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NORMAN ROCKWELL 1924 FISK BLOTTER - "TIME TO RETIRE? "

US $18.95 End Date: Monday Jan-30-2012 10:06:25 PST Buy It Now for only: US $18.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list

BOYDS BEARS ZOE STARLIGHT CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT RETIRE NEW

US $24.99 End Date: Monday Jan-30-2012 10:15:02 PST Buy It Now for only: US $24.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

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AMERICA'S 100 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE - ELIZABETH (EDT) ARMSTRONG (PAPERBACK) NEW

US $18.55 End Date: Friday Oct-14-2011 11:29:36 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $18.55 Buy it now | Add to watch list

TATYANA Bettie Page ALIKA 50's Christmas Bombshell Red Circle Dress XS-3X Retire

US $140.00 End Date: Friday Oct-14-2011 11:40:33 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $140.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

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My Boomer Tips

I have two teenage children 16,18 Boy & Girl, My sister who also has an 18 yrold son has to continually make remarks over the years on How her child dosent have to wear brand names to be somebody. My daughter 16 does choose to wear mostly name brands my son could care less. We dont buy our kids alot of clothes just as gifts at christmas and birthday's and they have 2 grandmothers who spoil them with most of their clothes. I dont ever judge my sister on the rearing of her son but she seems to always have something to say about the job I'm doing. My kids are good kids they stay out of trouble and do well in school and sports. I never hear anything about that. she is driving me insane. We don't live close..thank God, But I am finding myself avoiding calling her and visiting. She never really talks to me she just give's me constant advice in every area of my life. I never ask for it nor do I need it but she seems to think she's knows best and gets upset with me if I don't follow her ways...AGHHHHHH Anyone know whats up her @#$%^

My Boomer Tips

have very rigid parents. Their dad is a big time lawyer, there mom is a nurse/stay at home mom. They are the types of parents who think their children need all the best of everything. They buy 0 jeans for their 2 yr old. These girls have EVERYTHING. They even each have their own toy rooms separate from their bedrooms. They do not need toys. I cannot afford 400 dollars for each girl to have an outfit. Yes that is truely what their parents spend. They have this intimidating personalities. Its almost eerie for me to walk into their house. Not that I am poor but I am a nursing student paying my own way through college so money is tight of course. I have thought about books but their grandmother (who I am close to) says there mom is too picky and only allows certain kinds. I am totally at a loss.

Their girls just seem like something out of a primp and proper movie. They are in total control by their parents in every senses of the word.

Someone PLEASE help.
Not to be picky but we moved here when my son was 3 months old. This is our 3rd Christmas with them. Every year we spend about 30-40 dollars on each girl. But last year they gave my son a flashlight that was 6 dollars (I know because I bought one for a stocking stuffer). Just seems a bit off that spend well over 100 on them and my son gets cheaped out. But my son gets lots from us to make up for it. But he is growing to the age where things are said from him and I dont want him to think its ok to be stingy. I am a bit worried he might say something soon. It is very obvious. My mother in law and their grandmother get offended by it and give my son extra gifts to try to make up for it.
I have thought about the donation to someone or some organization in their name but I am not sure. I asked their grandmother (my husband's aunt) what she thought because their mother is her daughter (mind you not the person her parents raised her to be) and she said she would fear that next year they would refuse to have us for Christmas because it is always at their house. That would break my son's heart because he loves to see all my husband's cousins (one is a firefighter who he oozes love for). I guess more than anything I don't want them to make my son feel excluded. I thought about giving them a gift certificate to build-a-bear. Their mom is not hip with stuffed animals - she thinks they make children immature. But I am tempted to buy them in hopes their grandmother will take them and let them be a kid just for a little bit at least, ot keep them at their grandmothers house. She is at least allowed visits with them when their mom is scheduled to work (which is rare).

My Boomer Tips

I'm 33 and I haven't spoken to my mother in 7 years. She kicked me out of my house when I was 18 because I did not like her new boyfriend. I did not speak to her for 4 years because of that. We reconciled and had a relationship for 4 years after that. During those 4 years my wife and I learned that my mothers boyfriend was abusing her. She left him and had to live with us. While she was living with us she kept going back to him. That situation and her living with us starting becoming a problem for my wife and I. My mother finally asked if she should move out and I said it would be best. Before she was to move out she purposely started a fight calling me names, calling my wife names, accusing my wife of cheating on me. Part of me thinks she started the fight to make it easier for me to make her leave because she knew it was such a hard decision. She left that day and I have spoken to her since 2002. Since then I have bought my first house and have had 2 kids who she hasn't seen. Since my first kid was born almost 3 years ago she has sent presents and gifts for both of them on birthdays and Christmas. She learns about the kids from my brother. She has written two letters to my wife and I explaining people make mistakes and she would do things different but never once admitted she did things wrong or apologized. Last year with the birth of my second child I started having thoughts of reconciling again and asked my brother if she was still seeing the douche who was abusing her. He said she has but they are not dating or anything. That immediately convinced me not to even consider reconciling. I feel all her actions were a result of being with this guy. I feel if it wasn't for him we wouldn't be in this situation, he practically brainwashed her.

One, I don't want to speak to her because if she is still seeing this guy she hasn't changed for the better. Two, I don't want my kids to get to know her and then she pulls something and they get hurt because they can't see their grandmother anymore. Three, I really don't care if I ever talk to her again, being hurt by your own mother twice is enough for me. Recently I have been getting pressure from my brother, my father and his wife, and too a small point my wife (but she backs any decision i make). I'm starting to feel like the bad guy.

So after all I have written here, do I, should I, make contact with her again?

Thank you.

My Boomer Tips

I asked this earlier, but did it so late...wanted to get a few more opinions on it:

So my 9 year old is asking about an allowance. I was just given one as a child, but I really want him to learn how to work for and manage money, so I want him to earn his allowance. He also doesn't have any chores except to put away his school things etc but no specific chores in the household. He's terribly forgetful and although he has the best intentions, mess up often. So should he get punished if he doesn't do his chores? No tv? I don't want to tie money to his chores specifically.

Someone suggested a chore chart, which I think is great. He gets a star when the chore is completed, but I don't really want to reward him for doing what he should anyway. Should I coach him through it for the first few weeks and then let him take over gradually? I'm really undecided about it and guess that's the reason I've procrastinated with him helping out. Besides the fact, I feel I'll have to monitor him and it'll be quicker and easier to just do it myself.

I'm looking to change that. I want to separate chores (free due to obligation) activities from "work" or earned activities. I'm not sure what earned activities he should have because everything we seem to do around here is for the common good. We take care of his grandmother, but I refuse to "pay" him to do anything for her. I can't pay him for folding his own clothes it's his responsibility, if you get my meaning.

He has these math sets he does or doesn't want to do (a bit like going to work). He's supposed to do them anyway, but oftentimes between homework, projects and dinner it doesn't get done. I was thinking of giving him a dollar a set- per set. In addition, I want to teach him about saving and charity etc. but I'm not sure what the allotment should be for each thing. Like how much do you put aside to give to charity/church out of . How much should he put aside for Christmas presents (long term savings) and how much for short term things like video games.

I was also thinking of giving him a bank book to work out his money etc and myself serving as a bank. If he "borrows" money, how much should I charge in interest? And should he be able to work it off? or should it all be cash? When I say charge interest, the point is for him to learn to really think about whether a nintendo game is worth "borrowing" from his own bank for - of course, I'm not going to keep any interest that's charged, I'll just put it into his account at the end of the year as, I dunno, interest earned. I have a friend whose parents did that with him from about 10 until he left the house. It seemed really harsh to me in high school because he only got clothes or gifts or anything on Christmas and his birthday. His parents would give him like 2 pairs of shoes for the year, if they were "uncool" and he wanted a different pair or even more shoes, he would have to borrow or take his own money and save to buy them!! By 13, he was buying almost all clothes except for 7 pants, 7 t-shirts for school - thats all his parents bought so he had to buy ALL his clothes himself!!

