Marrieds choosing not to have kids

[Suzibrat]

Love them cows!
You know what's weird? I don't remember any kids the last time I was at Disney. DH asked me if there was alot of screaming and yelling but I honestly never noticed any! What you went thru must have been the worst! My neighbor's 6 year old is like that. And if screaming doesn't get her what she wants she will go over to her mother and grab her face, making her mother look directly at her while she's doing all this screaming! I asked her how she can allow this to go on and she said "oh I just let her go because it's easier than arguing with her". I couldn't believe it. We've had to ban her from our house because she kicked my dog in the face. I told her that wasn't acceptable in MY house and she started the scream fest with me. At that point I told her mother to take her home and she wasn't allowed back EVER. Her mother was relieved because she said it gave her an excuse to come over without having to bring the child with her.
I feel sorry for both my neighbor and her daughter. The kid seems to have real issues and the Mom doesn't want to deal with them. What's she going to be like when she's a little older? Her mother said "oh now that she's in school they will straighten her out." I told her I don't think it's the school's responsibility to fix the problems that have started in her home. That's alot to dump on an unsuspecting teacher!

 

[PhotobearSam]

Love them cows!
You know what's weird? I don't remember any kids the last time I was at Disney. DH asked me if there was alot of screaming and yelling but I honestly never noticed any! What you went thru must have been the worst! My neighbor's 6 year old is like that. And if screaming doesn't get her what she wants she will go over to her mother and grab her face, making her mother look directly at her while she's doing all this screaming! I asked her how she can allow this to go on and she said "oh I just let her go because it's easier than arguing with her". I couldn't believe it. We've had to ban her from our house because she kicked my dog in the face. I told her that wasn't acceptable in MY house and she started the scream fest with me. At that point I told her mother to take her home and she wasn't allowed back EVER. Her mother was relieved because she said it gave her an excuse to come over without having to bring the child with her.
I feel sorry for both my neighbor and her daughter. The kid seems to have real issues and the Mom doesn't want to deal with them. What's she going to be like when she's a little older? Her mother said "oh now that she's in school they will straighten her out." I told her I don't think it's the school's responsibility to fix the problems that have started in her home. That's alot to dump on an unsuspecting teacher!

Horrible...That started small and the mother let it get that way...Awful

 

[Shyvioletisme]

I know I'm backtracking here... sorry.

I don't know if you are part of a church or similar organization, but we found our cat sitter by asking the lady at my church who teaches the Sr. High Sunday School kids (I've known her for years & I trust her recommendation). We now have a very nice, reliable young gal who comes in every day to check our fur-babies when we are away.

nope...athiest here...so no church...we really arent' involved in a whole lot in our town other than DH's work....But I certainly wouldn't trust any of those people in my home with my cat...I still don't know them well enough...I just worry about boarding him...he is so clingy with me...

 

[Shyvioletisme]

We've used a pet sitter for years. We have five kitties who would hate to leave home. We board our pug in a doggie daycare facility (she loves the company) and have a pet sitter come by once a day. She also checks the mail, cleans up any messes, waters plants and takes care of all that little stuff. We live in a condo, but when she sits for people in houses she even rotates the lights and such.

Try www.petsit.com and www.petsitters.org for people in your area. I just changed pet sitters (our old one got out of the biz) and interviewed three before I chose one. I'm very happy with our new one - she makes videos and sends them to us while we're away!!

thanks for the links..I'll check them out...

edit: I found 3 really good sounding prospects in my town! I'd really prefer this option as my Lestat is not a social cat and I think would really suffer in boarding. So thank you so much...I had no idea there were sites to search for pet sitters!!

