Thanks for the smile. That was good. NM

daveramsey.com is a good one for you . . . nm [2008-07-03]
nm

He gave it a good try and simply does not like it. ALso, SM [2008-07-03]
the thought of the bugs and spiders makes my skin crawl, and I am not a young child. I say encourage the other avenues of his interest and don't force him to do something that brings him to tears after he has given it a reasonable amount of time.

good luck, i hope it works out for you [2008-07-03]
let us know how it turns out

Good choice. Anywhere but South Fla. [2008-07-01]
nm

In 2 yrs, there won't be any MT work. Now is a good [2008-06-22]
nn

A very good friend once said... [2008-06-20]
*If you can raise a puppy, then raising a child is easy...* I think you are on the right track. It I have a Corgi boy that did not train as fast as I thought he should, but he did get there after about 6-7 months. For me, since it was my first time, I had no idea how long it would take. It would probably go faster a 2nd time around. From some reading I did, it sounded like it should be in a matter of days, and some dogs just do not fit that mold. It reminds me of all those who told me their baby slept through the night at 6 weeks of age. That did not happen for me until my 3rd child was born. Each child and puppy are different.

Need a new printer for Vista OS...Any suggestions for a good cheap one?? sm [2008-06-19]
I need a new printer compatible with Windows Vista OS. I would like an All In One, but at this point, I am not picky...I just need to print! Thanks in advance for all suggestions!

Good advice. As my sister says sm [2008-06-19]
Why is it some people think their dogs are just oddly shaped humans? We had a lab cross puppy from about 7 weeks to about 4 months. My daughter just brought her home one day and we knew we weren We did take thetime to crate train her, potty train her, etc., etc. With a lot of patience a ton of praise, yet a firm voice and boundaries, sheturned out to begreat pup. She was pretty hyper, but listened well and was very eager to please and she needed constant supervision. We thought we finally found the perfect family for her. The first thing the newfamily told me, as they were leaving with her, was they thought it was cruel to crate the dog at night and told me they chose not to. Big red flag! :) Three days after the family took her they called me and wanted me to take her back. I was accused of misleading them because the dog was not listening to them and was tearing their house apart and having accidents everywhere. They let her have free run of the house and then locked her in a small room while they went to work all day with nobody to check on her. I mean, what did they expect? I told them specifically what she was used to right down to what time she went to bed in her crateat night and what timeI let her out in themorning and they went completely againsteverything I told themand couldn And they only gave it THREE days!

Good. I really hope I helped. [2008-06-10]
It is not normal 6-year-old behavior, despite what others say. It is normal bratty, spoiled 6-year-old behavior, and it is not acceptable. Since your husband won Try and stay in that mindset. Also, if you don Six years old is still pretty young and they should be doing a lot of cuddling. It will end soon enough so let your hubby give him that affection. The kidmight not be getting it from his mom or others in his life. I also don That Now if you posted it on a billboard in his hometown, that would be different!

good one, LOL nm [2008-06-06]
x

JMO, but I think it is always good to have [2008-06-04]
1 or 2, just in case something major happens and you don't have the cash at the time to pay for it -- furnace/air conditioner problems, car problems, etc.

These are good responses - maybe they... [2008-06-03]
If there are children into forced marriages, etc, they should have a mole or something inside. Of course the public would never see physical abuse (they would keep that well hidden), but maybe have someone that would report into the authorities with the names of the kids being forced. I think its absolutely disgusting child marriage. I think the adult women need some major major de-whatever it is called. I have heard of groups who help people get out of cults, that is what they need for the women. But keep the kids with their moms. Would any of you like it if someone came in and ripped your kids from you and you find out it is religously oriented. And shouldneminent danger. Nobody was beating them or torturing them, yes child marriage is dusgusting and a form of abuse but for petephone call and they don't know the name of who this girl is or anything. I for one don't believe there was ever a phone call, but again that's just me.

