Hey, I'm Damon. I'm finally getting around to posting something here. I was a bit confused over where to introduce yourself on this Web site. I live near Tuscaloosa, AL, and it's been crazy hot since February!

Welcome!! I am also an MFP, as are a few others here. We have all levels of expertise here and welcome questions! The intent is to sort out the tested, reliable methods from the fly-by-night postings. However, there are no "police". Ultimately, each one has to decide what level of risk they're willing to accept. Some of us aren't feeding at-risk groups. Some are selling are markets to total strangers. In general, we are not here to judge, sometimes folks want to argue when they don't get the answer they wanted, but there's really no point. The science is what it is. Recipes have been tested...or not. What each person chooses to do with that information is completely up the them! You don't say where you're located, but here in Western Oregon, the strawberries are just coming on and they're beautiful. I pick at a local farm where I can get an approx. 4-5 lb. bucket (depends on your talent for heaping/stacking it) for $8.50. Gorgeous berries, nice fields, good people. LOCAL!! I grow my own blueberries, but there is a U-pick farm nearby that sells for $1.25/lb. Picked ones are $2.50. How do our prices compare with yours? Where? Deanna

We single moms refer to the totally absent fathers as "sperm donors", SD for shortÂabsent from contributing any emotional, physical or financial support for the child or children he helps bring into the world. They make a conscious decision to be this way. My SDÂs never ending list of bad habits and other questionable behavior began to show soon after the honeymoon period was over, and because of that I knew this: my son would not grow up to be like his father. I would raise him to be a good man...a man who believes in his family, loves his children and would never think to raise his hand to his wife. He would be honest and grow to be productive to our society, himself and his family. There was no way I would let him grow up to being anything but a decent person. He would be raised with values of God, family and integrity. Of course I have my faults, but I can say for a fact that I am a very hard working and honest person. And if I could teach him that, then he would grow up to be responsible. The time had come to work hard and not look back. It was my responsibility to provide a safe and loving home for my child. It was one of the hardest things to understandÂdeciding what to do and how to do it in countless situations while trying to raise my son alone. And when your son begins to behave like your ex and his family, well, then itÂs a different ballgame and the rules change many times over. When the dark side of SD began to come through and take over my son, well, letÂs just say that I was thankful that the life I had lived (even the very young years) that molded me in so many ways and gave me the strength to get through it all and to become the mom and person I am today. I am passionate about this subject because of all of it. I realize so many people have it a lot better or a lot worse and we may have a different set of circumstances, but I believe we can relate to each other because of events that have happened to us. We are not alone; there are countless women who are faced with the same fear. When SD popped back in my sonÂs life in his early teen years, his lies and manipulation almost destroyed my son and I went on a "Moms Mission" to save him, he was making decisions that could literally ruin his entire life-I love him with my entire being-I can't watch him do this...where in the world do I go from here? This is a page out of my journal. My obsession with saving my son made me realize so many other moms are going through this same thing and more. I turned my journal into a short story and published my book in November. I also built a web site to help be supportive of other moms-single or re-married who need to vent, laugh and talk about sticky subjects without fear of judgment. Finding sites like this are so comforting and needed so much, Thank-you for creating it!

Hi, ajsmama. I have often marveled that all the beautiful soft baby flannels in the fabric stores are all labeled "Not intended for children's sleepwear" Then what the heck is it for? Flannel curtains? I use all of what you've suggested for sleepwear for my gkids. A few things you might think about: I sleep like the princess who felt the pea; perhaps your dtr does, too. By that I mean that I feel every wrinkle in the sheets and pjs, and I am very temperature sensitive. Polyester clothing is the most miserable feeling in the world against my skin. No rashes or anything, just a feeling like I'm wrapped in plastic, hot and cold at the same time. Natural fabrics like 100% cotton, silk, wool, linen do not have that effect on me. I don't know how old your dtr is, but perhaps she is "poly-sensitive" (I made up that term) just like I am. Believe me, if her clothing makes her twitchy or hot/cold, she's miserable. Natural fabrics are the way to go. My two year old grandson had a zillion adorable fleece blankets and sleepers when he was born, didn't sleep for five minutes straight. His mommy tried everything, finally put him in cotton clothing on cotton sheets and the whole family got some rest. It might be worth a try. I sound like an old bitty on the subject sometimes, but I wonder if some ADHD kids might just be sensitive to their clothing, not truly ADHD at all. What my clothing is made of makes a HUGE difference in the way I feel, so I am careful never to wear poly any more. For me, it matters. Sherry