 

[acm563]

I love reading all the posts on here and I just had to comment on 2 things...1 leaving kitty ...gosh I know how you feel. I travel a lot on business and my Meowey is definitly my baby( he was my sons cat but for some reason never attached himself to anyone but me) I learned that when I was leaving him with family he could not handle the change and so he urinated on everything so of course they hated me and I cannot bear to board him anywhere as I am scared he will be mistreated. The longest I have ever left him has been for 6 nights but the best solution that I found for HIM was to actually leave him at home in his comfortable surroundings. I leave enough food all over the house...as well as leaving the bag where he can get to it(thankfully he eats dry fd) and make sure his litter box is cleaned the morning I leave. I leave an actual answering machine on my phone when I leave and I call and leave him messages so he can hear my voice...(No I am not psycho, I just love my cat...lol)
On the other note...about screaming children. My son is 25 and when he was younger i would have never tolerated him acting like that. I do not believe there are bad kids(not at that young age) only bad parents. My great niece is 9 and I took her for the first time in 2005 and then again last year and my thoughts on the subject are that if you are taking little ones to WDW then you need to go at THEIR pace not yours and that is where parents mess up. These kids are EXHAUSTED, they need a nap and we are so anxious to make them have a good time and see it all that we forget that. I have 22 great nieces and nephews and the one little girl is the only one I would consider taking to WDW but that is because she has been disciplined and knows how to act. I have to admit, I am rethinking wanting grandchildren after what I have seen but hold onto the fact that I dont think my son would tolerate his child misbehaving and I know whether it is my grandchild or not, they will behave if they are around me. Kids will be kids and I have no issues with that,but when it gets into the temper tantrums or being whiney my tolerance goes out the door
and HURRAY!!!!! for anyone that has the courage to stand up and say it is MY CHOICE to not have children. There would be fewer unwanted and abused children if more people would do that as parenting is not for everyone for various reasons....

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

But just in case...my Clemson posse better have my back.

I got your back!

Of course I'll be calling several times a day to check up on all of them and DH is already worried that he'll constantly hear "I miss my "kids!!!" I told him to "deal with it buster or I'll throw you overboard at jungle cruise and let the mechanical critters eat you!" [/B]
Hope you all have a great day!!!!!!

I do this to the kennel when we go away. They told me they don't mind, though. It puts my mind at ease to know he's doing well.

Does this make me a bad person?

Absolutely not. I have a sister-in-law I just honestly have to shake my head at!! I'm trying to remain calm as I even write this. . . . she has 5 children (would have been 6 but she miscarried one) and they get help from the state. She is married to the same man for, must be 14 or 15 years. Anyway, the guy is lazy. Don't get me wrong, he works in the construction field but that's not at a job/career that's going anywhere. He stays at the job because he likes to be freeeeee. He'll call off because SHE stubs her toe! He's had opportunities to work at WalMart w/ a steady, reliable income and benefits but he turned it down because they only give you 2 weeks vacation and they have to be scheduled. --Would somebody please hit the back of my head and knock my eyes back down. They're stuck from rolling them! -- Anyway they've bought things and they've been reposessed. He rents a house that my father-in-law has and most of the time he doesn't pay his rent (yup, fil has a big mouth) but F-i-L doesn't kick them out because of the (say it with me everyone) "Children". My sister in law has Ulcerative Colitis and is sick quite often (but yet she keeps having babies w/ a beat up body). Before they got on the state insurance many times she couldn't afford her medicine (but they keep having children). My niece and nephew both have asthma and have been hospitalized because of it. Everyone of her kids have been "accidents". At least that's what she tells us. She'll say, "I don't know how this happened." I'm like, I do. Want me to draw pictures? The youngest one is just barely a year old. She had a C-Section w/ her. SiL always said if she had a C-Section she'd get her tubes tied? Think she did? NOPE! BiL won't even though his responsible brother begged him for his wife's health sake. BiL won't because (are you ready for this????) it will make him less of a man and he might want more kids. NO, what makes you less of a man is your irresponsible behavior! My inlaws put all the blame on BiL but let's be honest. SiL isn't innocent here and the damsel in distress thing is gettin' old! SiL was going to go get a job (so she says) but she miraculously turned up pregnant. Anyway, they can barely support/afford themselves but lets go make more mouths to feed! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my nieces and nephews!! Did you hear that??? I said I LOVE my nieces and nephews (hell I've got I think 19 at last count) but to continue to bring little lives into this world when you can't take care of them is JUST wrong. Course, I know there are many who will think I'm being judgemental but I see how they're being brought up and how they go w/out and . . . I'm just going to stop here.

