Here are some of the ones I've used in the past: Teriyaki Chicken Ingredients for Cooking Day: * Chicken- you can use any chicken parts that you like for this recipe: breast, legs, thighs, wings or a mixture! * 1/4 cup water * 1 small piece of fresh ginger, crushed * 1 tsp. garlic salt * 1 cup soy sauce * 1/4 cup brown sugar * 1/4 cup white wine Directions for Cooking Day: Put raw chicken in a freezer bag. Combine rest of ingredients and pour over chicken. Freeze. Ingredients for Serving Day: * Sesame seeds to taste Directions for Serving Day: Defrost chicken mixture. Cook this any way that works best for you. Sometimes during the summer we will grill the chicken and other times I will cook it in the oven. Sprinkle with sesame seeds before cooking. I usually do about 30 minutes at 425. Cook until chicken is completely cooked through. Wine and Herb Chicken Marinade Ingredients for Cooking Day: * 2/3 cup white wine * 1 tsp. tarragon * 1/4 tsp. rosemary * 1/4 tsp. thyme * 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil * 1 Tbsp. minced garlic * Chicken (this will marinade 2 1/2 - 3 lbs.) Directions for Cooking Day: Combine all ingredients. Put chicken pieces in a freezer bag. Pour Marinade over the pieces. Put in freezer. Directions for Serving Day: Completely thaw chicken and marinade. Cook on grill. Chicken Paprikash Ingredients for Cooking Day: * 3 lbs. chicken, cut up * 2 cups sour cream * 2 cups chicken broth * 3 cloves garlic, minced * 2 Tbsp. flour * 3 cans tomato soup * 1 Tbsp. parsley flakes * 1 large onion coasely chopped * 2 Tbsp. olive oil Ingredients for Serving Day: * Noodles Directions for Cooking Day: Fry chicken until lightly browned. Add the onions and garlic and cook until onions are tender. Add tomato soup and sour cream. Heat chicken broth and add the flour. Combine to chicken mixture and add parsley. Cool completely and freeze using freezer bag. Directions for Serving Day: Defrost completely. Cook on med. low heat for approximately 1 hour or until chicken is completely cooked. Serve over noodles. Pull Apart Cinnamon Apple Rolls Ingredients: * 4 packages cans refrigerated biscuit dough (7.5 oz) * 3 cups white sugar * .25 cup ground cinnamon * .5 cup melted butter * .5 cups chopped pecans * .5 cups applesauce * 1 cups apples, peeled and diced Directions: Lightly grease an 8×8 deep dish pan. In a large zippered bag, mix together 2 cups sugar, cinnamon and apples. Open biscuits and cut each biscuit into 4 pieces. Put the biscuit pieces into the mixture, and shake/mix, until they are all completely coated. Add in the applesauce and shake until covered again. Arrange in pans. Stir pecans and 1 cup sugar into the melted butter. Pour butter mixture evenly over the pan. Bake at 375F for 45 minutes, until top is golden brown. Freezing Directions: Cover with foil and freeze BEFORE baking (ie do not bake). To serve: Thaw. Bake at 375F for 45 minutes, until top is golden brown. Orange Chicken * 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts; cut into bite size chunks * Orange Sauce: * 1 1/2 c. water * 2 Tbsp orange juice * 1/4 c. lemon juice * 1/3 c. rice vinegar * 2 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce * 1 Tbsp grated orange zest * 1 c. packed brown sugar * 1/2 tsp minced ginger * 1/2 tsp minced garlic * 2 Tbsp green onion; chopped * 3 dried pepper pods/ dried red chili peppers * 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes * (added later) * 3 Tbsp cornstarch * 2 Tbsp water * Sesame seeds for garnish (optional) Pour water, orange juice, lemon juice, rice vinegar and soy sauce into a saucepan and set over medium- high heat. Stir in orange zest, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, pepper pods, green onions and red pepper flakes. When mix comes to a boil remove from head and let cool for about 10 to 15 minutes. Place chicken in a zip lock bag and pour 1 cup of the sauce in with the chicken. Try to get out as much air as possible so that the chicken is fully submerged in the sauce. Let the chicken marinate at least 2 hours or freeze at this point. If you can do it over night then that is even better. Store the rest of the sauce in the frigerator as well. Thaw frozen packet overnight. Pour about 2 Tbsp of oil on the bottom of a skillet over medium heat, just enough so that the chicken won't stick to the bottom of the pan. Place the chicken in the skillet and cook until brown on both sides. It is ok if the chicken isn't fully cooked. Once the chicken is browned take it out of the skillet. Wipe out the skillet to get the chicken residue off of it. Add the sauce into the skillet and bring it to a boil over medium- high heat. Mix together the cornstarch and water and