GOod for you! [2008-06-01]
Iscenes that you just could not believe, even with police being called in. It was disgusting behavior from the ADULTS!! Shame on them. There will always be bad calls, bad umps, bad refs, dirty players, both losses as well as wins but being part of a team and learning good sportsmanship and dealing with those things in a level headed way are what build character in your son, so I commend you!

That's a good one! EvaEv likes to correct [2008-05-30]
her own right!. Man, I would feel like a complete a** right about now!

get out and take it off the back window. good luck. [2008-05-27]
x

Anyone see "Atonement"? Really good. [2008-05-26]
nm

Sounds good [2008-05-24]
Thanks for the input. I really don

I think it would be good if you go to the counsellor with (sm) [2008-05-19]
your son or instead of him. If I was him I would be very uncomfortable going to a counsellor about another student and would be afriad they would try to do a group meeting with her and him both there. I think this is a job for an adult.

gotcha. Good luck! [2008-05-18]
x

Your video is a good idea [2008-05-14]
I know that the bassets we've had are really prone to be lazy :), but I don't know them to do anything like what you're saying. I think the video is the best way to show the vet what is going on. Let us know what his vet thinks it is!

Thanks. I figure the one good thing is that their lab is inhouse so won't have to wait [2008-05-14]
for another company bogged down with labs from 10 other facilities.

Good topic... [2008-05-12]
I am making my shopping list around coupons, buying more store brand items, cooking at home a lot more, and just generally hanging out at the house on the weekends cause we can I cringe when I have to go somewhere in my car cause I don

Is this a good idea or a bad one? [2008-05-12]
Say an elderly person has a small amount of money in CD's and savings accounts, plus a small retirement plan and smaller-still social security income. That elderly person now owes close to $30,000 in hospital bills. There's no way he can pay it all off, but he's going to try to set up a payment plan with the hospital. He's afraid the hospital will take the money he's got in CD's and bank accounts. He wants to close out his bank accounts, take the cash, and put it in a fireproof lockbox in his house. He said he doesn't think the hospital can touch his retirement account or social security income.

These are my good ol days [2008-05-11]
First being of course growing up where all I had to worry bout was studying in school and getting good grades. All four grandparents were alive. Grandma working wardrobe. I'm grateful for what I have but it is very depressing to see everything sky rocket. What used to cost me $100 a week for groceries I'm now spending around $200. So while I am grateful for what I do have I sure do miss the good old days.

wow good point!! [2008-05-10]
x

DOG BITE [2008-07-03]
I find this whole complete thread disturbing. This woman was coming here to vent her frustration and was basically attacked. How sad!!! I am sorry for your child. It is a terrible incident that I hope you win in court. Dog owners have a responsibility to take proper care of their dog along with keeping it on a leash. When you take on a pet you take on ALL INCIDENTS that this pet causes. If this dog had torn up property, not a child, and they just offered a couple of dollars for repairs, I would hope that something would be done to get the full amount. yes this is a child which to me seems a little bit more important than property. I would think they should be responsible for the whole $800. I want to know why who ever it was stated that she should get a fence in her yard? It is not her responsiblity to keep this dog out. It is the owners responsibility to keep their dog on a leash and under their control at all times. My suggestion would be EVERY single time this dog is loose you call the police or animal control until something is done. In Indiana there is a three strikes and your dog is out law basically. Call animal control and tell them about this neighborhood dog and your daughter. I would really suprise me if it is not picked up. Good Luck. Also, in the US, you can sue anyone for anything at anytime. That is the law. It is not like this woman and child are suing over nothing. A dog bite is a serious incident. This dog could potentially kill a small child. A friend of mine's mom has small dogs (under 10 pounds). One recently bit her child in a serious bite. The dog actually went for her 4 year olds neck!! Her mom was right there when it happened. The child did nothing wrong but bend down to pet the dog. Small dogs can do damage too.