I can honestly say that in my trips to WDW, I have seen very few children have meltdowns.

Parents however, are a different story. I have also run into quite a few people who didn't seem to have kids with them that were quite rude as well. I think it has something to do with getting food at counter service restaurants. Seems like nearly every meltdown I've ever seen is either in a food court, or just outside of one.

I agree. The adults are way worse! I almost saw a throw down at one of the parades because one man got in front of another man. A CM litterally stood between them the entire time the parade went on at MGM and then escorted them both out at the end. I've seen parents freaking out on their children because they're just a bit whiny from being overloaded w/ the park excitement. Definately, mostly the adults.

Her mother said "oh now that she's in school they will straighten her out." I told her I don't think it's the school's responsibility to fix the problems that have started in her home. That's alot to dump on an unsuspecting teacher! [/B]

OH my Goodness! My poor sister is a teacher and boy some of the stories she tells.

I've been wanting to stop in all morning but you know how work is. Tends to get in the way of all the fun. Thank goodenss lunch is coming up soon I'm starving!

Talk to you all soon.

 

[aclov]

About once a month a group of us get together for dinner but I have a friend that ALWAYS brings her little girl, it's like she' attached to her hip. I don't have children (not by choice, I've gone through plenty of treatment) and my best friend of 20 years doesn't have any (she likes her childfree life, lots of nieces/nephews). Our other friends are able to get a sitter or leave the kids with the spouse but this one insists on always bringing her kid. I give her enough notice to find a sitter or tell her it's "adult's only" but she doesn't get it. I'd hate to stop inviting her, so I tell my BF that I'm going to call and remind her about our dinner plans this weekend and this is her response....
"No don't remind her, you already told her and besides she is going to bring her little girl and I don't feel like hearing no kid acting up. I want to
enjoy my dinner, you know what I mean".

So I guess I'll need to be blunt with my friend and tell her not to bring her child, but I know how mothers can be overprotective so it's nothing against her child, I like the little girl but I want my friends attention.

 

[aclov]

When mom went away- she hired someone come to her house to feed the cats and just check on them. Of course, she had some refrences from other people in her neighborhood.

So you have people like that in your area that advertise??? This way kitty will feel comfortable at home.

Hiring a pet sitter is a great idea! I have a friend who is a pet nanny and this is what she does for a living. She's a big animal lover so this is the perfect job for her.

 

[Hixski]

Glad everyone has found us...I have met the OP of this thread at Disney and I want to thank her for opening this dialogue. (They were super nice people...)

Well, what shall we all do now? I need a drink but all I have in the house is MILK...Anyone want any?

LOL

I had a glass of wine very early this am before I went to bed. (I work nights) It came out of a box if you are not a wine snob.

Madd: Glad your back is doing better! When your back is down that is the pits. My knees are shot.....too many sports all these years. I have even had to give up my beloved snow skiing unless I get knee replacements. They are not bad enough for that but they are bad enough for me not to be able to ski. I can still do a run or 2 but not worth the price of a lift ticket. I guess hanging out in the Caribbean will have to do!

 

[aclov]

me too. I'm not married either, which is why I never posted over here, and I'm going to miss the other one.

I'm childfree not by choice and I sometimes post here. I think as long as you respect other people's decisions and not criticize. I also feel like I can unwind a little when my "mother of the year" friend gets on my nerves - other people can understand!

 

[ForTheLoveofDisney]

I had a glass of wine very early this am before I went to bed. (I work nights) It came out of a box if you are not a wine snob.

Madd: Glad your back is doing better! When your back is down that is the pits. My knees are shot.....too many sports all these years. I have even had to give up my beloved snow skiing unless I get knee replacements. They are not bad enough for that but they are bad enough for me not to be able to ski. I can still do a run or 2 but not worth the price of a lift ticket. I guess hanging out in the Caribbean will have to do!

Hey I'm from Jersey (originally) we drink wine outta' boxes!

Oh, Madd, I meant to ask you how your back was doing. My dad had his surgery yesterday for (I'm pretty sure he said) herniated disc. He called me this morning, on his way home, and he sounded great. He said the pain is no longer shooting down his leg.

 

[Liisa]

It's the school's responsibility?!! Seriously, do parents think they have no responsibility in the raising of their offspring? Did anyone catch the woman on TV who couldn't control her three teenage boys and went on "strike"? Or how about the woman on TV this morning whose daughter flipped out on a school bus driver? And then when the interviewer mentioned that the daughter was a handful, the mother said - she's a teenager, she hangs out at the mall and has friends and makes decisions - as if it was normal and ok for the kid to freak out.

My 5 year old nephew is a pretty good kid, he needs work, but he's not a complete pain. But after a week in WDW with him, I KNOW I made a good choice not to have kids. I don't have the patience or desire for that much work 24 hrs a day. Maybe, before people get pregnant, they should be forced to take a 5 or 6 yo to Disney for a week. That might open up alot of eyes. They are alot of work. And if the parents aren't going to step up and do it, who will? They had the kid, they signed on for everything that goes with it.

Sorry, after those two news stories, my bad parent radar is on red alert.

Happy thoughts... happy thoughts... happy thoughts.... darn it, why does it have to be so cold and wintery out!?!?!?

 

[Suzibrat]

I love reading all the posts on here and I just had to comment on 2 things...1 leaving kitty ...gosh I know how you feel. I travel a lot on business and my Meowey is definitly my baby( he was my sons cat but for some reason never attached himself to anyone but me) I learned that when I was leaving him with family he could not handle the change and so he urinated on everything so of course they hated me and I cannot bear to board him anywhere as I am scared he will be mistreated. The longest I have ever left him has been for 6 nights but the best solution that I found for HIM was to actually leave him at home in his comfortable surroundings. I leave enough food all over the house...as well as leaving the bag where he can get to it(thankfully he eats dry fd) and make sure his litter box is cleaned the morning I leave. I leave an actual answering machine on my phone when I leave and I call and leave him messages so he can hear my voice...(No I am not psycho, I just love my cat...lol)

I often do this when I'm going to be gone all day shopping..glad to know I'm not the only one!

I can honestly say that in my trips to WDW, I have seen very few children have meltdowns.

Parents however, are a different story. I have also run into quite a few people who didn't seem to have kids with them that were quite rude as well. I think it has something to do with getting food at counter service restaurants. Seems like nearly every meltdown I've ever seen is either in a food court, or just outside of one.

You nailed that one right on the head! I saw a meltdown between 2 parents who were shoving their kids in front of each other at the MK to get to Winnie The Pooh. They were literally screaming at one another in front of their kids, and the kids were crying their eyes out. The one child was scared to pieces of the giant Pooh but Mom wasn't going to miss a photo op!

About once a month a group of us get together for dinner but I have a friend that ALWAYS brings her little girl, it's like she' attached to her hip. I don't have children (not by choice, I've gone through plenty of treatment) and my best friend of 20 years doesn't have any (she likes her childfree life, lots of nieces/nephews). Our other friends are able to get a sitter or leave the kids with the spouse but this one insists on always bringing her kid. I give her enough notice to find a sitter or tell her it's "adult's only" but she doesn't get it. I'd hate to stop inviting her, so I tell my BF that I'm going to call and remind her about our dinner plans this weekend and this is her response....
"No don't remind her, you already told her and besides she is going to bring her little girl and I don't feel like hearing no kid acting up. I want to
enjoy my dinner, you know what I mean".

So I guess I'll need to be blunt with my friend and tell her not to bring her child, but I know how mothers can be overprotective so it's nothing against her child, I like the little girl but I want my friends attention.

Make sure you tell her that "Girls Night Out" has now been changed to "Big Girls Out Who Can Legally Drink And Vote" What a shme that she feels she can't even take that little time out to visit with her friends...

 

[Suzibrat]

I had a glass of wine very early this am before I went to bed. (I work nights) It came out of a box if you are not a wine snob.

Hey I'm from Jersey (originally) we drink wine outta' boxes!

I LOVE Box O Wine!! No wine snob here! I'd like to kiss the guy that invented it but I'm sure he's either really old or dead by now. I know, I'm just assuming it was a guy.......

It's the school's responsibility?!! Seriously, do parents think they have no responsibility in the raising of their offspring??

I know, I know...isn't that a horrible way to deal with home problems? I feel so sorry for her teacher. It isn't fair to the teacher or any future teachers she has. Unless they work on the problem at home nothing will change. You should see her raising havoc in WalMart. You'd think someone was being disemboweled from the time they walk into the store until the time they leave...and that's even after they give into her demands for a new toy.

 

[maddhatir]

I leave enough food all over the house...as well as leaving the bag where he can get to it(thankfully he eats dry fd)

Welcome!

I was just laughing when reading about the bag of dry food- when I went into my cousin's house yesterday to feed the kitties....I walk in.....and I can see little bits of food strewn about the floor...... ......I am thinking- what the????..........I look, and the door to the food cabinet was open and the bag of food was on its side on the floor- I was cracking up! Little %$#@ers- no one would fess up Good thing there was only a tiny bit of food in the bag anyway- I would have walked into a house full of kitty puke!

I do not believe there are bad kids(not at that young age) only bad parents.

ITA- like I said....bullies- breed bullies! Good luck with that people

My great niece is 9 and I took her for the first time in 2005 and then again last year and my thoughts on the subject are that if you are taking little ones to WDW then you need to go at THEIR pace not yours and that is where parents mess up. These kids are EXHAUSTED

I know some of you may know this already but I just had to share my experience with some of the new peeps here.

DH and I made this mistake (it was really MY fault)...once and never again! We took our niece to Disney for her first trip ever- she was 4 at the time. Well I am used to doing the parks kamakazie style- I wanted to be sure she saw everything etc-

Well- she had a MAJOR meltdown one night! I just told her do not run into the pool area of the hotel! I told her we have to go back to the room to get dressed and we are having dinner with Cinderella- well, guess where she ran.

I stayed calm- I did not yell, I said, come over here- or like I told you NO Cinderella- she went ballistic- she was screaming it was not fair- I swear on my life- this is what she looked like and she kept saying it was not fair rotfl2: sure I can laugh now!) I just kept saying- keep walking, keep walking and she kept falling to the ground it's not fair lmao: I didn't even say we WEREN'T going- I just said if you keep it up we won't)

Parents were just walking by giving me the "I KNOWWWW how you feel LOOK" I just kept talking to her calmly (all the while DH never knew any of this was happening- b/c he was in the gift shop picking up his daily- get off the bus- beer) She went screaming into the elevator- screaming down the hall to our room THE SCREAMING WOULD NOT STOP! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD- IT WON'T STOP! How do people put up with this??!

In the room she was still screaming! All I wanted to do was get her out of her wet clothes b/c it had been raining and she was throwing herself on the ground! All I could picture was this- security knocks on the door b/c there is a child screaming, said child is NOW naked b/c she crawled UNDER the bed so I cannot dress her And the woman answering the door is NOT this child's mother!

Lovely scenerio huh!? DH came back and she finally calmed down- so he had NO idea what just happened I told him he HAS to take her alone- I CANNOT do this tonight. See! Right there- I knew this LONG ago that I do not want to deal with this kind of thing- hence- NO KIDS! When he was younger, he took care of his baby niece who lived with them- so he is very patient with kids. Me, I have no patience for anything!

