It's all about having "connections"Â (:-) When I was with MPD, I worked directly for General Siemer for a year on a "special project". He and his wife have since become surrogate Grand-Parents to my children. I feel that is an important influence for kids to have, and both sets of their real Grand-Parents are 1500+ miles away, in opposite directions. -- Capo di tutti capi, The E-5 Mafia

The Canary government has just ordered meetings with the supermarket chains here in order to stop food which has reached sell by date from going into the garbage bins. Normally the law prohibits using these products but it has now been eased in view of the severe economic crisis many local families are suffering. It's now not uncommon to see people going through the supermarket bins at the back of the stores to retrieve this food which is still edible. The food must now be distributed to the needy through help centres. It's about time that we stopped tossing food that is still good enough to eat when so many people are needy, so I'm glad to hear that something is finally being done about supermarket waste. SharonCb

You've got two very young children and lots of history together -- What you have is so very important that you REALLY need to try to save it. But 'saving it' does NOT mean "suck it up"! You've already done plenty of that and it's not working... Right now, you're exhausted and feeling resentful; and hard as it is for you to believe, your wife is probably *also* exhausted and resentful. Caring for two little ones at home all day is truly exhausting, and the lack of sexual intimacy in a marriage with young children is legendary. It's become a running gag on TV precisely because it is so true... Get yourselves into counseling! It sounds to me like your wife may have some anxiety issues; and you and her parents have been enabling her for years. Weaning her from all of her crutches will take time, and possibly even medication -- but it can be done, and you all will be better off for it. It's not hard to see how her fears will be passed along to her children if they're allowed to continue. Of course you should be able to have the occasional night off. (As should she, and the two of you together.) And as others have already pointed out, what's with the homework duty? YOU are not the one who's going to be a teacher, and if her own work is not up to snuff, how is your fixing it helping her? Or the kids she will go on to teach? If she were trying to get into medical school, TOP grades would be necessary, but to teach? Sometimes 'good' is plenty good enough. Make some changes Struggling, and do it NOW. (Before you're so darned tired that nothing could work.) Stop just sucking it up and start talking to her. Organize your thoughts, and make a list (yes, a paper list) of the most important two or three points you need to make. Find ways to explain your points that are short, simple and kind; and don't let her get away with twisting your words into things you don't mean. Ask her to repeat back to you what you said (and meant) so you know that she understands you, and be sure to emphasize that it's because you want your marriage to last that you're saying these things.

I'm struggling with how to fit it into a farmhouse decor. If you're changing the farmhouse style my initial thought was a funky golden color to match the chair, something a little funky with a unique leg to tie into the chairs pattern. If you really like color I would look at the color wheel and get a complimentary color for the chair...I don't think it's showing true on my phone as your description is different than what I'm seeing for the burgundy. Another thought is to wallpaper it and hide the paneling all together unless you love it or just go with a neutral (my preference) and let your decor speak instead. If you don't love the chair but for sentimental reasons want to keep it then I would reupholster it, for a good quality chair it's worth it.