Last fall while I was digging the garlic beds, DS collected lots and lots of earthworms and we started 4 worm buckets (for a cub scout project). They were earthworms, not compost worms, so they were slower to digest stuff than they might have been, but he still got a kick out of it. Last weekend the kids hijacked my potato planting, DD wanted to plant her spring bulbs and DS wanted to harvest his worms. After DD planted her bulbs, DS went around puting worms into the loose soil over the bulbs so they would have an extra boost. When DD realized what he was doing she had a fit! "Eeeeuuuwww, I hate worms!" He was very offended, giving her a lecture on how good it was to have worms in the garden. He also would have dug his worms back up, if I had let him. Last year we planted our spare tomato seedlings at my mom's house, in a new raised planter. DS put a handful of worms at the base of very tom that went in the ground. As far as he is concerned, the worms are more important than the castings! ;-) Catherine, mom to 8-yo b/g twins

I know this won't help those who already have problems, but for those thinking of getting braces for their kids or themselves, please consider this. My BIL is an orthodontist, and has put the regular rr type braces on me long ago, and then these, which are on as we speak. (I didn't wear my retainers faithfully and teeth shifted from first time-oops) I can tell you these not only work, they work fast. And I have looked through a book they put together of success stories that showed me many, many situations are eligible. Shocking what they can do with these on severe cases. Not all qualify, but you would be surprised. It is absolutely worth it to get a consultation. And naturally the benefits are obvious as far as aesthetics, cleaning, eating, and the unfortunate side effects you can avoid from the rr type that started this thread. We don't have to pay for ours, but I "think" the statement he gave me in the very beginning said cost was around 3000.00. Really sorry to read about those who have experienced the decalcification. I can only imagine how you feel. :/

I have a 7 y/o DD, too. But she has three brothers, two older (14 and 11) and one younger 5). When DD has friends over to play they are often fascinated by the older brothers and their friends who might be here, especially my 11 y/o. I subbed in a 2nd grade class last week. My 11 y/o came to the room to meet me at the end of the day. The 3-4 girls still in the room were instantly little flirts! I didn't know they had it in them, but they wanted to be right next to DS, snuggled up to let him read stories to them, show him their "cheerleading" routine. I told people about it later, it was a phenomenon I had never seen before. And I have talked about this phase of girlhood with other moms of young girls. My DD is one of the minority who is not at all boy crazy. The thing she has in common with the other girls in that group is that they all have older brothers (older seems to make a difference). Between DD's brothers and their friends who are here all the time, DD has an immunity or something. LOL. Boys are not a new mystery to her, they are an extremely annoying fact of life. She doesn't see them as cute and charming, she sees them at their worst. She just can't seem to convince her friends that boys are really just mean and stinky and generally "not all that." The other thing I've talked about with other moms is how annoying it is when adults notice a pretty little girl and only comment on that trait. I try really hard not to do that, especially in front of the girl. Some of us make a point, when we hear someone say our daughters are pretty, to say "Thank you. You should see how well she writes." Or reads, or play soccer, or piano, or how kind and caring she is, or how funny she is, etc. Especially in front of our daughters. There is too much around young girls that reinforces the idea that their value in life is in getting the attention of boys. I think with the private parts exposure, you should just calmly tell your DD that should never happen again. That the boy was not funny when he did that, it was rude behavior. I might also ask her how it made her feel, pick up on the "weird" part of what she might say and say that's whey it's rude, it makes other people feel weird. I also really think I'd tell the boy's parents. Not in an accusatory way, but b/c I think they should know. Maybe it's something they've dealt with before with him, and they need to know it's still happening. Even as if it's the first time he's done it, they need to know so they can have a conversation with him. Not b/c I want him punished or to make a big deal of it, but for 100 reasons, I just think I would give another parent a "heads up" on that kind of behavior. I absolutely agree it's probably innocent and within the range of normal, but a parent should still be informed. If a kid has fun with the response he/she gets from showing private parts, he/she might be encouraged to try it again and maybe take it farther next time. As for the dancing, I think the next time I had my DD in the car alone I'd start a conversation about dancing. How she likes to dance, why she likes to dance that way, and how sometimes in life what's OK for adults is not OK for kids. From dancing and clothes to certain drinks and certain words. Then when I saw her dancing that way again, I'd remind her "we talked about that, that's a grown up dance, not a kid's dance." I'll confide, I think little girls are encouraged, in subtle ways and sometimes not so subtle, by our culture to behave much older. From their clothes, to music, to toys even. It's not right that 6 y/o girls are encouraged to emmulate a 16 y/o young woman. I cringe at the latest Barbie commercials for products that come with pretend credit cards for pretend shopping sprees. I even say outloud w/my kids in the room "That is so wrong!" Maybe I'm a little freaky, but I am picky about the dolls I let DD have. I think she should play with dolls that that look and act like little girls. Not ones who wear make-up, mini-skirts, high heels, and shop and have boyfriends. I choose books for her about girls who are fun, strong, and smart, and make sure she learns about real women to look up to for their accomplishments. I have no tolerance for relatives or family friends who tease any of my kids about having a boyfriend or girlfriend. I remember how that felt as a young kid and teen. It's embarrassing and feels invasive. My mother would never do that, but I have some aunts and adult cousins who think it's funny. As soon as I hear it I just say "Come on, that's not nice." and to my kids "You do not have to answer that." And change the subject to something my kids are happy and proud to talk about, like the latest "A" in school or score in sports. Oh, and you're so right about the job being harder in a new way as the kids get older. It was physically exhausting when they were little, with feeding, cleaning up, diapers, etc. Now, it's emotionally and intellectually exhausting, trying to stay ahead of the next hurdle. I tell people I think the job of parenting changes when your kids reach an age which you remember being. Make sense? I remember small things that happened when I was 7, 11 and especially 14 and how those small things stuck with me, for better or worse. So I am conscious of how my choices and responses will stick with my kid who are that age now.

Kat--she had her 4th knee surgery. The first surgeon put screws in her knees that were too LONG. This surgeon had to re-do them. He said no one should have to have surgery like this, especially not 4 times and especially not at 16 y o. My DD and her DH are friends w/ the first surgeon. They won't even tell him about his mistake. I think they have grounds for malpractice, but they won't even consider it.