ClickyClack

You want to hear confusing? On about our third date, the woman to whom I have now been happily married for ten years, looked at me and said "I love you." Then she got a startled look on her face, turned around, and ran away. And I literally mean RAN away. I just stood there laughing at the ridiculousness of the whole thing.

Thermal garments. They are AWESOME for cold weather.

My wife is somewhat oddly-shaped...she's quite petite (skinny as a rail), and has VERY long legs, and a VERY short torso. She's 11 inches shorter than I am, but our legs are the same length. The first few times she asked the ladies at the counter about trying to find garments which would actually fit her, she got brushed off by the grumpy ladies. Finally, she found one that was actually friendly and helpful, and was told something that the grumpy ladies evidently like to keep secret: They can take your measurements and order garments sized just for you. Same price, and they're shipped to your house. Here's the crazy part: After a while, she went back to have more ordered from the same measurements. This time, she got a grumpy lady, who seemed to get angry that my wife would ask - or even know - about the custom-made ones.

I'm a rather nondescript, middle-aged guy living in Suburbia. Hello, and thanks for having me here!

Here's my take on it... Kids are going to try to explore boundaries. It's just how kids are. It's up to you to maintain the boundaries. You already knew that, of course. The question is... how? I've found a few things key in my parenting: 1. Always speak nicely and respectfully, even if they're not, and even if you're mad. The more nicely and respectfully I speak, the more they are able to take away and learn for the future. Getting mad or yelling may solve it now, but won't lead to lasting life lessons. 2. Make the boundaries clear, and the consequences clear. Take time BEFORE the problems arise, to talk about boundaries and consequences in a nice manner, and talk about WHY those boundaries are there. 3. When they push the boundaries, be firm, consistent, and positive. "You know that XYZ isn't allowed, and that the consequence is ABC. Let's get through this and try to do better next time." 4. If they do something you haven't talked about, take it as a teaching time. "Hey, that's not something we should do, let's talk about why." Tell them why, tell them what the consequences will be, and tell them that they're expected to follow that advice in the future. You're going to find yourself doing that over, and over, and over, and over, and OVER, to the point where you want to scream "DON'T YOU FREAKING GET IT?" But keep your cool, it's part of parenting. Kids aren't short adults, their brains aren't fully wired, and they don't think like we do. Another thing that I've found GOLDEN is this: "I'd be happy to keep talking with you about this, when you're speaking as nicely as I am now. Until then, take some time to calm down in your room, and when you're ready to talk like I am, then come back out." Good luck!