
I got a lot of #### recently from a few folks when I made the comment that homeschoolers are weird.
I'm not sure a 19 year old who is just away at college qualifies, but I don't have this fear. I know I could never teach my kids everything. I was never good at those "sit down and let me pass on some knowledge" talks. I was more a parent by example in that sense. I do think I have three good kids. I can't say that it was because of my parenting, I think it is more that I got lucky. I'm confident they will become productive members of society, and my biggest message for them at this stage of their lives (all teenagers now) is to find something you love to do for your career, chase your dreams, and don't settle. Whether or not that will stick, we'll see.For those with adult children, how scary was it or how tough was it to let them go? My oldest turns 16 this year and I woke up the other night and for no real reason just started getting nostalgic and then I got scared that I've only got 2-3 years left to teach him everything I wanted (because he can be a ####### still) and then I got sad because I'm going to miss my baby boy.
This is one of the things that make me happy I do not have kids: I have zero stake in the future. It sounds selfish, and yes, I want things to be nice for my nieces and nephews and all of your kids too, but I do not stress over the future of the planet / our country / the economy / environment quite like some my friends (who have kids) do. One of my best friends is giving himself an ulcer of what Trump is doing / going to do in terms of how it will affect his kids/grandkids (#1 on the way for him).
Everyone will be different on this IMO. My wife and I are completely opposite.For those with adult children, how scary was it or how tough was it to let them go? My oldest turns 16 this year and I woke up the other night and for no real reason just started getting nostalgic and then I got scared that I've only got 2-3 years left to teach him everything I wanted (because he can be a ####### still) and then I got sad because I'm going to miss my baby boy.
I budget $1000 a month for food. We buy a half a cow every year and I buy chicken breast in bulk twice a year. Costco for diapers, wipes, formula (but that's over now). Regular grocery for everything else from apples to ziti.
It's weird. My kids don't eat a lot and I don't buy a lot of special stuff like snacks. The little ones are killing me with fresh fruit lately. But it's not the food they eat that's expensive, it's the food you throw away.
My best man was one of ten kids. I stayed with their family one summer for three months. She would say little things like this all the time. I was 21 at the time. I use to marvel at how she managed it all and was always asking her questions. Like the laundry.... she said she would massively water down the liquid detergent to make it last longer. I still do that.
You can ask about money. My husband works for a company in New Jersey from home in Florida. They pay him a decent wage but not fbg standard. I don't work for pay at all. We get an insane tax return because we haven't changed his w4 since he started working there 16 years ago. We get no government assistance although by numbers we would qualify for stuff. His company covers our family health insurance and our internet and cell phones. I have a large extended network of friends and we are always exchanging clothes, books, toys, gear, etc. We have 1 car payment and 1 credit card we are cleaning up this year. And a mortgage.
I use a small amount of the powder. My son started the laundry the other day and he filled the scoop. There were suds for days.
We spend almost exactly this on groceries. We have five kids, but only two of them are with us full time. So you are feeding more than twice the number of people we are, for the same amount.
She would made comments like this also. Always wisecrackin'. Guess you have to in order to survive.
I accept your hero worship; don't deserve it, but I'll take what I can get. That's right - Tree Shaker IS Mr. Clown Car.AAABatteries said:
It's all good. They need to be independent, especially in this age of helicopter parenting. Going away to college teaches them so much, including time management, how to get along with others, etc. They also really start shaping their own beliefs. The beautiful thing is they appreciate you more after they go away, especially if you gave them a "normal" upbringing. Not all of their classmates had it as good. Dysfunctional families, etc. Also mine appreciated how they were not saddled with huge student loans like some others. They realized what a gift that is and didn't take it for granted. And when they come back home for breaks etc it's great. You just go to the next stage in life. Different joy seeing them become good citizens, productive young adults. Weddings and babies next.For those with adult children, how scary was it or how tough was it to let them go? My oldest turns 16 this year and I woke up the other night and for no real reason just started getting nostalgic and then I got scared that I've only got 2-3 years left to teach him everything I wanted (because he can be a ####### still) and then I got sad because I'm going to miss my baby boy.
I tell mine if I had grand kids I could stop having babies.Just 1, now an adult. I do remind him that if I had grand-kids I'd be happy to take them to Disney World.
Special recognition to Clown Car
You poor dumb *******. I feel ya, man. It's like when I keep trying to evolve vaporeons but only pop out jolteons. AMIRIGHT?
As a father of 4, this, so much this. And I have to remind myself of this over and over.
This is me. I'll be 61 when my daughter goes to college. We played too long and now are not able to play much. We don't get to travel much either, although we are going on our first family vacation in 3 years plus a long weekend.
We went on a 10-day vacation to Disneyworld/Universal last Fall. We took our daughter out of school and my 20 yr old son isn't currently going to school and was in search of a job at that point. It could have been our last full family vacation for a long time.
I'm trying like hell to get to Disney before the oldest is over that stuff. Sure he's not into Mickey Mouse any more, but at 9, he would have a blast at Disney. The problem is the youngest is 1 and would not appreciate it at all. Thinking that maybe when the oldest is 11 we get to Disney. Hopefully I can afford it by then.Binky The Doormat said:
