I've lived it, both sides and it goes both
Posted By: ways......sm on 2008-06-09
In Reply to:
I've been on both sides and I have seen stepchildren thrown in the middle, guilty parents on both sides. I have seen the new single mom (now married mom) want her husband all for herself and act SHOCKED when she realizes she can't have him all for herself...it's not always a fairytale ending. It does sound like the child is playing her and it's obvious why, but I witnessed first hand a grown woman manipulate her stepchildren and husband, until she had both turned against her. Instead of expecting all the attention, perhaps your time would be better spent with your stepson NOT expecting anything from your husband, since you're not getting it, it sounds but instead, go out of your way to give him attention. Take him somewhere just the two of you and eat at his favorite fast food place, go to the zoo, something without dad. When he has to depend on just you and dad isn't there for comparison and pity, you might see an improvement for the better.
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I've dealt with this on both sides.
I have 3 boys. My oldest son is very giving and caring (sounds like your daughter). He's been bullied a few times. Different responses apply to each individual bully. Some bullies can be dealt with best by the school or their parents. These are usually the kids who come from good homes and their parents don't always know what happens when they're not around. I generally deal with the parents if they're level-headed. If not, I go straight to the school.
Other bullies come from parents who don't give a darn what they do. These kids are the hardest to deal with. I have had to face these bullies myself. I flat out told them if they continue to pick on my son or bully him, I will call the police and they will be dealt with as a juvenile deliquent. This seemed to stop things pretty quick. I also followed that up with the letting school know what was going on because I had a feeling the child might pick on my son when I'm not there. The school was great about this and were well aware of this bully's behavior. It alerted them to keep a closer watch on my son at recess when this kid was around.
The other side of the fence is my 7-year-old son. I had gotten a call from his teacher early in the school year that he was bullying a couple of smaller kids. My son had a late birthday, so I held him for kindergarten, making him a year older than most of his peers. There didn't seem to be any problem in kindergarten, but by first grade, he realized that he was bigger than most and could use this to his advantage. From that first call I got from his teacher, I made it very clear to him that I would not tolerate bullying from him. I also told him the school would be watching him and if I hear any reports of him bullying others, I would punish him at home as well. Other than a few minor kid things, he's been pretty great. I even explained to him that because he was bigger than the little kids, he needed to protect them and watch over them like a big brother. He's come home a couple of times and told me how some older kids were picking on his friends and he stepped up and told them to knock it off. I was very proud of him and needless to say, he has a lot of "girlfriends" now.
My point here is that not all parents know what their kids are like outside of the home. It's very possible this girl's mother had no idea. Unfortunately, she was already hurt and angry when you talked to her and it probably didn't help things. I would suggest sticking with the teacher from now on with this one, and in the future, bring any problems immediately to the teacher's attention or the parents (depending on their temperament and how well you know them). Most importantly, I have also taught my children to stand up for themselves, use a firm voice, but walk away if it's just words and we'll deal with it together. The only time I allow my children to hit is if they're being physically hit and the other child won't stop. Our school has a zero tolerance for fighting, and it just wouldn't be worth getting expelled otherwise.
Hang in there. She's only 8 -- the really bullying starts in the teen years (I'm remembering mine), not being popular enough or having money or wearing cool clothes or being too smart or not thin enough. It goes on and on. In that case, I'm glad I have boys. They get less catty as they get older (I hope).
Best City You've Ever Lived In
Milwaukee, WI... HANDS DOWN! Love the people, love the city, wish I could move back.
I've move a lot in my lfe- anyone else who has moved a lot who has a fave city?
I've lived in Houston my whole life and I
love it. I like living in the city, although we actually live in the burbs, but close enough! I've never been to NY, but really want to go myself.
I've never lived in an apartment building that
even ALLOWED smoking, and that was 15 years ago!
I've lived here for 25 years, a transplant from the NY area.