This one has struck a chord with me. [2008-07-03]
I have been an assistant scoutmaster for 8 years now. Yes, I am a mom, and there are women scout leaders out there! My job with our troop was Webelos-to-Scout Transition Coordinator. My job was to help our youngest boys and their families become part of our troop and to make sure that the boys have fun and get all that they can from the scout experience. Summer camp was always the make or break time for the youngest boys. You didn't say if your son is a new scout, but I assume this is his first time at summer camp. Homesickness and living in the outdoors are always the biggest hurdles during the first summer camp. You are not over-reacting because your son is having a bad time. That's a simple fact, and he deserves to have those feelings validated and addressed. Since I'm female, I tend to approach the first-time scout's misery in a different way, and over the years, a lot of men have disagreed with my methods. But, they work. Men seem to like the stick-it-out approach, and I've seen some of the worst leaders actually tease and belittle homesick boys or boys who don't take easily to the outdoor experience. That really finishes off the boy for scouting. He quits. Do you think that is what is happening with your son? At summer camp with our first year scouts, I always listen to them, validate their fears, and then try to help them overcome their fears with knowledge. If spiders or animals scare them, we go to the nature lodge and find out all about them. We do a good cleaning of their tents or lean-toWell, it I and my fellow adult leaders have spent a lot of nights sitting around picnic tables talking to scouts, sometimes making a game of listening for owls or watching spiders crawl across the table in the lantern light. And if boys do call home, I would run like crazy to the camp phone to call the parents first to let them know what was going on and to tell them to expect a call from their son. In that way, parents were prepared, and we could coordinate our efforts to help their son. Basically, it just takes some compassion. The hard core approach doesn't work. Why do I go through all the trouble? Because I know the value of the scouting program. When it's done well, it goes a long way to help parents raise up honorable men. In our troop, our scouts learn to be compassionate, because we've modeled that sort of behavior for them. They learn about living in the outdoors, and learn to take care of themselves and others. That gives them a sense of accomplishment and makes them feel capable. They learn problem-solving skills and teamwork. These are all important life skills, and when scouting is done well, boys who come through are lightyears ahead of most of their non-scout peers by the time they are 18. But that only happens when it's done right. There are great troops and adult volunteers in the BSA, but there are unfortunately some real losers, as well. It's true that scouting is not for everyone, but there is no reason for so many boys to be pushed away because of issues that just need a little careful thought and attention. This is one of my most passionate issues with scouting. Even the BSA knows that the first year scout is the most likely to quit, and they spend a lot of money and time training volunteers on this subject. It seems that some adults don't learn as quickly as others, though. And there is a core of leaders who like to remember what it was like when they were boy scouts, and won't move ahead or adapt their techniques for the boy of today's times. A new 11-year-old scout should not be expected to act like a man and tough it out. He's still a boy, and living in the woods is usually a totally new experience for him. MOST boys are scared at first, but the men and other boys hate to admit it. A new scout just needs some patience, understanding and time to mature. He needs to feel safe even when he's struggling, and he needs to know that he is supported. I don't know all the details of your son's experience, but if you think that what I've said might apply to him, you might consider looking for another troop, one that will provide him with a good, supportive program. Not all scout troops are the same. Each has a different personality, so perhaps another troop would suit your son better. If that's not possible, or if at this point he is completely turned off by scouting, there are certainly other activities out there that can teach him the things that are learned through scouting. Encourage him to find out what his talents are and help him to explore all of the possibilities that life has to offer. I'm so sorry to hear that your son is not enjoying scouts. It really breaks my heart when I hear such stories, because I know that the adult volunteers could handle the situation better. My own sons had a hard time the first time they went to camp, which is why I got involved. I knew there was a better way to deal with such a common problem. My oldest, who is now 20, still works with scouts, and my youngest will receive his Eagle Scout rank in just a couple of weeks. I have seen many, many boys' lives changed for the better by the scouting program, including my own sons. I hope that your son can also have a great experience in scouting. I'm always happy to talk about scouting, and if you'd like to send me a private message, I'd be glad to share more of my thoughts on the subject.