He is such a he got dressed up and we put her dress on and he took her on a "date" So get this- they got on the bus- as soon as they started moving SHE WAS DEAD ASLEEP!!!!!! DH took the bus to the Market Place to catch the resort bus to the GF-

They got to the GF- he carried her off the bus, still sleeping, and they called their name- but she would NOT wake up!!- Poor DH had to do the bus thing all over again to get back to the hotel.

She woke up the next morning and asked if she had dinner with Cinderella! We just cracked up!

SO- I agree 100%- go at a slowwwww pace. Or do what we do now- take her parents along! We will take the kids for one night so SIL and BIL can have their night, but the rest of the vacation- No worries for us!

We have been to Disney alone about 13 times- and just the few times that we have gone "as a family" With BIL, SIL and their 2 kids, cannot compare to the fun you have when you are just 2 adults enjoying Disney.

Even thought the kid's parents are there- it is still NOT the same experience. We have to have our "alone time" for the parks a few times when we go with them.

Disney is such a romantic place- I do not get why people say Disney is a place for kids

Those people have never had the BEST Disney experience....alone, just you and your spouse, strolling, enjoying, relaxing! Too bad for them.

Why would you take kids to Disney is beyond me!

 

[Liisa]

We have been to Disney alone about 13 times- and just the few times that we have gone "as a family" With BIL, SIL and their 2 kids, cannot compare to the fun you have when you are just 2 adults enjoying Disney.

I totally!!! agree. When we took my nephew, we had my MIL with us and her husband as well. They did alot of the routine stuff (getting him dressed, showered, etc. But the constant attention needing. After the third full day, I told my husband I really, really needed some ME time. But we were like a group of lemmings (I think that's the right animal)... where one went, we all went. I was ready to SCREAM! I still get shakes thinking about it. I even started to not enjoy Disney (oh the horror!) I'm not taking anymore kids until they are 15/16 and can 1) keep up with us 2) have adult meals and 3) go off on their own for a bit. So in 3 years, my 13 yo niece can come back with us - we'll even bring a friend of hers to keep her occupied. Her brother is NOT allowed to come with us (we are calling it her "graduation present" so he can't worm his way in).

4 weeks after that, DH and I went alone for a shorter trip. It was bliss. Late mornings, late nights, good dinners, afternoon bar breaks.... Oooohhhh, I just found my happy place!

 

[Fitswimmer]

Since I'm new here-I'll explain my child experience. About 4 months after my cousin had her second child, she decided that kids weren't near as much fun as drinking and doing drugs with her friends from HS. This left her husband, a really nice guy and a good father-alone with a 3 year old boy and a 4 month old girl. We called a family meeting and divided up the responsiblilities. Gramma and Pop got the 3 year old and I got the baby from 3:30 every day so their Dad could work. She's my goddaughter in the truest sense of the word, but I refer to her as DN here just for simplicity.

She had her first meltdown with me at the local mall. I carried her out the door, put her in the car and we went home. Same thing happened with tantrum #2 at the beach. She found out pretty quickly that when she pulled that with me, whatever fun we were having ended fast.

When she was 5 and her brother was 8, Mom and Dad and I took them with us to WDW. The first day we're walking around and some kid is having a major meltdown. DN turns to me and says in all 5 year old seriousness "If I was doing that, we'd be back on the plane, wouldn't we?" I told her "darn straight!" She still says she really believed that I would get right back on the plane!

Friends have said that by taking on the job of dealing with her in my 20's I gave up opportunities to marry and have kids of my own-and that may be true. However, I don't regret any of it for a minute. I loved my child free life from the day she got old enough not to need as much care, and I still do today. Unlike other child-free people that we have all come across-I don't hate kids or the people that have them. DN is the only kid that I've ever actually wanted to spend time with though.

