kins

It was her decision. She was in the second-highest-achieving school in the state and not really being challenged enough, so she applied for the highest-achieving one and got in. It's a magnet school and mostly state funded so it's not a huge financial cost to us.

I miss her enormously but as long as she's OK I'm OK... Mostly...

kins

It's emotional isn't it? Mine will come home for a long weekend every four weeks, as well as the vacations.

petitefrancaise

meal times..........

Apparently I'm a control freak because I insist on using cutlery and not fingers. So despite always making sure that we sit down together at dinner time to a decent meal that takes me at least an hour to make, I am now asking just too much. Tonight I was told that I should accept that they know how to eat in company - I've taught them that and so now I'm just being controlling. It's going to be a loooooong 2 years!!

BEVS

Your house. Your standards. Your rules. Your cooking.

They cannot manage to eat the food put in front of them properly without complaining , then they no eaty.

Alternative is to serve up something sloppy without any cutlery or mopping ability.

lizzyq

I don't think you are a control freak. Some foods are OK with fingers, e.g. burgers, but I expect cutlery to be used as the norm rather than the exception. Also fork in left hand & knife concurrently in right (reverse if you are of the sinister persuasion), none of this cut and switch cråp.

We too are a sit down for a meal together at the dining table family, tonight was pan fried tilapia with a chilli rub, tomatillo & mango salad accompanied by garlic and herb couscous. I don't think it would have made good finger food.

petitefrancaise

Brilliant ideas from both of you! Sloppy food and food with loads of chilli

Of course, as I'm helping with homework afterwards I'm told I am a brilliant mum, the best..

N1cky

What happens to all the sweaters and hoodies that leave the house never to return. Where do they disappear to? There must be an entire classroom at each school dedicated to abandoned clothing. I might as well set fire to my money than by my daughter a sweater, then she has the nerve to complain that she's cold because she doesn't have anything warm to wear.

kodokan

Clothing allowance should solve that. My son gets $100 a month; he has to get clothes and entertainment out of that. If he loses clothes, he gets less computer games.

N1cky

We only go to the mall around 3-4 times a year, so tend to bulk purchase, buying things every month would be a real PITA. She likes buying clothes, but isn't really materialistic, she has tons of money from Christmas/Birthday gifts that she never spends. So that approach wouldn't work for her.

kodokan

Oh, they don't shop every month! It's budgeting practice, so they learn to keep money back from monthly frittering, and roll it over so they have a pot built up for the coat/ shoes/ jeans/ underwear they'll need later in the year.

But yes, no use if your child isn't one to respond to having some skin in the game.

ChocolateBabz

Might try that, the dude needs a turtle neck to hide the hickey the size of a....well a teen girls gob I suppose

petitefrancaise

There is a massive trunk at the MS with all the lost property in it. Littlest always swears she's looked in it when something goes missing but it smells like an Oxfam shop in summer so I doubt it. I went hunting through it last year and couldn't believe the posh labels /expensive sports stuff in there. I dug out 30 odd lunch bags. 2 of which were ours. unfortunately nobody takes the food out before they throw the lunch bags in the trunk. Yeuch.

I take my lot shopping once a season (ie 2x a year), took eldest two a couple of weeks ago to Gap where everything was 40% off and they were handing out Gapcash vouchers too... yay!!! Went shopping for me today with $350 worth of gap cash, shame that I have to spend $350 of our own money though. ah well. better than a poke in the eye.