A very small town in West Texas [2008-07-03]
I live in an 890 sq foot rock house. I am guessing at the sq foot actually. It is close to 900 but not quite there. It ihas 2 bedrooms, 1 bath. Metal roof. I live close to the schools. I live 2 blocks from the local hospital. I just applied for a job there in fact. I worked 8 years for a big 300-bed multispeciality hospital that was 35 miles away. I left because of the climbing gas prices and I thought I needed a break from the office politics. I started working for an on-line transcription company and for some reason just cannot seem to produce the lines or make half the money I was making at the hospital. I have been here 6 months already. I applied to another company to try my luck there and they offered me a job but I read in the paper yetserday this little hospital here is hiring. They do light transcription, filing, I forget what else it said. The best part is I will have benes. As I was applying a nurse recognized me and was telling me about them and they have improved since I worked there 10 years ago. I hope the pay has as welland I hope they still like me. LOL.

I don't mind at all that you sent my email along. [2008-07-03]
There is plenty of training material available to scout leaders on the transition period and how to help the boys stay in scouting. There are videos, training sessions run by people like me, written material, etc. It's out there. It's just hard to get it through some of the leaders' brains that the boys need to be treated like boys in transition, and not like army recruits. I really applaud you for being willing to go out on the trips with the troop. That is also a hard thing to do with so many men around. I looked very carefully when my boys were crossing over to scout troops. We are fortunate in our area to have many troops to choose from. We found a great troop headed by mostly even-thinking adults who had no problem with a woman joining them. It's not perfect, and every now and then, some sexist fool says or does something stupid, but nothing is ever insurmountable in that regard. Know that having women leaders is a unit option, which means that the chartering organization can decide that no girls are allowed, so to speak. This is sometimes done for religious reasons. Other times it's just sort of a tacit tradition. I didn't have to overcome that issue, and in fact, when it was discovered that I had been camping all my life and was an avid solo backpacker, I got the job of teaching the boys about backpacking, too. Our troop welcomed all volunteers who were willing to be trained and who could commit to helping the boys. I do hope it works out for your son. If you do join as a leader, be sure that you take advantage of all the training opportunities available to you. Your troop should have a training coordinator or advancement chair who knows when training is offered. (By the way, are the adult leaders of this troop fully trained? That's VERY important.) As a GSUSA leader, you should understand the value of training. The Girl Scouts really do a great job of requiring leaders to be trained. BSA councils and districts, however, sometimes vary on how strict they are on training requirements. Don't be afraid to help out. You're doing this for your son, and that really is a great motivator. And what's really cool is that most of us start out wanting to help our own sons, but in the process we help so many other boys and parents along the way. Good luck!

Thank you - sm [2008-07-03]
I will do some more research on the MDR1 gene and help her work with her vet for future trips. The senior doctor, now retired, was on duty with her first loss and the junior doctor, now the owner, was on duty with the second incident. It is truly sad to lose a good friend, especially when it may have been possible to prevent this. Much appreciate your input.

Your little girl - sm [2008-07-02]
I can't blame you about the bill. That was unconscionable to be so petty about the money. They're lucky their dog wasn't put down and they should know it. About your daughter - I wouldn't dismiss out of hand getting her a dog. Not right away, of course, but after some time has passed. Let me explain. I saw my sister attacked by a dog when I was five, and although I wasnmagic cure for your daughter's fear as she finds out that most dogs are friendly and loveable. This also worked for our son, who was nine when we got our first puppy. He was so scared that he actually spent the afternoon in the garage rather than come into the house with Sam (who incidentally was a three month old golden retriever!). Now he owns his own dog and is considering going into veterinary medicine. Good luck to you and your family. And I pray the owners of the dog that attacked your daughter have an attack of conscience and do the right thing by your family.

