Sylvia

Our 6 1/2 year old Whirlpool washing machine will not drain and will not stop filling. (it flooded the basement!) Besides needing to have a belt changed about 2 years ago, it has been a good washing machine. Now here are my questions: Is it me, or does 6 1/2 years not seem like a long life for a washing machine? I use it for one or two loads practically everyday, having small children and all. And considering the cost of repair, is it more cost effective to just buy a new washing machine? Your advice is appreciated! Thanks!

Are you or do you know someone with a watermelon allergy? How did you (or they) realize it may be an allergy?

My two year old has never shown any signs of an allergy to dairy when he eats it (gas, stomach ache, diarrhea, etc) But when he gets a dairy product on his skin, he gets a red rash from it. (You know like sour cream or yogurt around his mouth). Is this a sign that I should get him tested for an allergy?

Is probation stricter for people who are given suspended prison sentences? Does it maybe depend on the crime?

Here's the situation. I agreed to pick up my sister's kids from school for two days. In order to do it, I had to switch cars with her for those two days b/c I have two small kids and drive a car & she drives a van so everyone could fit it in. So, I asked her to see her insurance and registration if I was going to driving her van for two days. Her response was to get really mad at me and yelled about how I don't trust her and said don't bother she doesn't need my help and hung up the phone on me. What do you think?

I am sending my son to a Co-operative preschool in the fall (one in which the parents help run the program to keep costs down.) I was hoping I could hear from other parents about their experiences with a Co-op preschool program.

Did you consider the meaning(s) of the names you chose for your children? I am just asking b/c I was looking through a baby names book and saw some interesting meanings for typical names.

Why did they kill off John Black then start a story line on his mysterious unknown past?

A month after my friends divorce is final the X doesn't want to pay child support. After 7 yrs. he's now claiming she cheated and does not want to pay child support. It's all about the money. She had the help of a fertility dr. to conceive. Kids look exactly like him. . .

A month after my friends divorce is final the X doesn't want to pay child support. After 7 yrs. he's now claiming she cheated and does not want to pay child support. It's all about the money. She had the help of a fertility dr. to conceive. Kids look exactly like him. . .

My friend has been divorced for about a month. Her ex-husband never retained an attorney but did ask for changes as the contract was developed and then signed it. Now, he's claiming he is going to "open" the divorce contract claiming it will make them married again. Is this really possible or the ramblings of a crazy person?

My friend has been divorced for about a month. Her ex-husband never retained an attorney but did ask for changes as the contract was developed and then signed it. Now, he's claiming he is going to "open" the divorce contract claiming it will make them married again. Is this really possible or the ramblings of a crazy person?

I watch the show but I have two little kids so I don't always get to catch the entire episode. I have yet to hear what they ever named the baby girl. They just keep saying "our daughter" but call the baby boy Johnny all the time. Thanks!

My 4 y.o. goes to preschool and there is a boy in his class whose mother always wants to arrange playdates. They are a very nice family and we've gotten together a few times now. Here's the thing, my son is super-duper talkative and likes his classmate but the classmate just does not talk. He can talk but he just won't (not just to my son, he doesn't talk much at all at home, school, etc....) They'll play okay together for a while but my son starts to get bothered when his friend doesn't respond to him. I keep telling him, just talk to him even if he doesn't answer while I secretly wonder if I am just forcing my son into a frustrating situation. What's your advice, parents?

My sister has a protective order against her husband and was told there was a registry in our state (Connecticut). We can't seem to find the registry on-line and also were wondering how long it would take before he would be added to it. Anything that steers us in the right direction. Thanks.

When I was a kid my grandmother used to always say that you should not eat pork in months that end in R. Why? And if you know the answer, does it apply to today's standards?

Does the ASPCA really keep a "don't bother" list of people who they've received complaints about and investigated and found no problems? My neighbor has something like 12-17 cats in her basement. It burns to breath when you walk into her basement but supposedly the ASPCA came out, investigated, and put her on a "don't bother" list if someone should complain about her in the future. It just doesn't sound right.

Old country advice from my MIL when I had my first baby:

Don't take the bottle out of his mouth so fast, you'll rip his tongue out.

You are holding him wrong, you'll break his back.

He should always have socks on, even on the hottest days.

What's the craziest MIL advice you've received????

My sister and her husband were attempting to do a mediated divorce (with no attorneys) but the husband has decided to make it really difficult (doesn't want to pay child support, moved out of the house but then moved back in). Becase of this my sister has retained a divorce lawyer. Is she obligated to let him know that he now has a lawyer?