 

[maddhatir]

Since I'm new here-I'll explain my child experience. About 4 months after my cousin had her second child, she decided that kids weren't near as much fun as drinking and doing drugs with her friends from HS. This left her husband, a really nice guy and a good father-alone with a 3 year old boy and a 4 month old girl. We called a family meeting and divided up the responsiblilities. Gramma and Pop got the 3 year old and I got the baby from 3:30 every day so their Dad could work. She's my goddaughter in the truest sense of the word, but I refer to her as DN here just for simplicity.

She had her first meltdown with me at the local mall. I carried her out the door, put her in the car and we went home. Same thing happened with tantrum #2 at the beach. She found out pretty quickly that when she pulled that with me, whatever fun we were having ended fast.

When she was 5 and her brother was 8, Mom and Dad and I took them with us to WDW. The first day we're walking around and some kid is having a major meltdown. DN turns to me and says in all 5 year old seriousness "If I was doing that, we'd be back on the plane, wouldn't we?" I told her "darn straight!" She still says she really believed that I would get right back on the plane!

Friends have said that by taking on the job of dealing with her in my 20's I gave up opportunities to marry and have kids of my own-and that may be true. However, I don't regret any of it for a minute. I loved my child free life from the day she got old enough not to need as much care, and I still do today. Unlike other child-free people that we have all come across-I don't hate kids or the people that have them. DN is the only kid that I've ever actually wanted to spend time with though.

All I can say is WOW! That is incredible.

I would hope that in a situation like that- I can step up and do what I had to do- But in all honesty- I am not sure I could! I don't think I have it in me!

But of course, there would be NO choice in the matter.

 

[acm563]

OMG, y'all crack me up...Guess I shouldnt post here since I have a 'kid' but its the very things you have experienced that make me so grateful I did not have another one...God knew what was best for me is all I have to say I want to state that I have a lot of friends that do not have or want kids and it is not because they do not love children, most of them do...its just not what they want full time so they borrow everyone elses kids when the urge hits them. I have no desire for any more kids, I so could not handle it 24/7 at my age but I have a ball when I borrow my great-niece as long as it is not to an amusement parks. I agree totally that I do not understand where ppl get that WDW is for kids.I think it would be best experienced as a 16th birthday gift or something...
But anyway I just wanted to say I have appreciated the chuckles and if you ever see me at DW make sure you stop and say hello I will be the one without the screaming child

 

[maddhatir]

Hey I'm from Jersey (originally) we drink wine outta' boxes!

Oh, Madd, I meant to ask you how your back was doing. My dad had his surgery yesterday for (I'm pretty sure he said) herniated disc. He called me this morning, on his way home, and he sounded great. He said the pain is no longer shooting down his leg.

OH! I wanted to ask you about your dad!!!! That is great he is pain free so soon! Good sign-

guess what? my MIL did the same thing as your father- with the 2nd opinion thing- she needed spine fusion in her C spine and I TRIED to get her to get a 2nd opinion- but she said- I NEED the surgery- why would I get a 2nd opinion (ummmm b/c the guy who is doing it JUST may be a dope!) and he turned out to be a dope! I was not trying to tell her to get the 2nd opinion b/c she might not need the surgery I was trying to tell her to go "over the bridge" into Philly and see a specialist there- NOT from your hometown!

It has been about 4 years now- she is still in a neck brace and she needs to have an additional surgery to try and at least get her a SMALL amount of relief in her neck! But she will never be able to turn her head again- We took her to Jefferson and another doc @ NYU for their opinion about the 2nd surgery. We are so close to such great Medical Universities- WHY would you waste your time with a hometown doc??

She can't work, or drive, she is always in pain. She is only in her early 60s.

Hey! I am from Jersey and I will have to say- I prefer a good red from the bottle Has to be dry. Preferably a Shiraz, or Syrah - does not have to be expensive though.

I do have to say I *AM* a beer snob!

HAS to be dark- LOVE my Becks Dark!!!!!

When we are leisurely strolling through EPCOT- gotta have a Becks Dark in Germany and I DO like the Dos Equis in Mexico. And of course, as some of you may know already......CHAMPAGNE IN FRANCE! I love my champagne!