Thank you sm [2008-07-02]
I really appreciate your kindness. I I wasn Some people suggested therapy. This may be what she needs, but I came from a family that never did any therapy, and I guess that's why I never really considered it. My husband suggested maybe visiting a pet store to see the puppies, but not anytime soon, though. I didn I just wanted them to take some responsibility for what happened, and suing them seems to be the only way they will take this seriously. I definitely don't want this to happen to another child, or adult for that matter. Again, thank you for your kindness. You made my day!

Okay, don't want to be a stick in the sand [2008-07-02]
We lived near the beach for many years and saw this one time too many. So, instead of being afraid of the ocean be more afraid of the sand. Please don't let your sons dig holes in the sand, at least not deep ones. We have seen children and teenagers have serious accidents or worse with this. The sand collapses into the holes and consequences can be fatal, so just heads up on that. It was also just on the news so I hope a lot of parents watched it. What seems like fun can turn quickly into a serious situation. It was just a known fact in our home..... no deep holes at the beach. Sorry to be a downer....just want to make sure the boys AND parents enjoy themselves. Do have a good time though!!!

Beach [2008-07-02]
Just keep a sharp eye on the children in the ocean with the boogie boards. The ocean current is strong. I found this out when we went to Myrtle Beach and my 10-year-old was on an inflatable raft. The current carried her rather far. It was a good thing my husband could swim. It happened so quickly but everything turned out all right.

Paying Down Debt [2008-07-02]
I feel you, believe me. First, Bravo to you for facing this. That I think if you are so close to paying off your house, you wouldnAdditionally, the interest rates aren What is the total of payments you are making on your credit cards? If you can slap that 5000.00 on your debt first on all of the higher interest ones perhaps paying some of them off. That will free up extra money to put on the rest of your credit cards. Then once the credit cards are paid off, you can then work on the mortgage (I WISH I had your mortgage..). Also we work in an industry where it is easy to pick up extra work---have you thought of that just to get extra money to pay off the debt? That Things are just so bad right now. Good luck, hope this helps...

Dogs, fireworks, and... peppermint oil? sm [2008-07-02]
One of my dogs has a little bit of a problem with loud noises such as fireworksandthunderstorms. He doesnbut I happened toread an article about how using peppermint oil on the dogreally calm them,so I Ithas to be real peppermint oil (not the kind found in the grocery store in the baking section), so I went to a local health food store and bought a bottle. You put the oil on a cotton pad, then put some on each of the dog I did a Google search and found a lot of comments from people saying it worked for their dog. (Just type in Below isanother article I found while searching around. I know a lot of pets end up freaking out and getting lostthis time of year, poor things, so be sure you have an up-to-date ID tag on your pets, even if they will be inside the house. Dogs Fireworks Don't Mix! Every year on the Fourth of July America's skies are bright with fireworks, sparklers and Roman candles as we celebrate Independence Day. Bangs, explosions and bright lights are accompanied by screams, sirens and howling dogs throughout the country. Dogs do not like fireworks. Fact. Every year dogs along with many other animals experience fear and confusion, sometimes alone when their owners are away enjoying an organized event. It is not unusual for dogs to run away from home after being frightened by fireworks. Another problem for dogs is the fact that fireworks seem to be going off for a few days leading up to July 4th as well so there is no way of knowing exactly when your dog might be subjected to a loud bang. Below are some suggestions to help ensure that your pets can get through the fireworks unscathed. It is a good idea to bring any outdoor pets inside during the fireworks.Always remember how acute a dog's sense of hearing is. A loud bang to us can feel like a volcano erupting to a dog. It may be hard, but try and stay with your dog during the fireworks. Your presence will help to calm your dog and while the noise may still frighten them, they will feel better and recover much faster with you there. Always make sure your dog has his or her own special area where they can go to feel safe. Be it an indoor kennel or a place under the stairs, dogs love to have a den at their disposal. It sounds obvious, but try to keep the windows and curtains closed during the fireworks display as this will lessen the effect of the noise and bright flashes. Also, normal household noises such as the TV or music can help to distract from the loud noises coming from outside. Last but certainly not least, always ensure your pet has some sort of identification on him or her. It is a sad fact but many dogs do run away from home because of fireworks.Even dogs that have previously shown no fear of fireworks can occasionally take flight at the loud noises and flashes in the sky. Be prepared, your dog has never heard of Independence Day or The Fourth of July and he doesnHe needs your help to make it through the day.