 I live in the "burbs" like the other poster, but if you have a choice, go to NY!! It is WONDERFUL this time of year. The crowds are what make it New York at holiday season. Rockefeller Center, Radio City, and all thos wonderful things. I lived close enough to NY that I could hop on a train and be there in 15 minutes. I miss New York - lots.
I've lived in the snooty HOA places and amongst regular people
With all due respect, I'm not a conformist and have no desire to feel 'unique' in a development simply because I get to choose 1 of 3 styles of carpeting, 1 of 4 styles of roofing material, etc. I don't like being boxed in or having others make my decisions in life. I'm far too independent to be subservient to a group of individuals who decide what is aesthetically 'acceptable'. I've no desire to associate with people who exude your smug, self-satisfied attitude that simply because you pay others every month to dictate what you can and cannot do with your own home. I've lived in a place like this, very briefly, simply because I got tired of trying to explain to first-time visitors which condo was mine because they all looked just alike, nothing unique about ANY of them.
MT work is isolating in and of itself. I've no desire to further isolate myself from society by feeding myself a false sense of security or self-righteousness that because I'm in an HOA-dictated community that I'm better (or safer) than anyone else.
The day someone tells me I can't put a decoration up without permission is the day I move.
If I wanted to live by someone else's rules, I'd have lived with my parents all of my life.
Indepenence equals freedom to me, and by letting someone else dictate what I may or may not do with something I pay hard-earned money for is just tacky.
there are two sides
in my opinion, if you wrote him off because of a disagreement about money then YOU were/are wrong. i have basically already asked this and you have yet to respond.... have you ever owned up to your part of what has contributed to this dysfunction? it seems to me, from reading your posts, that you blame EVERYONE but YOURSELF for everything. dad was a deadbeat, son is ungrateful, daughter is spoiled... oh wait... i stand corrected. your hubby is absolutely wonderful.
you also mentioned above that you could not be happier with your life... well that is one very sad sad comment. i have a daughter and a son myself and i can't imagine my life being complete and happy without them in it.
I AGREE WITH BOTH SIDES . . .
I know these kids need attention, there are SO MANY needy kids out there, but you have to PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN. I have been in too many instances where the child manipulates and the parents see no wrong with what they do . . . it has been very hard to explain to my children why these kids are bad news. They can show a good front, get the sympathy and then BAM . . I have also learned from the past 12-1/2 years of being home with my children, that we cannot take care of everyone else's children . . been there done that. It's a sad, sad situation . . . and only getting worse.
2 sides to the story
First of all I think there's another option that neither you or your sister are seeing, home health aide. Look into it re: insurance etc. I can see where both of you are coming from. I don't know your sister's financial situation or how far she has to drive to see your father. I think that she probably feels she is working hard to earn her paid time off but if she has to use it all to take "everybody" to the doctor what will happen if she needs to go to the doctor herself or wants to take time off for a vacation or mental health day. You have to admit she has a point.
My advice would be not to alienate your sister. You are going to have to work together to take care of your father. I would arrange a time for both of you to sit with your father and lay out the facts. With little to no eyesight, he simply cannot live completely independently any longer. If he wants to stay at home then either hire a home health aide or a live-in caregiver or one of you would have to move in with him. Avoid the word nursing home and instead suggest an independent living facility where there is assistance with daily activities such as preparing meals. Be open and honest with each other. You have your own separate lives and not only do you not want your father to feel like he is a burden, you also do not want to feel burdened. With the cost of gas these days, your sister certainly has a valid point. As far as her popping to Wal-Mart and the mall, she could have perfectly viable reasons for going to Wal-Mart including grocery shopping or perhaps purchasing your father's medications there on their $4 plan. The mall may be her escape mechanism.
You both sound stressed out over this situation and you both need to take care of yourselves first and foremost before you can be expected to care for someone else. Good luck to both of you and remember that you both love each other and your father and only want the best for everyone.
There are several sides here, listen!
