Amy K

I currently live in L.A. and it has always been a dream to travel to London. This is going to be my year!

Questions:

1) When's the best time of year to come to London?

2) The $ is so weak; are there decent parts of the city where I can find an affordable hotel and still be close to stuff?

3) How long do I need to spend there to take in the major attractions and truly experience the city?

Thank you!!!

My younger sister (in 20s) has 3 kids, no job, and lives at home. My parents provide everything for all of them. Babies' daddies (2) contribute nothing.

I'm the aunt who loves these children dearly. I do what I can for the kids and visit regularly so I get to see all of this: Sister allows kids to be indoors with her smoking boyfriend and his family (kids get asthma and bronchitis); gives the kids soda and chips for breakfast; puts them to sleep in their street clothes; screams things like "I'm going to kill you!" (and the "F" word) at them; acts like they're a burden and rarely shows them love/affection (and the list goes on)

Sister is a very gruff, unmaternal, angry person (always has been). She's impossible to communicate with and screams at us if we try to make gentle suggestions.

The kids mean the world to us, but they're HERS, not ours (which she's quick to remind us). How can we fix her mistakes in child rearing before it's too late? Or is it too late?