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NEVERENDING ♾️ The NEVERENDING Raising Children Thread

I have to figure out another way to check and see if Wee P's teeth are brushed. I used to be able to just go and see if the brush was wet. Now she's figured out that trick (and I don't want to smell her breath).:r:
 
Planit said:
I have to figure out another way to check and see if Wee P's teeth are brushed. I used to be able to just go and see if the brush was wet. Now she's figured out that trick (and I don't want to smell her breath).:r:
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I think that you can buy disclosing tablets now. You can look to see if the pink has been brushed away. In the right light, you can check from a distance. :)
 
kms said:
I think that you can buy disclosing tablets now. You can look to see if the pink has been brushed away. In the right light, you can check from a distance. :)
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Been there, done that. We used the coloring rinse to help see how & what it takes to brush away "Mr. D. K. Germ" a few years ago when she was learning to brush.
 
Planit said:
Been there, done that. We used the coloring rinse to help see how & what it takes to brush away "Mr. D. K. Germ" a few years ago when she was learning to brush.
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You should take the parocial school approach. Maybe you need to show her pics of people with nasty rotten teeth and explain to her how they got that way! If that does not work bring her up here and I'll have Sister Mary Ann smack her a few times with the ruler.
 
DetroitPlanner said:
You should take the parocial school approach. Maybe you need to show her pics of people with nasty rotten teeth and explain to her how they got that way!
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Do they need a copy of The Big Book of British Smiles?

oayhcn.jpg
 
Question for the Rugged parents

What age is it appropriate to give a child his or her first .22 rifle?
 
otterpop said:
What age is it appropriate to give a child his or her first .22 rifle?
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When they are old enough to understand the great responsibility that firearms carry. I was 7 when I learned to shoot. Have you thought about starting them off with a BB or pellet gun?
 
Brocktoon said:
When they are old enough to understand the great responsibility that firearms carry. I was 7 when I learned to shoot. Have you thought about starting them off with a BB or pellet gun?
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I was about that age too. My dad was also a firearms instructor, so that made a difference.
 
Brocktoon said:
When they are old enough to understand the great responsibility that firearms carry. I was 7 when I learned to shoot. Have you thought about starting them off with a BB or pellet gun?
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I was that age when I first shot a gun too. Have not shot one since. Yes I am a failure as both a Detroiter and an owner of cabin in the woods of Northern Michigan.
 
DetroitPlanner said:
I was that age when I first shot a gun too. Have not shot one since. Yes I am a failure as both a Detroiter and an owner of cabin in the woods of Northern Michigan.
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I'm the same (except for the failure part). I grewup in Northern Michigan and had the first day of rifle season off of school every November, but never hunted or fished or really shot a rifle my entire childhood/adulthood.

But I'm ok with it. :D
 
otterpop said:
What age is it appropriate to give a child his or her first .22 rifle?
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I was 11 when I learned. Years ago I found a letter from my father to his grandparents asking "when am I going to get my gun? I think I'm old enough." He was 7. I think they waited until he was 9. That was in Oklahoma in 1939 and I still have the rifle - a Winchester 1934 single shot .22 which the old ads say was "great for hunting squirrels, rabbits and other small game."

My son is 10 and I might consider taking him shooting now. I don't think I would have done so any earlier, just because I don't trust that he wouldn't hurt himself. But at a range or a camp or other tightly controlled environment, he's do fine. So, depends on your kid. Still, I wouldn't GIVE my kid a .22 even now. Letting him shoot is one thing. Allowing him to have the thing in his closet is another.

I agree with the pellet gun idea. That's a great place to start and there are some very nice ones these days. I guess if that counts as a gun, that was definitely my first. It was stashed in the basement and I probably discovered it around 7 (though my parents didn't find out for a few years...)
 
