How about ideas for siblings and their families? Here's one
Posted By: FeelingFestive on 2008-11-19
In Reply to:
I have three siblings, with spouses and children. Not only is it expensive to buy for all of them, but it's hard to know what to get. Last year I went to a craft store and bought cheap baskets on sale. I bought each of them a 2-month subscription to the movies that you get through the mail, NetFlix (can do Blockbuster if you want). I put the gift certificate in the basket along with the big boxes of candy that they sell at the show (.99 cents apiece at Walgreens), a few packets of microwave popcorn, and a 6-pack of their favorite soda. They loved it and everybody enjoyed the movies over the next couple of cold winter months. You can purchase the movie gift certificates on line at their website.
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Do you look like your siblings?
I didn't look a lot like my older brother, but I sure did the other brother.
My parents didn't have a baby book for me, (I was the youngest and I think my parents were too worn out by then) and for the longest time I swore I was adopted just for that reason. But we looked too much alike for that to happen.
siblings
My siblings and I are best friends. We have also vacationed together in the past, have rented large homes various places so we can all stay together. Our parents have been married 57 years and at times have tried to pit one against the other (don't know why, think it may be a little bit of dementia) but we just keep going.
Whereas you love/got along with your siblings,
that is not the case for everyone. I had 1 brother (died in an automobile accident over 30 years ago) and right now I could not tell you 5 items I knew about him, not close, never- I felt sorry for my parents for their loss when he died though.
Not true for all siblings - -
not at all. My mother had 2 siblings and the last year of her life the others not speaking to her. Had brother hardly knew. You can only speak for your own family, not others.
I do not see how any siblings could ever speak to him again
Maybe they have forgiven but I have heard (not from my friend) but other members of the family he is a gambler, womanizer and really not someone you would want to be around. This, though the friend says, had absolutely nothing to do with wanting the name change but parents are not always someone you can look up to and honor. I respected my father until I found out about the molestation, then no more.
Sounds like my siblings - I just don't get it!
My parents (the enablers that they are) pay for my sister's son's health insurance and pay for my brother's cable/phone/internet bill, but they all buy their kids a TON of presents for Christmas and their b-days!! My sister is 31 and my brother is 27, so they're both old enough to take care of their responsibilities but refuse to. Their kids are absolutely spoiled, but hey they don't care cuz mommy and daddy are paying their bills for them!! Drives me insane!
being friends with your siblings
Anyone here friends with their siblings now that you are all adults, or do the parent issues always get in the way? We are all getting older and wanting to talk, but our parents are divorced and still cause a lot of trouble and demand center stage.
friends with siblings
My sisters are my best friends. There are 3 of us and we are so fortunate. We all get along so well. Not only that, but our husbands do, too. We even vacation together and all. I am the youngest. The middle one is 6 years older than I, and the oldest one is another 5 years older than the middle so we have an 11-year span. We were never close when we were younger because of that age difference, but as adults, we have grown quite close. I feel badly that not all families share the bond that we do, but I thank God every day to have this family bond. I always thought all families were like mine, but since I have grown up and seen so many broken families, I realize how fortunate I am. I hope you and your siblings are able to learn to become friends. It is a wonderful gift.
I dunno - how can I be sure they're really my siblings? : ) nm
NM
Mine & my siblings' was when we were little kids. (sm)
I lived in Southern California in an area where everyone had citrus trees in their yard, because everything used to be commercial citrus orchards back then. There was an infestation of something called 'red spiders' that were killing orange, grapefruit and lemon trees. Our yard had lots of beautiful Valencia orange trees in it, which my dad took loving care of - fed them special tree food, etc. (We always drank home-squeezed orange juice!)
So on April Fool's day, not long after there had been lots of talk about red spiders being found in trees in our area, we all came running into the house that morning, and breathlessly told our dad, 'We found RED SPIDERS all over the tree by the swing-set!' We acted all shocked & upset, dragged him by the hand out into the backyard, and kept pointing and saying, 'Look! Don't you see them?!' He'd look and say no, he couldn't see them. 'But they're REALLY tiny!' we said, 'You've got to get really, really CLOSE to see them!'
We finally had it so he was practically touching the tree with his nose, and then we all yelled 'APRIL FOOL'!!!
It's a tough world out there. Siblings will be there when parents are gone.
I only have one and I wish I could give him siblings.
My 4 siblings and I had chicken pox at the same time and we're fine. sm
My daughter also had them at 4 months and she is now an honor student in high school. Don't beat yourself up. How attached are you to the pediatrician? If he is always that rude, perhaps you could trade him in for a better model.
