I'm not a fan of Corn Gluten Meal. It's expensive, it's not really proven to work all that well at stopping the weed germination. Might I suggest one simple organic weed control measure: Patience. I've been doing organic now for four years, and weeds are less and less of a problem every year. Mow right, do organic fertilization, I've done worm tea the past two years, mulch your grass clippings, aerate in the fall (don't give the weed seeds room to land and germinate by opening up the soil in the spring), and you'll be well on your way to having healthier soil and turf- and less weeds. Here is a link that might be useful: More helpful tips for reducing weeds naturally

Hi, Mom of 3! I've got some suggestions, based on my experiences. First, your DH needs to get a set schedule with her, of one weekend per month, as the CO says. It either needs to be set dates or two weeks notice or something. If she refuses to agree to any particular schedule and wants to reserve the right to call at the last minute demanding to see her son, you're going to have to find the money to see an attorney and see what can be done about this. I know exactly what that is like; we've been through that exact thing, and BM will use this to torment you. You will find yourself unable to make plans for any weekend because you'll never know if BM will call to announce that she hasn't "gotten to" see her son and now wants to do so immediately. SS may need to see his mother - but he also needs stability and structure, and he should be able to make plans without knowing that they are always subject to last minute change due to his mother's whims. Secondly, your husband needs to stop talking to BM. Again, I know exactly what this is like. BM will use DH's attempts at co-parenting and maintaining a civil relationship to insinuate herself into your lives, to wreak havoc, to cause stress, to get attention - DH needs to just stop it. Obviously they must talk about SS - but he is all that they need to talk about, and if the conversation veers off of that topic into how much money you now have for gas, why the CO was unfair, how the CS is too much money and she's broke, how mean her new BF is, what's wrong with you, what's wrong with DH, what's wrong with the world, or anything else - DH needs to simply say "I've got to go now" and hang up. He does not need to justify, explain, excuse, elaborate or any other such thing to her anymore. He only needs to be civil and calm while discussing SS, and that's it. The longer any conversation lasts, the more BM will try to draw DH into an argument or dispute. Co-parenting does not mean that BM gets to rant and rave at you or DH at will and you are obligated to listen to her, or worse yet, respond. Third, I'd have a budget that does not include any CS that she is supposed to pay. If she actually sends some, that's a nice bonus - but I wouldn't be counting on it. Lastly, if she pulls some stupidity and does not return SS on time, call the police and file for an emergency hearing immediately. Don't let it go "this one time" - because it will happen again if you allow it too. You can make it through this. Your DH is now custodial parent. You now have a CO saying that she gets one weekend a month and pays CS. The status quo has changed and DH does not have to "work with her", or bend over backwards to accommodate her. He has to follow the CO, no more, no less.

I would be upset to give up Nutcracker tickets that you obviously got ahead of time. I don't like to cancel plans. Oh well. MY SO's X does it with her grown children. She is upset that they do not spend time with her over the holidays, so she naggs and naggs, so they cancell plans with dad and go to her. But she ends up saying she does not want to go out, they sit around the house and then in few hours she says she has other plans and has to leave or simply says she is too tired. On few ocassions she insisted they stay with her not with dad, so she picked them up: one from colege adn the other one at airport, dropped tham at her house and left for some festivities with her boyfriend and didnot show up until they were already sleeping. And it is after throwing a fit that kids don't stay with her! We live in the area where without the car you stuck in the house, can't even go to 7Eleven. So you cannot invite your kids, promise all kind of fun and then simply leave. They end up stuck in the house and looking for a ride. It is all done to piss her X off.

Hi Roarah, I think this got lost in the holiday goings-on. What a great idea! And I love Essex and Guilford, too. Unfortunately those dates don't work for me ... but I hope maybe we can find one in the spring, which is usually the next big season for house tours? Mtn