You had pain - you had suffering - you don't want to be alone. Set some rules, don't have any alcohol in the house at all. If anyone wants to visit at the holidays, they'll have to drink tea or coffee. That's what I do and barely anyone comes. So case closed as far as that goes. No one is saying you're a bad person, what they're saying is don't write your Mom and your Grandmom out of your life because you are punishing yourself. You are in the medical profession or associated with it. You know this goes on all th time in most families that will admit it. The posters who tell you to get over it mean well, they want you to have a family. You set the ground rules. Your OP said you want to forgive but cannot forget. You have gotten off the track here, read your OP again to yourself. Give them another chance with your rules, that's all people are trying to get across to you, according to your OP. Get back on track with the forgive thing and you will be happier. Just set the rules. Believe me, we've been there and just haven't posted what we've been through. Your story sounds familiar. There were no rules to protect children like there are now. You mom must have gotten the same treatment and her mom or they never would have done the behavior. Hate the sin and not the sinner is all anyone said here. They're just trying to shake you into reality before you spend a lonely holiday. If they don't keep their side of the bargain, then you have to tell them, not us. It's up to you, you asked for opinions and you may not like what you got, but you asked and people answered. God bless you and your son. Try to have a happy family holiday if you can.
And there needs to be "respect" on both sides. Neither should be "serving" the other! Yo
s
You are cracking my sides, these posts
are soooooo funny, not the BF nut but the others. Thanks for the laughs.
This is a hard topic for me - I see both sides (sm)
I have had prayers answered, but I have seen such suffering too and I know those people have cried out for help. You can always ask, but you never know if it is going to be God's will to solve the problem for you or not. I don't see how you can have blind faith that your problem will be solved when not all problems that are prayed about are solved.
Good reminder about the two sides SM
I'm not condoning the animal kicking; it's wrong and there's no two ways around it, although I have to admit that when I have been trying to go in or out of the door without coming under siege by the dogs, my foot has swung- not hard enough to do any damage whatsoever but enough that it clears a path- but my dogs are small and low to the ground so the arm or shoulder that I might use to push past my big dog converts to a foot or a leg to move the little guys.
That being said, what I'm hearing as an undercurrent is that you live either in a rural or semi-rural area, and you have decided you want to move to the 'burbs and have convinced the kids that they want to move to the 'burbs, and everybody is nagging at your husband to get them out of the wasteland he calls a home and move them to the civilization of the 'burbs. Much like the rest of the animal kingdom, backing a man into a corner is going to bring about a reaction, and the whole overboard on the hunting thing may be him thumbing his nose at your suburban ideal.
Also, there are a lot of people who when they recently get into a new hobby or past-time go just a bit overboard. I myself have about 300 jigsaws down in the basement from when I thought that would be fun (only about 50 of them ever completed). My son has a collection of stuff from his martial arts phase that now sit in the back of his closet. My ex has owner's manuals and extra light bulbs and a million parts for that period when he was restoring his 1950s pickup truck. And I won't even talk about all the crap I have from various crafts I decided I was going to take up at a given time.
If you're looking for a reason to dump him and move to the suburbs, I guess his hunting is as good a reason as any. But obviously, at least to me, there are other issues, and I agree that if you want to save this marriage, counseling is the way to go.
My child has been on both sides of that fence (sm)
He has been bullied before but he has gotten really good at standing up for himself. I literally have given him comebacks that he can use if he is being verbally bullied, and have told him that while he is never allowed to start a fight he is always allowed to defend himself and even though he may get in trouble at school, he will not be in trouble at home.
One time last year (fifth grade) he was verbally bullying a boy in his class. He said some pretty mean things. I got the phone number to the boy's house through a mutual friend, called, and then too my son to the boy's house to apologize in person, in front of the boy's parents. We talked for a long time beforehand about how the boy must feel to have to go to school and have someone say things like that to him, role-playing such as "how would you feel if that was you" sort of thing. He also lost computer priveleges for a week. He has never bullied anyone else.
