Cvjed

Yes, asking again...guess I was not explicit enough b4.

Son is 14, almost 15. Refuses to do anything he does not want to do -- so I can't get him to do ANY chores...of any kind. Too old to be sent to his room. Grounding doesn't faze him (besides, he sneaks out when he wants to go)

I'm handicapped, so cannot physically take away Ipod or computer, or stop him from doing things. His only internet access is his Ipod. His computer does not even have the hardware for internet access. I DO have security on OUR internet wifi, but one of our neighbors doesn't (I don't know which one)...so he gets on that way.

My husband is a pushover, and will not help enforce any rules. He even does my son's chores, rather than make him do them. He bemoans our son's behavior...but does nothing to help. (Although he WILL enforce punishments that I set...after he argues our son's case for mitigation of the consequences.)

Both my son and daughter are healthy/skinny and have healthy eating habits. My son is a typical growing boy -- big appetite...and he does like sweets. He does not respect any limitations though. Anything that's brought into the house, even if he's told it's specifically for daughter or hubby, and he may not eat it, he feels entitled to power right through it. If I don't bring it into the house, like candy, he gets at school, etc.

Because he does no chores, he gets no allowance.

As to what he does do merit consequences:

Gets physical with by his sister (age 9) and myself, never quite enough to call the cops, though, but...(we've gotten in the habit of "running errands" in the afternoons to minimize the time we're at home with him.) My husband works nights, so he's not home, much, when the problems occur.

He steals. I can never be sure where some of the stuff that comes into his room comes from. He has no job, no money from us, yet there's always candy, sometimes small electronics, etc. He's been caught several times, but people continually let him off the hook. (Got caught - on video - stealing a hard drive from the library, they declined to press charges, even though I asked them to. Got caught stealing from JC Penny, offered a diversion program, only did half of requirements, but graduated though anyway. Costco has officially banned him because they keep seeing him on video goig into out-of-bounds areas - and then they find torn into boxes, but they haven't been able to catch him in the act.) ETC

He's been expelled from school. He's now in a continuation school for at least a semester.

Yes, he's in counseling. His counselor met with Hubby and I. She suggested that he and I try to find other consequences for our son. At my wit's end trying to find alternatives, so I'm asking you all for help.

My son is 15. Getting too old to send to his room. Being grounded doesn't faze him. I'm handicapped and cannot physically get his Ipod or his computer away from him.

I'm looking for some fresh ideas for restrictions or punishments. Rewards I have under control, but I've run dry thinking of consequences for his actions.

Please help.

They've done several stories on how horrible and costly on-line, for profit universities are -- But they also did a story on a good one. (not-for-profit, yearly tuition around $2500, well structured education program, etc.)

I'm trying to find out which the good one was!

My son (13 and a high school freshman) has announced that he believes himself to be transgendered. He apparently has been feeling this way since 7th grade. He wants hormone therapy, followed by a sex change operation immediately to become a girl. He wants a whole new girl's wardrobe of clothes and to start doing his nails and wearing all this and make up to school.

We (hubby and I) have been blind-sided by this, and think this is all happening too fast and at too young an age...what about you?

Square root of 144. I thought it could be both A & B (12 and -12) but it was marked wrong. teacher says only 12 is right.

I thought -12 x -12 would also be 144?!

Why wouldn't both answers be right?

First, let me say Nikita has a vet appointment at 2 pm today.

I would like to be an informed Mommy to him and not just go in blind.

Every day Nikita spends several hours in my lap, sleeping and being petted, and I consider myself pretty observant, so this took me quite by surprise.

Yesterday evening, after work, he jumped into my lap to go to sleep and I noticed a dark, wet looking area under his left ear. I touched it, and it was dried/hard.

At first I thought it was the dog's fault...we have a lab puppy who likes to play with him and nibble/lick his fur.

But, as I petted the back of his ears I heard a weird sound. Investigating further, it was the same ear (and NOT the other) making a squishy/wet sound.

I used several Q-tips to clean out the inside of his ear. And, no I did NOT go deep in his ear. He actually tolerated it quite well. The residue that came out on the Q-tips was dark, like dirt, with a clear liquid. I cleaned the drip-age off his fur with a damp cloth so I could tell if it happened again.

I kept a close eye on him the rest of the evening. No more drip-age, but still squishy sounding. He has not been acting uncomfortable. This morning, same thing. He is not acting lethargic (well, any more than cats do, as they sleep a good amount of the time!) He's still bugging/playing with the puppy, using his litter box and eating/drinking normally.

Any ideas as to what's wrong?