I bought my 11 year old a Mosin Nagant last summer. While it is "his" the bolt is locked up. After he takes his safety course at age 12, I'll give him a little more freedom. Since we live in town, he really will not be able to do much on his own until he can drive.
 
mendelman said:
I'm the same (except for the failure part). I grewup in Northern Michigan and had the first day of rifle season off of school every November, but never hunted or fished or really shot a rifle my entire childhood/adulthood.

But I'm ok with it. :D
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I went hunting and fishing growing up. However when I got into college, I never had the time. After college, I just never got into it again. I went hiking and canoeing, especially up in Michigan, but that was it. My dad and I talked about going, but never got around to it.
 
giff57 said:
I bought my 11 year old a Mosin Nagant last summer. While it is "his" the bolt is locked up. After he takes his safety course at age 12, I'll give him a little more freedom. Since we live in town, he really will not be able to do much on his own until he can drive.
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That's a pretty heavy weapon for a first. Is it still chambered for 7.62mm?
 
ofos said:
That's a pretty heavy weapon for a first. Is it still chambered for 7.62mm?
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7.62X54R he is a big war gamer and he saw this at a gun show and wanted one. So I paid $100 for it. He has shot my .22 and my 9mm carbine quite a bit. He was reluctant to fire it after seeing me shoot it. He does fine with it from the bench, its still a bit much offhand.
 
No guns/rifles in this house (and no I am not interested in taking one's right to bear arms away). A friend of mine taught me the basics of gun safety in my early 20s and I have shot both a hand gun and a rifle but never was interested in becoming proficient at either. RT does not seem to be interested either but her father, uncles, and grandfather are avid deer and elk hunters-she just prefers to eat the game rather than hunt it. One of my good friends is a certified firearms instructor who has offered to teach her how to be safe and how to shoot if she ever is interested. I think it largely depends on the kid-some are probably ready at 9 and some aren't ready when they are 15.

***************************
RT passed her road test today and is the proud recipient of a provisional driver's license in Dirty Jerzey. Tomorrow I get to call the insurance agent and break the news to him and present the increased bill to her :D.

No...she is not getting a car. If she wants one, she can pay for it herself along with the insurance, upkeep, and gas.
 
My 13 yo daughter told me that school was getting in the way of her social life!:-c

As a father..... I can solve that atitude real fast!:-@
 
Thanks for the input. My son has already practiced with my pellet gun. We've been to the shooting range a few times to fire rifles and pistols. He has been schooled on proper firearm handling and safety. I think he is ready.

All of our firearms are kept in a locked gun cabinet, which has two locks and I alone have the keys.
 
Ever have a niece or nephew live with you for an extended period?

There is a possibility that my wife's niece may come to live with us for part or all of the next school year. She is 11 and speaks primarily Spanish (I speak practically no Spanish). The intention is to get her introduced to the English language by immersion. My brother-in-law is likely to immigrate from Colombia within the next few years, and they want to get the girl an early start on learning the language.

I've got mixed feelings about it. Primarily my objections are related to the unknownness of the situation - having a child I do not know and will not be able to communicate well with in my home for 6-12 months (which is not unlike having a teenager :D )

But I also see it as an opportunity to have another child in my home and to have a daughter (sort of) for at least a little while.

I am imagining the dynamic is not really like having stepchildren - because neither "parent" has a strong emotional bond with the child. My wife really doesn't know the girl much better than I do.

Have any of yah'll had a niece or nephew live with you for a while?
 
HomerJ9139 said:
That gave me a pretty good laugh. That poor kid is getting the worst kind of attention because two people are so desperate to show the world how "open minded" they are. The kid's gotta go through puberty at some point. I don't think too many people between the ages of 0 and 13 get to choose their gender. :facepalm:
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I'd love to see the shrink bills from this family in a few years.
 
They named the kids Jazz, Kio and Storm - that should tell you alot. The kids lunch money will be stolen in school (if you know what I mean).
 
"In fact, in not telling the gender of my precious baby, I am saying to the world, 'Please can you just let Storm discover for him/herself what s (he) wants to be?!." she wrote in an email.
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Ok, I get not forcing only stereotypical boy (GI Joe, sports) or girl (Barbie, ballet) activities on a kid, but this is just weird.
 