But when we were in college he knew exactly how much he had in the bank to the penny, paid every bill on time, knew exactly when he would pay off every cc charge and was never a "starving" student simply because he knew how to ration his money perfectly. I don't think I can ever be that harsh, but I want to instill that type of financial awareness.
Wow this ended up long:

Not sure how to negotiate this.
Appreciate all input.
Does he get in trouble if he doesn't complete chores then? What is reasonable? NoTV that evening? or losing Nintendo for the night?
Thanks Caroline - I like the idea of having the envelopes too. Is your daughter punished for not doing chores or leaving something undone?

My Boomer Tips

My sister started going to church about 2 years ago. Since then she has been saved and baptized and goes to church regularly. The problem i am having is that she has cut our mother, myself and my son out of her life and her kids as well. We believe in god and follow his beliefs and thank him every day for the gifts and blessing he has given to us. We just dont go to church on a regular basis and talk about God all the time. There has been no communication between us in months, just the other day my sister calls our mother. She tell my mom if we want to see her 2 kids for there birthday and Christmas we must meet her in town for dinner and that we cant go the the birthday party or the Christmas party either. My Mom asked if she would come over or meet somewhere so we can discuss what is going on and get back to being a family. My sister replied no, my mom asked why and my sister went off on her. Saying she talks about people behind their backs, she lies, and she dont wont the her kids around to see that. I personally know my mom very well and she is the one is not the most respectful, honest and helping person i have ever met. I know we didnt have the best childhood growing up but who does. I know deep down that my mom has done everything in her power to give us what we needed and kept us as happy as she could in all points in our lives. What i dont understand is how she can call my mother up and yell at her and talk about people behind their back to her mother, lie to her about why she is really mad at her, and when she is keeping her kids away from their grandmother and aunt for unknown reason. She cusses my mother of doing what she did in a 30 minutes conversation. What i am needing answers for is how to fix this so we can be a family again. I so miss those kids along with my son as well. I have seen my mother heart broken over all this and i wont this to come to an end soon. So what should we do, should we meet her in town or what. Please please help. thank you and God Bless
I thought about contacting the Pastor at Church. He knows us from going a few times to church when my sister got baptized and also saved. we also went when My sister oldest(9) got baptized. I was hoping we didnt have to go down that path, but it looks like we might have to. Also to mention she has deleted both my mother and i from Facebook and also has blocked us from evening looking her up. I know her actions are not what God would want. I Just dont know if the pastor that has somewhat lead her here can help.
Thank you for the wonderful advice and the prayers. they are truly needed and i am continuing to pray for my sister and her family. Again Thank you

My Boomer Tips

I met this guy almost a year ago last July on a boat dance. We hit it off and went on quite a bit of dates including an all day date of 6 hours and he made me a candle light dinner. We've kissed, cuddled, and been affectionate. Before he left for college at the end of August, he said he wanted to see where things go between us and thought we should date others for the time being. He's wanted to know about my ex's and history which he's also told me about his dating history. He says he's expressed that he wants me to trust him since I've been hurt in the past and it takes a while for him to like a girl and that I was the girl he liked. When we dated in the summer, i did most of the contacting and that's when he would ask me out. So he went off to school and we talked over the phone and skyped. He was cute and his roommates would come in while we skyped and make fun of him. I contacted him a little too much while we was at school and he let me know in an obvious message I was contacting him too much (by the way, this guy has Traumatic Brain Injury, which means his common sense is a bit impaired of what's appropriate and what's not). So I gave him a breather for a month and then sent a letter at christmas time when he was home for the holidays apolozing for my actions along with a christmas gift that ties back to our dating history. He texted me and told me he loved it and we chatted back and forth during that time. We texted back and forth until one time that I overdid a little again. He went back to school and about 3 weeks later, this guy "liked" my old status that I had on my Facebook page 3 weeks prior, so something you cannot see easily on the newsfeed, showing that this guy looked on my Facebook page.
I wanted to meet up with him again by asking him to go to a pro soccer game with me. I sent a soccer ball that reads "it would be a kick if we went to a pro soccer game together.....Are you game?" and then signed my name. The next day after I sent the ball, he called me and said he got the ball in the mail. He said he'd love to go and to give him a call when I come back in town (I had went out of town cause of my grandmother's funeral) so we can plan on when to go to a game.

Question: Do you think he still has interest for me or is he going to be polite to me?