However, he did kick a boy in the shin earlier this year when the boy hit him and said he was going to beat him up. My son is strong but doesn't like to fight. I think all kids should be able defend themselves if needed though.
Breakfast casserole sides.
1. Biscuits with assorted jams and preserves, perhaps a sausage gravy boat.
2. Baked cheese grits or fried grits.
3. Cinnamon rolls/assorted pastries.
4. Blueberry or orange-cranberry muffins.
5. Hash browns or potatoes O'Brien.
6. Sausage patties.
Wow! Such anger at differing sides of opinions!--sm
I don't want to change the subject here, but personally, I do not appreciate the cigarette smokers out there either, at malls, at restaurants, or even adjoinging apartments where I live and throwing their cigarette butts *in my space*, and having to smell that sickening smell coming in my patio door while they smoke, but there is little I can do to stop them. I just have to tolerate it, as it is their choice to want to die of lung cancer, etc. TOLERANCE is the word, I suppose, for the rights of others and we all should respect that. Personally, I wouldn't care if an animal were allowed inside a store. I love animals, too, and they do not cause cancer and induce second hand smoke into my space. How is an animal inflicting on anyone elses rights? I do not understand such anger and vehemence at this subject. My goodness!
Yep! Sounds like TMJ. I wake up with the sides of my tongue...
sore because my jaw clamps down on my tongue and sores on my cheeks from biting them. I would also have an aching jaw for weeks at a time that required mountains of Motrin and muscle relaxers. I finally went to the dentist and now have an acrylic mouthguard I wear at night. I hated it at first, but boy does my jaw feel better. No more aching, no more trouble chewing, no more sores on my cheeks and tongue! Cost me $300 for the mouthguard cause my insurance wouldn't pay, but it was worth every penny!
Go to your dentist!
My SIL fringed all the sides and didn't leave
an opening, although for young ones I really like the idea of sort of sleeping bag. You can buy fleece in all sizes so then you can decide how big you want to make it. My SIL made one for her 6Ɖ hubby so when he is on the couch he is completely covered up. BTW, I think they are beautiful and would live anything my MIL made for me. Well, she once made me a cake with rasins in it....very allergic so couldn't even pretend to like it.
My problem is our kids are the only grandkids on both sides....
so both sets of grandparents spoil them rotten...
100% English, all sides of family, all members. nm
x
I don't even know what that is... lived in CA, AZ, OR
and Nevada. Never heard of scrapple.
:) Thanks! LOL--I wish you lived near me too...SM
We live in Nebraska.
My idea of shopping is Walmart, Target, and K-Mart. It worked while my boys were young, but now that they're getting older I guess I'll hafta dig deeper in the pocketbook and shop at stores in the mall. Thanks for the link! :)
Chickadee
I wish I lived
close enough to a beach to go every day, but then again, I probably would NEVER work!
You see, I have never lived by
myself. I went straight from home, to the college dorm, to my grandma's for the summer, then I got married. I never got to be on my own. I think everybody should have that opportunity. I think it would have changed me in lots of ways.
In my day, no vaccine. We all got it. We all lived.
At least now he will be immune. Hope you had hubby don't come down, too, but if so, it doesn't last forever. Just keep him away from others while contagious. And don't let him scratch!
When I lived in Colombia....
no one printed anything for me in English. Their country, their language, respect their ways. Those who come here should do the same - our country, our langauge, our ways. If you want to speak Spanish, go back across the border.
We speak English here precisely we were all originally from somewhere else.
The "We were all immigrants" argument is inane. Any country can say that. Mexicans were not originally from Mexico except for the Indians, who are extremely underprivileged and discriminated against by the Mexican government and the majority of Mexicans. Within the Latino culture, there is plenty of discrimination and prejudice - the lighter the skin and hair color, the higher the prestige. Latin American countries look down on the Caribbena and Mexico, etc.
Prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination are not just a white-black issue.
