Lark

Best answer goes to the lunch I choose. You have one hour. Go!

The doc gave me a list that must have been made decades ago. One suggestion was extra film for your camera. Do they even make film anymore? Another suggestion was newborn diapers. I though the hospital supplied those?

Anyway, what would you consider a "must have" for the hospital maternity bag. Don't want to overload with useless junk.

All the more reason to allow gay marriage, so they can go after the other mother for child support, not the poor sperm donor. No?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/margaret-ryznar/sper...

I am trying to prioritize what I need, as we are on a really tight budget. As long as I have a crib and carseats, and 8 changes of newborn clothes (and of course we will buy diapers) is there anything else I REALLy need? I mean, a stroller would be nice, but can I live without it? Even on craigslist, people are asking $50 minimum in my area, ad at the local resale shops they are even higher, its ridiculous.

I have been blessed (or "lucky" so I'm told) with two kids (5 and 7) who are adventurous eaters and rarely, if ever, complain about or decline to eat what I serve. They really do eat anything. Recently however, we have hosted my nephew (6yo) and a neighbor/friend (also 6yo) for a play date and sleepover. Both boys are extremely picky eaters, and I need advice how to deal with this, as I find myself increasingly frustrated, and angry almost at the fact that it seems there is nothing in my house they will eat. One boy, for instance, requested PB&J in place of the chili I made for dinner, which was fine, but after I made it, he wouldn't eat it because it was whole wheat bread.

I guess what I am wondering is, should I prepare for their visits by buying food they will eat, even if I throw it out afterward (white bread, for instance)? Should I ask the parents to send food they will eat (Idk why, but I feel weird about doing that)? Should I take the hard line ("If you're really hungry, you will eat it.")? Or should I let them subsist on cheez-its and water if that's all I have that they like?

Not sure what approach to take, but will likely host these boys again in the future and am trying to come up with a solution.

I have been blessed (or "lucky" so I'm told) with two kids (5 and 7) who are adventurous eaters and rarely, if ever, complain about or decline to eat what I serve. They really do eat anything. Recently however, we have hosted my nephew (6yo) and a neighbor/friend (also 6yo) for a play date and sleepover. Both boys are extremely picky eaters, and I need advice how to deal with this, as I find myself increasingly frustrated, and angry almost at the fact that it seems there is nothing in my house they will eat. One boy, for instance, requested PB&J in place of the chili I made for dinner, which was fine, but after I made it, he wouldn't eat it because it was whole wheat bread.

I guess what I am wondering is, should I prepare for their visits by buying food they will eat, even if I throw it out afterward (white bread, for instance)? Should I ask the parents to send food they will eat (Idk why, but I feel weird about doing that)? Should I take the hard line ("If you're really hungry, you will eat it.")? Or should I let them subsist on cheez-its and water if that's all I have that they like?

Not sure what approach to take, but will likely host these boys again in the future and am trying to come up with a solution.

from her perspective as a single mother and those of other single mothers of mass murderers. Where are the fathers in all of this? Do you think that has anything to do with it? Could it? Possibly?

night to give the kid cough medicine while the dad continues sawing logs without a care in the world?

I'll be coming back to work shortly after my baby is born. As I did with my first two, I plan on pumping for several months.

With DS1, I was given a storage closet without a lock, and told to hang a note on the outside when it was "occupied." That was less than ideal, but worked fine. With DS2, my office had moved and I was given a much larger room, with a lock, that was used for storage. After I was walked-in (they had a key, and entered without knocking when locked) I ended up pumping in my car for the next few months.

I am with a differnt company now and am considering pumping in the bathroom. Would that be "gross" or do you think it's okay? There is storage closet here with a lock, but it is right off the main office, so everyone wold see me enter and exit, and likely be able to hear my pump. Not the privacy I am looking for. The bathroom is about a two minute walk, but it is a single-person fully locking room with a sink. It is right outside a main bathroom as well, so I would not be occupying the only available facility. The only downside is having to sit on the toilet with no lid. Not sure yet how I will manage that.

It has come down to that, or back to my car. At least with the bathroom I can wash all the parts each time I pump, and have privacy. Which is preferable, in your opinion?

I've always tried to make them a nice healthy breakfast, but it seems lately they only want something light, like a single piece of toast with butter, or a small bowl of cereal. Nothing to drink, even. Boys ages 5 and 7. What gives?

Just curious.

Did you/ will you use one? Did it work for you? What type/brand do you recommend.

I did not use one with my first two (didn't really even know about them) but I am going to after this one is born, in hopes of getting the saggy belly back into shape quicker. Anybody have nay experience using one?

Wanting to get him a couple new books for Christmas. He likes comedy (been though the Wimpy Kid and Bad Kitty series' already).

Any suggestions?

That some people attribute poor behavior to gender, have you noticed this? I have seen people (with both genders of children) say that their girls are easier because they don't break everything and pee all over the house. Or that boys are more work because they are so loud and always fighting.

Why do they attribute these things to the child's gender, rather than lack of discipline or a behavior problem?

I have two boys and neither has peed anywhere inside the house but the bathroom, they don't break everything and are generally very well behaved, I am not bragging, jut wondering why people attribute poor behavior to being a boy, and good behavior to being a girl, rather than to the individual child's personality or circumstance ?

For those of you who use cloth, we are considering cloth diapers for DS (due in Feb). He will go to day care when he i about 4 months old, and will need disposable diapers for day care. Would it be worth the hassle for us to use cloth at home, and disposable for day care. I know in the long run, cloth saves money, but does it really when you have to buy disposable anyway? Also, it it okay for the baby to switch back and forth, or does this increase rashes, etc.? Any advice appreciated.

on their own, and then you check it. If/when you check it, do you just check to make sure it's done, or do you check for wrong answers and have the child correct them? If they don't know the answer, do you give it to them?

Please include the age of your child.

Just interested in how other people handle the homework situation. DS1 is in 2nd grade this year, and I'm wondering if he should have more independence with homework or not.

How are my cousins' kids and my kids related? We will all be together this weekend, and I want to make sure I introduce them properly.

I have a female coworker who is a college graduate, single, and has been working full time for about three years now in our company (making good money). She is nearly 27 and still lives at home with her parents and her dog. Is that weird, or am I just being overly judgmental? She went to college locally (for free, as her mom works there) and lived at home throughout. At what age do you think it's normal to finally want your own place?