It all depends who it is. Some friends are as close as siblings, and I wouldn't think twice
about dropping in unannounced.
Prayers for both families
nm
Will work to let other MTs with families have day off.
dd
I come from one of those fighting families.
There have been many, but the defining event would have to be at my father's viewing when his own brother started a fight in front of the open casket. If it were a screenplay, it would have to be a comedy, because the reality of it was too painful to endure. Needless to say, I don't deal with my family unless I have to. I've had too many holidays ruined over the years, and when my children were small, I realized that their holidays would be ruined, as well, if I kept returning to these toxic family gatherings. Now we do things on our own, and life is much nicer. We don't have the Norman Rockwell gatherings of 20 or so people, but that's ok. Maybe some day when I'm a grandmother and great-grandmother, our healthy family will have grown to Norman Rockwell size, and then we'll have a family group that wants to spend time with each other. That is so much better than dreading family gatherings!
Suppose most of our families came from there
nm
Yes, it runs in my families I got it from
my mother. My mother had high blood pressure all her life and never took any medicaments against it. Some people just have high blood pressure and taking medicaments might even do more harm than good. My mother is very healthy and now in her 60s.
I, too, do not take any medicaments, none.
Its so weird, but this is common for these families
with BPD members - when a new person comes along who is actually healthy emotionally, they are always "blamed" for everything. I wish I had more time to share some of this fascinating data, but I have to work...and there are probably those who aren't interested. When you experience these sick games for years, and then actually read the exact same stuff in medical/psychiatric journals, it is just mind blowing! You realize its NOT you and you're not imagining this stuff. Very enlightening. I wish you all the best.
The bikers are the ones protecting the families
because of all these other rude people who decide that a funeral is a place to protest, whatever..They form a human/motorcycle barrier in between the protestors and the ones grieving.
My heart aches for the families
who will shortly be notified that their child/spouse/loved one will not becoming home. Too many senseless killings these days.
I can surely relate! Families can be so --sm
cruel sometimes. I really think that they don't even think about how their actions or lack thereof affect others sometimes, but we sure feel the hurt, don't we? Hugs to you!
Do you know any organizations that help families in need (one-time need) (sm)
these people need help just for one month getting their bills paid - what organizations are there that do this? I know they exist in Florida. I am now in NC and just trying to help these people find out where to go for help. Anyone have any ideas? It would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
I guess we are one of those boring families, too...sm
We don't fight during the holidays, but then we really don't talk much either. My mom has Alzheimer and my brother just doesn't say much. I try to carry on a conversation, but it is hard to when you are met with silence.
just a liaison between the patient's and families...
and the nursing home, so if they are not addressing your needs, this is an appointed advocate--not employed by the nursing homes--whose job it is to address your concerns.
Our families are important to all of us, but we make it work sm
We fit it all in. Family, food, fun, and a litte work. It is not a really big hardship for most MTs.
Brown/Goldman families at odds now
it has been all over the news- Goldman wants the money, Brown family speaking out saying should not get, I think they consider it blood money. Never would have thunk that 1- huh, seemed so buddy-buddy at 1 time and now on the outs.
Definitely think it runs in families. Both parents, 1 sister
and I all have hypertension. I take 4 different meds with another one for p.r.n. use. My is pretty well controlled most of the time. The highest it got was 230/140.
St. Vincent de Paul helps families in any kind of need
xx
Hope you appreciate them -- the guys' families do care and do help. Hard to believe for some....
I am sure by posting that you care, but some just use and abuse and it's always about the maternal side of the family until they need something again. Congratulations for posting and giving the guy's fanily some credit for a change. We are humans, not just a bank. OMG let the flaming begin!!
Don't be a jerk. Most of us were lucky enough to be born into English speaking families.
x
in families of SEAHORSES-males carry/give birth
Fran is right..Tends to run in families. If you are, dont bother with Synthroid..I went to Armour
thyroid and never looked back. I tried Synthroid for over a year and they could never get my thyroid back in..I struggled with cold intolerance, fatigue, dry skin, and the worse..weight gain..like 30 pounds and then a doctor put me on a more "natural" thyroid which was Armour. I got my energy back, lost weight etc..I would never use Synthroid or any other synthetic again. Be aware that a huge number of doctors dont like prescribing Armour but I insist that it's the only thing that works for me and they do prescribe it..Good luck to you..
Thanks. I guess what I am really asking is when do most families stop taking Summer vacation and
start getting ready for school opening.
A few ideas
Shed not for her the bitter tear,
Nor give the heart to vain regret;
Tis but the casket that lies her,
The gem that filled it sparkles yet.