Why is that the Vietnamese and Koreans and other Asian groups come here, learn a new alphabet and many times will learn both Spanish and English in order to do business, but the Spanish speakers come here and demand everything be done to accommodate them?
It don't want to be Americans, they should stay home. If they want to adopt the American culture, come on over - legally.
hopefully this will be short-lived
I'd still send pictures, etc., especially to your grandparents. Good luck!
lived with us for a year.
by the time she moved out, no one would talk at the dinner table. my husband & I would go outside to talk. not good. hopefully your mil will be able to get some friends.
She has lived with us for 2-3/4 years so she...sm
knows all of the family line. We have been told that the judge that is finalizing the adoption spends a lot of time hanging out with a child that is old enough to talk with him at the time of adoption so she's looking forward to that. We've got the camera ready to go with a new battery and lots of memory on the memory card for the photos.
I have made an appointment to get her portrait made and the place we're doing that can create some adoption announcement cards for us with her picture and information on it to send out to people.
I like the tree idea - thanks for that one! Hopefully I could keep it growing! :o)
I grew up and lived in PA
until I made a few moves down south a few years back and moved to Ohio a year ago. I am about 45 minutes now from my hometown in PA, but my hometown in PA is just 45 minutes away from Pittsburgh. We could be close enough to be neighbors!
I wish I lived right next door to
help you with your project. That's my kind of fun. :oD I wuv a good rottie. Can't imagine playing with 3 of them.
How about: If I lived here, I'd be the cook!
Looks beautiful! WIsh I lived there. NM
x
Did your parents help? I lived on my own but (sm)
it was because my stepfather did not want me there. I worked a full time and a part time job and tried to put myself through college. It took me years just to get an associate degree. If I had had help from my parents it would have been so much easier. It was very difficult as an 18-year-old to earn enough money to take care of myself.
I wished you lived near me...sm
So that you could meet my big baby and get to know him. I promise you would say this is no pit bull. My mom was scared to death when I got him that he would grow up and be this mean vicious killer. Well now she loves him to death. My father-in-law was against us having a pit. Now he says he ain't nothing but a baby. Some may be mean. But I am telling you mine is not mean. UNLESS he feels threatened or his family is threatened. Just a while ago a friend of my husbands was over here and CJ was just head set on getting up in his lap. CJ weighs about 70 pounds and he thinks he can sit in your lap. Lots of people say he isn't a pit is he? I say yes but he is a nice pit. Some are mean, some are not. It depends on the dog and a lot of how it is raised. This dog has been babied like a child from the time I got him. When he was 3 months old I got him and routinely rocked him in my recliner. Now he is just this huge baby.
We lived 2 blocks away from each other
I knew him in high school. He was the 'much older' Senior and I the lowly Sophomore. I had a crush on him, we'd ride with a group of boys & girls to away football games & he was always very nice to me. My older brother and his older brother were in the same class & had been good friends for years.
DH graduated & then two weeks before my senior year was to start, my now BIL came over to our house, after he returned from the Marines, to see if my brother was home. He wasn't but we talked for a few minutes. Then furture BIL went back to his home and told DH....you need to call Renee.
The rest is history.
We dated during my senior year and we went to all the dances. It was a great year and I have a box full of silly bids from dances, pictures and fun times! That was some 42 years ago now...LOL.
when i lived in the south, they said
i had a 'northern' accent. I'm born/raised Californian. When we moved to midwest, teased kids for having southern accent. however, when my husband used to work all over the country 40 yr ago, he could tell almost exactly where someone was from, hearing them talk a bit. With all the travel/moving around now, accents are there, but not nearly as identifiable, and ofttimes a mixture ...
never lived there but visited.
I love it. So jealous of you. Good luck!!
I lived there and HATED it!
There is nothing to do in North Carolina. The BIG event in Raleigh is the weekly Farmer's Market. The lakes are ugly, manmade bowl-like things. The police are out of control in that part of the country.