Some advice -- been there myself, [2008-07-02]
First of all, congrats on almost paying off that mortgage! I would love to have a $350/month mortgage payment. I watch a lot of financial shows on TV, so I hope some of the stuff I learned can help you. 1. Pay yourself first. I know this sounds hard to do, but if you put a little back each paycheck to a savings account, you can avoid getting caught in the credit card circle again. It doesn We do $40 a paycheckinto2 club accounts, $20 into a Christmas Club and $20 into a vacation club. This really helps out when those times of year come around. 2. Pay your highest interest rate credit cards first and/or lowest balance first. You say you have a credit card in the 20% range for interest with a balance of $200. Try to pay that one off ASAP, while still maintaining minimum payments on the others. Once that one is paid down, I would start on the next lowest balance (since 3 of your credit card interest rates are in the similar 20% range). You should put the money you were paying on the $200 card (after it 3. Try to make your payments as soon as you get your bill for that statement; don Interest is figured on a daily basis, so the sooner you pay it for that month, the less interest you'll end up paying. 4. The $5000 that you are planning on getting would probably be best used by paying off the credit cards for 2 reasons: 1) The interest on your house is probably a lot better rate than those on the credit cards. 2) The interest you are paying on your house can be tax deductible. If I were in your situation, I would start out with the first 3 suggestions. After you get the $5000, I would follow through with number 4. Finally, any remaining balances left, I would try to obtain a home equity loan. Home equity loans are not second mortgages. The closing costs are much less, usually not more than $100, if any. The interest on a home equity loan would be better than any of your credit card interest rates, and again, the interest paid on a home equity loan can be tax deductible. When shopping for a home equity loan, try to find one with a fixed interest rate rather than adjustable (the market You should be able to find one with a rate somewhere around 7%. Good luck to you!

have you ever thought about sm [2008-07-02]
have you ever thought about transferring some balances from the cc to a 0% interest credit card?? you can find those 0% for 12 months up to a year and a half and if you pay the balance off before that time is up, then there is no interest charged to your balance (hope that makes sense). that transferred some of my high percentage rate cc to a zero interest and that really helps me. i would cut up the cc that have the high interest. my only cc that has interest on it is only 6.9%. i have a bigger balance on it than i would like ($6800), but that is the only cc i have with an interest rate on it. my other ones (three of them) are no interest. i don congrats on your house!!! i, too, would also take that 5 grand and put it on a cc, not the house. good luck!!!

debt [2008-07-02]
I agree with transferring to 0% when the offers come. I have been doing that for years. Now, I just got an offer for 6.99% for the life of balance up to 12,000 dollars. Going to take that offer, (we are going to remodel our main but small bathroom) and pay off 2 1/2 cc; then what is left over, oh, and going to give my hubby 1000 to get out bike out of shop, so, what ever is left over, which should be 6 to 7000, will redo bathroom, payments won't be bad, like 190 a month and don't use your cards for a good while, just steadily pay. Hope this helps, and life is too short to stress over bills. Keep them in mind but at the same time, think of what you have.