Her children rise up and call her blessed.
Amiable, she won all; intelligent, she charmed all; fervent, she loved all; and dead, she saddened all.
Ideas..
How about the pastry puff (hot dog, potato, beef) hors doeuvres by Cohen. Frozen aisle, just thaw and bake. They are delicious! Spinach dip in a bread bowl. Chicken fingers. Shrimp cocktail. Stuffed mushrooms. Prosciutto and melon, fresh mozzarella. Deviled eggs. Enjoy the party!
Any ideas???
You all are always so creative and imaginative - please help. I need to buy gifts for my BIL's girlfriend and SIL's boyfriend, somewhere in the $25 range. I have no clue what they like, and asking BIL and SIL is like asking my keyboard - they are no help at all. Thanks in advance!
some ideas...
Although this is from a nominated student themselves you might pull some info from it. Had the pleaure of being a memory and it was indeed an honor.
associatedcontent.com/.../how_to_write_a_successful_national.html - 35k -
Give applicant name and school name, your relation to applicant, how long you have known them. Some of the criteria it is based would be maturity, dependability, motivation, compatibility, integrity, compassion, particpation and attitude.
here are a few ideas
There is a web site that is legit that can help with small amounts. It may not give you money in a short time, but it can help within 30 days. www.modestneeds.org
They even help show you how to write a request that will get approved.
For help with food, try angelfoodministries.com . For $25/month, you get almost $75 worth of food.
For help with any medications, try www.needymeds.com . The drug manufacturers help people who fall between the cracks and cannot afford medicine by providing it for free or for a minimal fee.
Also contact your state's Vocational Services Department. If you have ADHD in my state, they will pay for your schooling and medication and doctor bills and you don't pay it back after school is done.
Don't be afraid to contact your local resources - churches, food banks, Salvation Army - for whatever help you can get. Some of these will provide one-time assistance or every-other-month help.
I wish you well. I only know about these because of I have needed to use each of them at one time or another, and continue to need them.
My ideas
Do you have wood heat? My sister's red setter had thyroid problems that made it itch and loose most of her hair as well as being allergic to wheat in the dog good and the only food that could feed it was Friskies cubes. Allergy testing sometimes is not that expensive. And it might be worth your while and cheaper than going through all the medications and remedies to not have them work and then do the testing. I have found that specialists sometimes are less expensive than the regular vets and they can pinpoint the problem faster and less expensive. So call an allergist vet and ask what it would cost to get him tested. I was scared to death about the expense of taking my dog to a neurologist when she was having seizures and it cost me less than a regular visit to my vet and he spent over 30 minutes with us explaining things. And he knew immediately what to do. But beware of the steroids as I feel that is what caused the seizures in the first place and will never put my dog on them again. Too many side effects. Good luck.
Some more ideas
Summer's on the way, here are some quickies for dinners. Except for rice and baked goods, I do not measure. Ever. It's all in your tastes and preferences. You just put the stuff together until it looks/smells/tastes right to you.
When you have time, simmer a large amount of boneless, skinless, quartered chicken breasts in water/broth until they are just done and still tender. Drain and cool. Shred, dice, chop and use throughout the week. Roasted chicken/turkey is great to use, too.
If you like ham, bake a big one. Have a ham dinner one night, then save the rest for later in the week. Chop it in a food processor for chopped ham, slice it for sandwiches, dice it for soups, wraps, omelets, etc.
When in season, use grapes or sliced fresh fruit such as apples, to serve with some dinners or put in salads. When it's there in front of you, all sliced and pretty, you eat it. Great way to get fruits into the family's diet on the sly! They'll make faces and think you've gone all Martha Stewart on them, but they'll eat it. Same thing with some veggies. Slice cukes lengthwise, slice carrots the same way, put them on the table with a little dish of something to dip them in - some dressing or yogurt. Make them easy to pick up with finger.
Some dinner suggestions using the above:
1. Sandwiches. Any kind. Make them interesting - different breads you slice yourself, bulke rolls, pita pockets, etc. Fill with roasted/sauted veggies, with leftovers, cukes, shredded carrots, etc. Use dark-colored greens or raw spinach instead of iceburg lettuce. Raw spinach goes a long way when using for sandwiches, wraps or rollups. That chicken made ahead can be mixed in with any type of salad dressing or marinade, with salsa, with cranberry relish, etc., gives much more flavor than mayo and a lot less calories. Make wraps and rollups. Add lots of different seasonings. Experiment! Try turkey bacon for BLTs. Serve with roasted potato wedges: slice baking potatoes lengthwise into wedges. Brush with olive oil. Sprinkle with seasonings of cohice. Cayanne pepper, salt, dill, tarragon, anything that smells good will taste good! Bake in shallow pan about 45 min. until tender on inside, crisp on outside.