You could not PAY me to live in North Carolina again. At least not near Raleigh. Charlotte and the Mountain area are nice, but for the middle of the state? YUCK!!!
Twice so far in 11 years we have lived here - sm
Once when I lived at home years ago, boss got me out. I was excused the two times here as my kids were little and still at home, and no babysitter. My husband got called a few months ago, first time, no clue what he did with the papers or exactly what they said, I think he just blew it off, but no one has ever come to get him if that was the case.
The man who lived across the street.
We lived in cul-de-sac of 10 homes. The whole neighborhood knew each other. This man thought he was the boss of everyone, told everyone how to raise their kids, keep their yards, take care of their pets. He was physically and verbally abusive to his wife and kids. He was absolutely awful.
Someone called me one day to say that man had liver cancer and had less than 6 months to live. I thought couldn't have happened to a nicer person. He died on New Year's Day 2004 and as we watched the ambulance leave his house with his body in it, everyone (including his family) gave a sigh of relief. Only 6 people attended the funeral. Isn't it horrible to think that way about someone? He was only 52.
When I lived in S. Florida, I heard ..sm
I thought that sort of thing is illegal in this country?
http://www.mojomoon.net/santeria.html
No she won't - as long as she lived there for 2 years -sm
single you get $250,000 tax exempt, above that CG applies, if married it is $500,000. That tax law has been changed for a while now.
I have lived in the area for over 40 years
and I know exactly where this is and I drive the freeways all the time, including the HOV (which is a lane for more than 1 person in a vehicle to use or a motorcycle driver). The lanes are to the left-hand side of the others and the bus driver apparently took the wrong lane. Ther are 2 there that run side by side, 1 goes straight on thru Atlanta and the 1 he took is the exit lane and apparently exiting at a high rate of speed (i.e. your average speed on the freeways) he was totally unable to make the stop at the top of the freeway. There are 2 lanes there, 1 directly ahead and the 1 he took has a stop sign at the top for a turn either right or left. So unfortunate for these people and our hearts have gone out to them.
I have lived in Wyoming all my life .....
It is definately West!! We have it all, flats, mountains, snow in summer, it has snowed here on the 4th of July!! If you are going to Yellowstone, chances are you will see snow in some places...not alot, but some. Jackson, in the mountains, and in the Big Horn mountains around Sheridan should still have some, depending on how late in the summer you come. We have a little of everything and lots of space to breath! I would not want to live anywhere else!! Welcome..I hope you enjoy your visit!!
When I lived on a farm back in the day...
One night my girls (little then) and I were coming home after work and we came down the hill and the headlights illuminated many, many dead cats, at least 40. It was so traumatic. The girls were screaming and crying, it was awful. And it was also a black lab that was the culprit. What a horrible sight that was. I'll never forget it.
Allergies possible? I lived at the dermatologist - sm
for a couple years, would get this horrible rash on my neck, hurt, oozed, itched, totally sucked. Dr. suggested I do my own allergy testing at home. I put a spot of shampoo, my ferret's hair, body soap, clothes detergent, etc. under seperate band-aids on inside of my forearm and left them on untouched and dry for 48 hours then removed. I had a horrible red rash/reaction to my shampoo. (was also allergic to 1 of my ferrets, the one that still had its musk glands. So I stopped using that brand of shampoo and it cleared right up. Happened again a few years later and switched shampoos again with complete resolution of the rash. Luckily it has not happened since. So it could be as simple as exposure to something he uses every day or on frequent basis, you just need to figure out what. My DH became allergic to Tide about 10 years ago after they changed their Bleach Alternative formula, got a rash all over his body from it, obviously we don't use that brand anymore. Good luck.
Lived in it for years and loved it. (sm)
Low payment. I think the plus with a mobile home as opposed to a condo or an apartment is pets. A lot of them allow a fenced in yard - at least here some of them do.
Lived right at the beach before, hated it
NM
You are such a crackup! I wish you lived next-door..... nm
:)
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