Planit said:
They named the kids Jazz, Kio and Storm - that should tell you alot. The kids lunch money will be stolen in school (if you know what I mean).
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Sound like names I might name a dog, but not a child. I don't think parents should make political or social statements with their kids as the instrument.

Of course, let's face it, as soon as that kid is a toddler, everyone, and I mean everyone will know his or her gender, as he or she run through the backyard without pants on. :D
 
SW MI Planner said:
Ok, I get not forcing only stereotypical boy (GI Joe, sports) or girl (Barbie, ballet) activities on a kid, but this is just weird.
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If by weird you mean a push against society and God's requirements of gender on a baby, then I agree with you....
 
Fore some reason, I've been thinking about the "career prospects" for my kids. I don't know why.

I've always considered myself one of those parents that will support my children no matter what career path they decide to choose, as long as they are happy, and that I wouldn't get too involved.

But after dealing with the Great Recession and its impact on my chosen profession, I think I will be much more "active" in the career paths of my children. Not that I will force them down certain paths, but that I will make certain that they are aware of all the details, both short and long term.

And I realize my daughters are many years away from having to choose career paths. Maybe I'm just moody because of the state of the planning profession and things will be drastically different at some point in the future.
 
btrage said:
Fore some reason, I've been thinking about the "career prospects" for my kids. I don't know why.

I've always considered myself one of those parents that will support my children no matter what career path they decide to choose, as long as they are happy, and that I wouldn't get too involved.

But after dealing with the Great Recession and its impact on my chosen profession, I think I will be much more "active" in the career paths of my children. Not that I will force them down certain paths, but that I will make certain that they are aware of all the details, both short and long term.

And I realize my daughters are many years away from having to choose career paths. Maybe I'm just moody because of the state of the planning profession and things will be drastically different at some point in the future.
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good luck with that ;):h:
 
btrage said:
Fore some reason, I've been thinking about the "career prospects" for my kids. I don't know why.

I've always considered myself one of those parents that will support my children no matter what career path they decide to choose, as long as they are happy, and that I wouldn't get too involved.

But after dealing with the Great Recession and its impact on my chosen profession, I think I will be much more "active" in the career paths of my children. Not that I will force them down certain paths, but that I will make certain that they are aware of all the details, both short and long term.

And I realize my daughters are many years away from having to choose career paths. Maybe I'm just moody because of the state of the planning profession and things will be drastically different at some point in the future.
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You should get your girls into physics, astronomy, math, technology or anything science related. Buy them a telescope and a microscope. Laying the ground work early can help them become superstars in the 20s and take over the world by their 30s. I will expect a full report on the origins of the universe within 20 years. Good luck btrage girls!
 
Insult, right?

Youngest sibling referred to me as "Voldemort" in an e-mail that she apparently thought would not be forwarded. Or maybe not.

With 20/20 hindsight, the biggest problem with having five kids spread out over 11 years is: running out of parenting skills and patience. And then the youngest dies and it's time to move on to something else (careers) rather than address the special needs.
 
luckless pedestrian said:
Vel - i am sorry that happened - I can't imagine how that would make me feel :glum:
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Thanks, LP. Fortunately I have only a vague awareness of who Voldemort is, so I am more offended by the childish name-calling (she just turned 49). Were we friends on FB last year the week of the funeral when she posted some stuff on my page?

She's probably expecting me to fire something back about Jabba the Hutt.
 
Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Wow-ie.

If this was a casual acquaintance I could walk away, but since we've been related for 49 years I mulled it over, then googled a bunch of symptoms. And up popped this.

Only problem: it manifests usually in early childhood; think "terrible twos" but never-ending.

Some of the resources mention that any episode of defiance, or deliberately annoying others (pushing their buttons), arguing, and losing one's temper can cause one to be labeled with this personality disorder. (Yep, I am thinking about Macy's.) Interesting coping strategies for fellow adults.