2. Tortillas/buritos/tacos. Fill with chicken, beef, veggies, anything! Experiment. Use the taco seasoning packets you can get at the supermarket to add to cooked lean ground hamburger or cooked chicken. I usually use half as they are quite salty. You can always just wing it yourself by adding cumin, tomato paste, salsa, cayanne pepper, etc.
3. Quesadillas. Brush large frying pan with olive oil. Place soft tortilla in pan, fill 1/2 with filling of choice - great with summer squash, zucchini sauted ahead of time and a bit of cheese. Fold over and cook on M-High heat until golden brown and crisp. Flip and cook other side same way, make sure cheese melts. Slice in wedges, serve w/salsa.
4. Rice. Cook a pot of Basmati or Jasmine rice, makes a huge difference in texture and taste than Uncle Ben's. It's more expensive than regular short grain/long grain rice, but this is your dinner, and the most expensive part of it if you are using leftovers. Add salt, pepper, cinnamon, alspice, clove to rice before covering to simmer for 20 min. Add cooked meat - chicken or hamburger. Another suggestion is to cook some rice, add some sauted garlic, veggies and some lemon-pepper seasoning. Serve with salad, cut up veggies and spciy ranch dressing, slices of fruit with cheese, etc.
5. Cook up some pasta. I know, more pasta, but this is different! Noodles works as well as angel hair. Cook ground hamburger. Mix pasta, hamburger, jar of spaghetti sauce together. Put in deep casserole dish that's been brushed with olive oil. Top with shredded cheese. Bake until heated through and cheese has melted. Careful not add too much sauce - you can always add more at the table. Best to keep an extra jar of sauce handy just in case.
7. English muffin pizzas. Let the kids make them.
8. Soups. Maybe not in summer, but on a cold night they are great. My favorite for this time is year is with veggie broth, summer squash, zucchini, finely chopped carrots, mushrooms and garlic that were sauted in olive oil and butter, caramalized onions, chunks of red potatoes with the skins on, dill, tarragon and a lot of fresh ground pepper. Add some shredded chicken if you want. Ham is good with this, too.
9. Sort of Shepherd's Pie: Brush casserole dish with olive oil. Add a layer of red skin smashed potatoes (always leave the skins on), a layer of canned corn, a layer of cooked hamburger, ham or chicken. Repeat, be sure to end last layer with the smashed potatoes. Bake until top begins to brown. Make gravy or use the jar/canned gravy if you'd like.
10. Dinner Pockets. Pillsbury crescent rolls in the fridge section of market. I don't know how many you are feeding but I believe one can makes 4 of these. Unroll the dough, separate along perforations to make rectangles, NOT triangles like you would for the crescents. Place each rectangle on a cookie sheet you've sprayed with veg. oil and make sure the perforated seams are pinched together. In the center of each rectangle, put in anything that's already been cooked. Any kind of meat and/or veggies. Top with shredded cheese if you want. Pull up the corners to the center and pinch closed. Bake according to directions on package.
11. If you can grill outdoors, there's a whole new world waiting for you! Marinate something the night before, grill along with veggies and/or potatoes. No mess to clean inside.
ideas.
Can't beat a BLT or hotdog and chips. Tomatoe soup and grilled cheese. Chicken wrap or tuna salad wrap. We even do BLT wraps.
Last night we had grilled pork chops with a broccoli slaw and grilled apples. When I grill I try to cook extra for another night. I did chops and then fresh sausage dogs for lunch.
What ya got and I'll give you some ideas! Would have rather been a chef than an MT but oh well!
Try this ideas -
Get a Scat Mat. Put it where they want to claw on the furniture and crank it to the highest level. I bet after one buzz on their paws they move on. Are you able to spray them in the act of scratching? Set a water bottle on stream, squirt them the very second they start scratching and say "no." Do not hit or scream hysterically at them. If you cannot secure a Scat Mat then get a carpet protector (you know, those plastic things sold in strips that you place over carpet to protect it - maybe like in front of a door) and turn it upsidedown so that the pointy part is sticking up. They will not want to walk on that, I will bet money on it. I have had 11 cats in my lifetime and they all kept their claws. Try different things until something clicks. If nothing else works then try the Soft Paws, but retraining CAN be done. Good luck. Let us know what happens. :-)
Please, any ideas on this??