GPS [2008-07-01]
Can anyone recommend a good GPS? After studying reviews online I am both more enlightened and more confused, if that makes any sense. Belk

Our dog bit a girl "that was pulling his hurt ear" [2008-07-01]
Well the girl So, you need to contact the police again and find out how you can go about filing a claim. My parentsprovoked the dog. The provoked part didn So, I guess what I am trying to say here is that my parents were your neighbors and they got sued and their insurance premium went up. We I would have to bet though that the foster parents of the bitten dog probably got legal assistance for free too, since they had about 10 foster kids and were getting a fat check each month and obviously not supervising these kids for that girl to have pulled my dog My dog jumped our fence and cut his ear, that girl pulled on the dog I highly doubt that child really need the surgery and probably never even got the surgery, but those foster parents I That may sound harsh and by all means I know that not all foster parents are irresponsible, but in my opinion, my parents got the raw end of the deal. Good luck whatever you decide.

i'm pretty sure it was a garmin my [2008-07-01]
daughter just said her boyfriend got -- that it will TELL you which way and when to turn, so you don't have to take your eyes off the road. Sounds pretty good!

maybe it's you... [2008-07-01]
who is pathetic. This person is simply expressing an opinion and you are being extremely rude. that no respect for another opinion. And I agree with them. what good will money do to alleviate your daughter's fears? Perhaps a more calm and reasoned approach would be more effective instead of aggravating the situation by engaging in battle. By law, hospitals have to report animal bites and the animal has to be impounded for a period of time. If none of this has happened, i find it hard to believe there was any significant injury. Chill out. Help your child and forget the legal battles. Do not be a part of the problems of this sue crazy society.

If you do get a settlement I would use it to get - sm [2008-07-01]
two things, a fence for your yard, and therapy for your daughter as she obviously needs it. If you are not taking her as yet, get her to a therapist pronto. Any left over money you put into her college fund. Good luck.

Ummmm, I think her point is that they should pay - sm [2008-07-01]
all the medical costs. What she should do is get all the bills/records from the insurance company and write to the insurance company copying the dog owners. The health insurance company will then go after the dog owners for payment of the hospital bills. They are getting off scot free from their dog injuring someone, I think that is the point MT is trying to make. Also a health insurance company can drop you too just like home owners or car, so if they are po'd about having to pay for the kids care when the dog owner should have paid for this, they could cancel their insurance (for the victim's family) and then the girl's family is doubly screwed. It sounds like the dog was impounded, but at home (this is what happened here when my neighbors dog bit me, totally unprovoked, dog just ran up to me and bit...barely broke the skin but dog did not have up to date shots--owners lied about that--dog was quarantied at home for 2 weeks then was allowed out after that)--From the sounds of it that is what happened here. I was somewhat traumatized and did not like to go out walking much after that but I got over it, it helped that the dog in question got hit and killed by a car though one of the times it was out running loose. ---Insurance companies love to pass the buck, so this would get some results. I fell last year on some ice and spained my shoulder really good, my insurance wrote me asking me where I fell, etc. so they could see if they could get $ from someone else, I had to disappoint them as I fell on my own front porch steps, guess I am lucky they didn't go after our homeowner's insurance, LOL.

Scary isn't it? [2008-06-30]
I don't have any advice for you, but I have an 11 year old son. Found out that lots of kids in his MIDDLE SCHOOL are having sex, drinking, smoking, and using drugs. This is in a 'supposedly good' school in a suburb of Atlanta. There is also some gang activity. I will be homeschooling him starting this fall. I am so sorry to hear of your problems with your daughter. I hope that someone here is able to offer you some sound advice. I know that it is not a good feeling to have someone living in your house whom you feel you cannot trust.

When my now 20 yo DD told me about her drugs and alcohol sm [2008-06-30]
I asked that she wait until she was out of high school to have sex, because it carries big consequences and she needed to be ready for that. For that she waited for that, but tried marijuana twice and got drunk a couple of times too. I was shocked by my good girl.