"The best advice I've heard so far is to tell them what they will do next because it is so predictable. They will then have to prove you wrong, and not do those things."
 
^^ Sorry to hear this Vel. Why is it the most hurtful people in your life are your relatives?

****
RT's senior prom is tonight. For the life of me I cannot figure out why they insist on scheduling it on a Friday and dismissing seniors at 12:30pm. Why not make it Saturday when many parents have off and it's a whole day to get ready?

I am in charge of styling her hair and getting her into her dress and making sure the final product looks good. The aunt of her date is a MAC makeup artist so she's coming by to do her makeup as a treat for her :)

Her group of friends will be meeting up at the Rutgers Gardens to take photos before the festivities so I will post photos later tonight.

Graduation is right around the corner. :-c
 
kjelsadek said:
^^ Sorry to hear this Vel. Why is it the most hurtful people in your life are your relatives? ...
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Actually, it's a relief to know that I haven't been imagining things, and to have something of a strategy...although with sis, it's impossible to predict what might happen. (I did not know that our father told her that for her third wedding she shouldn't wear a white dress, so she decided to have her groom wear one and she wore a tux. Seriously.)

This week the repairs to the house were completed, and one major improvement involved removal of an overgrown shrub. This leaves a large area of bare dirt. Brother photoshopped it with grass, and I added blooming annuals. Sent that to the sibs, along with a link about how to add colorful inexpensive flowering plants to your listed home. The wild child blew up, suggesting that I travel over there and spend my money to implement this.

Then, because Sunday is National Open House Day, bro and I were charged with, "since you two are such experts when it comes to house pricing & real estate markets, perhaps you should avail yourselves of this opportunity to see for your selves what houses are available for sale in your areas & see how long they have been on the market,what it took to get them on the market, & ask the realtors what prices they started out at." Info that's readily available on-line, and if one wanted details on the Detroit market, seems like one would look at that, rather than the most awesome city in the galaxy1 and suburban Houston.

1 So sayeth our mayor.
 
Veloise said:
Actually, it's a relief to know that I haven't been imagining things, and to have something of a strategy...although with sis, it's impossible to predict what might happen. (I did not know that our father told her that for her third wedding she shouldn't wear a white dress, so she decided to have her groom wear one and she wore a tux. Seriously.)

This week the repairs to the house were completed, and one major improvement involved removal of an overgrown shrub. This leaves a large area of bare dirt. Brother photoshopped it with grass, and I added blooming annuals. Sent that to the sibs, along with a link about how to add colorful inexpensive flowering plants to your listed home. The wild child blew up, suggesting that I travel over there and spend my money to implement this.

Then, because Sunday is National Open House Day, bro and I were charged with, "since you two are such experts when it comes to house pricing & real estate markets, perhaps you should avail yourselves of this opportunity to see for your selves what houses are available for sale in your areas & see how long they have been on the market,what it took to get them on the market, & ask the realtors what prices they started out at." Info that's readily available on-line, and if one wanted details on the Detroit market, seems like one would look at that, rather than the most awesome city in the galaxy1 and suburban Houston.

1 So sayeth our mayor.
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Eesh. Sounds like you have your hands full with her. Although it is not easy, ignoring her bait is probably the best tactic since apparently nothing you or your other siblings do will ever be satisfactory to her.

If it's any consolation, I really haven't spoken to my mom's sister or brother since she passed since my uncle tried to cheap out in helping me pay for the funeral (after he suggested it!) and then tried to get my aunt to go along with his scheme. I am "friends" with them on Facebook just so they know where I am but other than that there's no interaction and frankly its just easier that way.
 
Back to the topic of raising children...

My 5 year old got a decent size sliver in her big toe on Memorial Day. We got most of it out, but there was still something in there.

Monday night we tried the "hold her down method and use tweezers to get it out". Didn't work. She screamed, cried and thrashed around.