I have worked in this field for over 30+ years. I have an aunt that I am very close to. I have been suffering very severly with rib pain (have fibromyalgia) but I told her I went to 2 doctors this past week, my regular and then referred on to rheumatologist and neither basically helped me. I ask specifically to my PCP if I might have costochondritis (would rather have had that then other things worse) so he never said anything 1 way or the other. In telling her today I finally resorted to getting 1 of the medicated back patches from the drug store and how I had had to help myself she told me "well, the doctors really do not want you to tell them what you think it is or what to do for any ailments." I know she is old, but right now I am supposed to go visit her this weekend and I am blowing steam from my ears. After doing the 4s for years and years and also working part-time in all other speciality offices including ortho, neurologic, gynecological, internal just to name a few, I have gotten to where I know a LITTLE about your body. I do not want her to say something like this again and for me to just overlook but my gosh, even after saying possibility about infection in the ribs, I am still NOT checked out for any possibility ??? When you go to your physician do you ever say it might be this or it might be that and what kind of reply would you have for this much loved aunt (although right now has really stepped on my toes). Oh by the way, this is not the first time something like this has been brought up between the aunt and myself. Not working in the medical field she sorta views the doctors as, well you know these holier than thou are folks and would NEVER question their authority.
Thanks everyone for the ideas! (nm)
x
Thanks for your ideas sm
I am very grateful for your ideas and did a little extra shopping for the future yesterday. Last evening I offered ground sirloin mixed with ground turkey (they did not ask) and made some tasty meatballs and patties. I offered them a choice, which they loved. One had a meatball sub, the other two had the cheeseburger choice with low fat cheese and when one finished, he wanted what his sister had, could not resist the smell of the meatballs. I allowed him both. He has quite an appetite! We had fun. I also introduced baked sweet potato fries. They made their own deserts with chocolate low-fat yogurt which they called "ice cream" with a cherry on top and a few chocolate sprinkles (they loved doing their own). Made their own low-fat chocolate milk shakes. Overall, the evening went very well. I added some of your suggestions to my cupboard for future visits. I am the "Grammy" and sometimes I get very tired. I did offer them "two" choices which they (being siblings) seemed to be attracted to. I have to remind them and myself that I am not a restaurant, a bank or a hotel. When the food goes well, the rest of the evening is pretty easy. We watched "Home Alone," played cards, Chutes & Ladders with the little one and had fun together. Thanks for the future menu ideas. Ages 5, 9 and 11, all different kiddos. You know how it is. : )
Thanks nm You have the best ideas about everything!
:>)
Thanks for the ideas, everyone!
It's cool out today, so I think I'll hang it outdoors.
2 ideas
Get a little Skookie cast iron pan (they have them at Sportsmans Warehouse). Make the Skookie once and then you have the pan. (If you haven't had one it is a huge cookie or brownie baked in a small cast iron pan. Get those bags of pizza dough mix (Martha's or whatever - they have it at Wal-Mart) and make it up (you just add water) and press it into the oiled pan. Bake 10 minutes and then add on a spoonful of sauce or olive oil and garlic and 5 cheese Italian blend and some parmesan and bake it again until brown and bubbly. Lunch. Save the dough for tomorrow and do another kind! Like Canadian bacon and pineapple. These are really good. The crust comes out just right like brick oven pizza. If you are really hungry or you have company, get a big cast iron pizza pan and do the same with the whole batch of dough. The leftovers are soooo good.
My mom lived alone for a long time and she had the same problem and did not like fast food, so she would make a big recipe of enchiladas and then freeze them individually for her lunch. Yum. If you don't know how to make them post back and I'll tell you. It is really easy and so much yummier than PB&J or tuna.
I lied, third idea. Make tostadas. Fry up or bake a corn tortilla and spread it with refrieds and add cheese, salsa and lettuce, sour cream, or whatever. Instant lunch! Now I am ravenous and need to check the freezer contents.
Ideas
Here is a website where you can download and print out things (Christmas themes) such as dot-to-dot, word search, find the difference in the elves, matching game, santa's village activity page and Christmas coloring pages. http://familyfun.go.com/printables/season/specialfeature/christmas-printables-ms/
Oriental trading company has a holiday bingo game.
You might also want to check out www.enchanted learning.com. Tons of stuff on there for kids, not sure if they have Christmas stuff, but lots of educational things.
Any ideas???
My husband is turning 40 in a week and a half. Any ideas on presents (i'm tired of giving practical stuff) and ways to celebrate? My 6-year-old wants to take him out to eat but I feel we should do something more?? 
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