A lot depends on your daughter, not just you - sm [2008-06-30]
Is she sensible? There are not many 16-y/o that have not tried drinking or smoking, it is all part of trying new things,etc. and it will happen whether you like it or not. You have to learn to trust her to make smart decisions and to make her own mistakes but obviously to guide her and make sure she doesndate had MadDog, nasty stuff, and I got obliterated as I did not realize what that crud would do to me. Lucky for me my dad was out of the country at the time. My punishment was being forced to go to school with a horrible hangover (though I puked my guts out in my friendscares). I actually went and got on the pill while still a virgin so when it did happen I would be protected. --- is your daughter that sensible and with some common sense? I did a lot of stupid things along with the smart things I doing, just got lucky and came out of it okay. At 16 you want to experiment and have fun. All my friend and I were A/B students, 1 smoked and did all sorts of drugs. I would drink and smoke pot now and them (1 x a week or so), and again parents NEVER knew it. I remember one time my dad picked me up at school after play practice (was helping out with set design), I was stoned, had been slipped angel dust and had been hallucinating about an hour or two prior, was still pretty high. He wanted me to drive home for practice (I was 16), I turned him down because I was very tired.....he never knew, I crawled into bed the minute I got home. I was very, very good at hiding it from my parents, how they didn't smell it on me I never knew, unless they just ignored it. My best friend smoked and they new that so I guess that helped cover it up a bit. Despite all this I was very anti-drug (anything but pot) as I had seen too many people messed up on coke, crank, LSD, etc. I was furious with my BF's brother as he was the one who slipped me the angel dust, I got lucky as nothing bad happened to me. He is dead now, ended up addicted to coke, then alcohol, got hepatitis, car-jacked 3 cars for drug money, and ended up in prison with a 20 year sentence, got out after 8 years in 2006, then got addicted to painkillers, they found him dead in his apartment, killed by mixing alcohol and painkillers. This just happened about 8 months ago. He was only 42. Very sad as he was a smart guy but had many, many problems and never got his life together. Obviously this does not happen to everyone who does drugs, it all depends on the person and their upbringing. His sister (one of my BFs) is a successful therapist, drinks but quit smoking several years ago, never got into hard drugs like her brother. ---sorry for the rambling, but don't go overboard and lock her up, that will just make her go in the opposite direction. Obviously you need to set limits, etc, and try to know where she is and who she is with, and set punishments if you catch her doing it and let her know what those punishments will be, whether it is grounding for a month, or no cell phone, no TV, no driving, whatever, be firm and stick to it. I know that my brothers and I all did stuff, most of which we got away with, but it was shear luck and stupidity when I look back at it. Not all kids are so lucky. I hope you daughter is one of the lucky ones.

Thank you for the advice. sm [2008-06-30]
My daughter is an overall good kid, has always been an A/B student in honors and high honors. She has kept her grades up and is involved in environmental clubs, humanitarian clubs and is a do gooder overall all. I'm just in shock having learned that she has been drinking for 2 years. She tells me that she is glad now she does not have to hide it anymore and says she hated lying to me, but was afraid of what I would do if I found out, obviously. I want to punish her but I don't want to push her the other way where she will rebel more and do worse things. I guess this is my reality check. I need to come to terms with the fact that kids her age will drink and I think I can almost deal with that if I can somehow make a deal with her that she will not get drunk and obviously drive when she has been drinking. I have an even bigger problem with the cigarettes and I just can't stand the thought of her smoking. She tells me she has not done any drugs. I want to believe her, but at this point I am also very hurt and feel that she has broken the trust I had in her by lying to me all this time. This is one of the hardest things I have ever had to go through. Sigh.

been there [2008-06-30]
It is very scary and hard to know how to deal with these situations when they are basically really good kids - good grades, caring, thoughtful, involved in clubs, etc. . One thing I did with my daughter was told her straight out if I ever found out she had been drinking and driving, her car would be gone - not for a week or two either, at least 6 months and probably longer. . Also, if I found out she was riding with someone who had been drinking, she would be severely grounded. . There was ALWAYS the option to call for a ride home with no questions asked. .These things never happened as far as I know - I did find out, later, about a time or two when alcohol was consumed and she stayed all night at a friendhappy there is danger in that too - as her response/judgment in certain situations may be off. . It seems that you have good communication with her and you definitely want to keep that going. . It is a fine line - you want them to know what you do not approve of, yet want them to be open and honest and talk to you. . Hang in there, it will get better.