So we just started with baths every night, letting the toe soak in the water. And then Neopsorin and a band-aid during the day hoping it might draw it out.

After her bath on Wednesay, I was able to pick away some of the dead skin and could see the sliver still in her toe. However, when I tried to get it with the tweezers, she began to cry and scream again. Finally, she said " Let me do it". She then took the tweezers from me and calmly pulled out the remaining sliver.

I think she was more afraid of the "unknown", because she would start crying before I even did anything. I told her she should've picked it out herself Monday night. She giggled. :)
 
btrage said:
Back to the topic of raising children...

My 5 year old got a decent size sliver in her big toe on Memorial Day. We got most of it out, but there was still something in there.

Monday night we tried the "hold her down method and use tweezers to get it out". Didn't work. She screamed, cried and thrashed around.

So we just started with baths every night, letting the toe soak in the water. And then Neopsorin and a band-aid during the day hoping it might draw it out.

After her bath on Wednesay, I was able to pick away some of the dead skin and could see the sliver still in her toe. However, when I tried to get it with the tweezers, she began to cry and scream again. Finally, she said " Let me do it". She then took the tweezers from me and calmly pulled out the remaining sliver.

I think she was more afraid of the "unknown", because she would start crying before I even did anything. I told her she should've picked it out herself Monday night. She giggled. :)
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Been through that a couple times with my son. My wife has been a little rough with splinter removal, leaving my son anxious about going to us about splinters. If possible, it is best the kid does it him- or herself. They know what they can stand and they are less scared doing it themselves. And after all it is their toe or finger.
 
Why do teenagers always think they are smarter than you? :r:
 
Magic Splinter Removal Method

Black Ointment

You will all think I'm crazy but I swear this stuff works and have used it myself a few times. You put a blob on the splinter, place a bandaid over it, wait a few hours and viola! Splinter is out! You can even see it on the bandaid to be sure it worked :)
 
TerraSapient said:
Black Ointment

You will all think I'm crazy but I swear this stuff works and have used it myself a few times. You put a blob on the splinter, place a bandaid over it, wait a few hours and viola! Splinter is out! You can even see it on the bandaid to be sure it worked :)
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I think I'll try this for skin irritations. Thanks.
 
Hink_Planner said:
Because they are. And cooler than you, and listen to better music. The list could go on...:D
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We listen to the same music :)

But seriously...don't try to sell me one thing when you are trying to do something entirely different.
 
Today is my son's 10th birthday. He woke us up at least twice this morning, asking if he could open his presents.

Ten years ago I was sleep-deprived and grouchy. Ten years later I am sleep-deprived and grouchy.

The Circle of Life.
 
otterpop said:
Today is my son's 10th birthday. He woke us up at least twice this morning, asking if he could open his presents.

Ten years ago I was sleep-deprived and grouchy. Ten years later I am sleep-deprived and grouchy.

The Circle of Life.
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Five more years from now you will be waiting up til he comes home at night. It never ends.

*********************
RT came home from a weekend at the beach and Senior Skip Day spent at Great Adventure (Six Flags). She picked up her senior yearbook this evening and it was fun going through the pages with her. While I've known that her high school is diverse, I really didn't know how diverse until we were looking at the yearbook. I'm glad she's had the opportunity to attend a multicultural, mutliethnic school which was very unlike my own education in a highly segregated area. I hope it has taught her sincere tolerance and acceptance and she will carry it forward with her in whatever she chooses to do. Ten more days and she will graduate :-c

On an interesting note the most common surname in the school is Patel!
 
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Last night, my daughter (who is 10 months today!) vomited for the first time. I think she was trying to eat her "Stage 3" foods too quickly and wasn't used to the chunkiness. :victory: I could see in her face and squirminess what was about to happen but I had no idea if there was anything that I could do to stop the explosion that was coming.

It was much more traumatic for me than it was for her. After it was done, she was laughing and pounding her high chair tray.
 
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