It is your business because they are doing it in your home. You do not like their behavior so put a stop to it or don't invite them over anymore. If you are as friendly with him as you say you are, then tell him in language he will understand. Tell him in the way that he talks to his girlfriend. Be blunt. Don't sugar coat it. It doesn't come off as "control your woman" talk. It is "your constant arguing is sucking all the fun out of the room", STOP IT or else. NancyLouise

I have Miele (and Asko) machines and I almost never use an HE product. I use a regular name-brand powder and have for nearly a decade and half. I am a detergent junkie so I expect I have tried them all at one time or another, but I keep coming back to my fave. I disagree with the flat statements that using an HE product will always result in problems with your machine; that is completely contrary to my extensive personal experience with Fls. I have never had any those problems despite running my machines for thousands of cycles in several different locations, and always with a low sudsing, non-HE powder at a reduced dose, of course. The most important thing is to use a product that cleans and rinses well with your water chemistry, your stuff and your machine's washing action. If it also pleases your senses, that's a bonus. If what you used before did just fine, then you can continue if you have the same water. If you have moved you could still continue, but be alert that any significant change in water chemistry may result in the need to alter your routine. But you won't know that until you try. Persil is a good-quality detergent, but for me the modest extra expense and the hassle of getting it are deterents. However, I would use it if I found it did a better job for me, but it doesn't. YMMV, of course. Molly~

4 siblings have their own mini society within the larger family. It looks like they're adolescents too, so they are having their own internal changes to cope with as well as anything imposed. They will all have their own 'space' needs. They will all have their own 'autonomy' needs and needs to be and to be seen by the others as 'indidivuals.' And, there is a larger family structure they all have to fit into so things can flow well for everyone. Breaks from school can mean more time having to be in closer proximity and without the 'relief' of a regular school routine. If they don't have already, encourage them to develop their own hobby interests and skill-profiles. That way they can all clearly have an area of expertise. Make sure you give them individual sincere personalized compliments when they do _anything_ you can notice that is worth one. That is, begin giving them effective positive messages so they can feel what it feels like to earn/get positive notice. That can help reinforce things like them wanting to get more of that. It's more personal than a chart although using both can be a good idea. If you want to drive change, a change for 4 developing adolescents, a family dynamic and all when things have sort of already gotten to a head for you; plan to be patient and determined. This sort of thing can be done. Left alone, a natural dynamic will sort of evolve to become stable over time. That may or may not be a dynamic that is later wanted. It sounds like your situation is at that point, and you want to institute change. When there is an overall 'system' and all the people have fit together in a particular way, change is difficult and will feel unnatural at first for everyone. If you have great difficulty with the process or follow-through, or if you just want some interim support and confidential advice consult a family counselor (finding one you can work with well may require trying or interviewing more than one). It eventually takes years to develop a new solid stable pattern. People shouldn't just change overnight, so try to notice little positive changes so you can try to reinforce them. If you need support along the way, or want more adult insight on your side consider seeing a family therapist. You can try to troubleshoot 'human needs' so that everyone can have those met. P.S. Intrasibling stuff can be problematic. The different siblings have different developmental needs, and can have very different temperaments. They all benefit from interaction, but all have needs for their own 'space' and self-reflection too. The oldest is significantly older than the youngest, so things that are 'developmentaly' fair and reasonable may not be at all perceived as fair or reasonable by all the siblings. They all probably enjoy the company of their age-peers. Their siblings, at times probably feel more or less 'developed.' When they feel chafed, they probably can easily fall into mild insults and poking at each other verbally, or physically. P.P.S. If you want to drive the change, you will have to change the way you act/react. Try to define your goals. Refine that, so it can be clear and understandable and workable for everyone in the group. Think about how you can foster that change. How can your behavior help your sons change more effectively so your family can experience a new dynamic? When you have clarity on this that will help a lot.

Very little here has price stickers on individual items. The "sticker" is on the shelf in front of the product. Of course, sometimes stockers mdse. in the wrong place on shelves. Of course, the shelf sticker says soup $1.99 and there is the 40 oz. can of soup rather than a 20 oz. can. Of course, you also cannot read the fine print to find out what exactly is $1.99 other than "SOUP" but the size, etc. is very small. If I find mdse. on a shelf in the back of that sticker and it is all the 40 oz. can, to me, it is marked wrong and if it rings up more, I will tell the checker. It's not MY fault that the store put it in the wrong place and it's not MY fault that the print is so miniscule. Often at WM when they go to check, they will give it to me at the lower price because it IS their mistake for putting it in the wrong hole. Now if there is ONE big can of soup above the $1.99 price and next to it is $2.99 price with a lot lot of those big cans, someone (a customer) just put it in the wrong place. But if it is a whole row . . . stockers should be more careful. And to me putting mdse in the wrong "hole" is the same as putting a wrong sticker on individual cans.