stir the mix into the sauce. Reduce the heat to medium low and add the chicken into the skillet. Simmer for about 5 minutes stirring occassionally. Taco Soup Recipe Ingredients: * 2 pounds ground beef * 1.25 cups onion, diced * 15.5 ounces kidney beans (undrained) * 15.5 ounces black beans (undrained) * 15.5 ounces pinto beans (undrained) * 15.5 ounces canned corn, drained * 10 ounces canned green tomatoes with chilies (Ro-Tel) * 1 packages Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning * 1 packages taco seasoning * 16 ounces tomato sauce Directions: Brown hamburger and onion; drain. Place ingredients in a slow cooker. Cook for 3-5 hours on high or until heated through. Top with sour cream, cheese, and/or jalapenos, if desired. Freezing Directions: Let cool; divide among 2 gallon freezer bags. Freeze. To serve: Reheat on stove top or in microwave for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Top with sour cream, cheese, and/or jalapenos, if desired. Mustard Marinated Chicken Breasts Ingredients: 1/4 c. Dijon Mustard 1/4 c. Soy Sauce (lower sodium) 1/4 c. Lemon Juice 1/2 tsp. Thyme 3/4 tsp. Basil 1/2 tsp. Parsley 1/8 tsp. Sage 6 Chicken Breasts Assembly: Mix mustard, soy sauce & lemon juice and pour over chicken. Sprinkle spices over meat. Freeze in Ziploc freezer bag or let marinade for several hours in fridge. Serving Day: Thaw. Grill or bake @ 350 for 25 minutes or until chicken is done.

My financial situation, and cultural expections are similar to those of KKNY. I, and my family, have the "advantage" of being in a highly educated, professional sub-group of society. None of my children , nor my children's friends worked through high school. In university, none of them worked during the academic year. In the summer vaction period, some of my children did work, but not specifically for the money. They worked at positions that were of interest to them for their future career aspirations. Most of those positions were obtained through personal contacts with others also in the same social group. The money gained from those jobs was secondary to the direct career experience they provided; however, because they were jobs in professional sectors, the compensation was far better than a fast food job would ever pay. My children's friends experiences were virtually the same as my childrens, since most people with similar life situations as our family, lived the same way we did. The ones who did not work volunteered their time for the summer to various social causes, so in reality, they all did something. Travel, both domestically and internationally was encouraged, since the early 20's, before marriage and children, are a fantastic time to be able to get out and see how the rest of the world lives. Most of my peers consider travel to be part of a child's proper education. I do realize that for many, they MUST work, often at low paying jobs, to be able to afford to continue their education. I applaud that, since I believe education is of paramount importance, whether that education comes from a classroom, or from other sources. The "job" is just a means to an end. There is no right way, nor wrong way here. It;s not necessary to insist that what your children, or what you did, is the right way and everyone else is screwing up. This issue is a matter of financial necessity, personal choices, and individual needs. Its not necessary to insist that someone who doesnt do it the way you did is wrong. Unless there is a driving need for the money, I do not see the value in forcing someone to take a fast food job. I dont believe that the job in itself is the primary thing. What is more important is that each child, although by that time they arent really children, is able to be guided into finding a way to reach outside of their family circle and put their toes, so to speak, into the world of adult life, and/or the world in general outside of their family. If any of my children had actually wanted to work at Wendy's for the experience, I would have been supportive. I firmly believe that children should have the emotional support of their parents, no matter which route they choose in life. Their road is not necessarily the road I would choose, but its their life, and their right to live it as they choose. Each child is different as well. Some children are ready to spread their wings long before others do. I would not encourage sloth, nor would I be paying for someone to do nothing at all. However, a job for the sake of just a job isnt something I would insist on either. As for manners - It has been my experience that manners come from upbringing, and are pretty well set by the time a child is in high school. THe skill of getting along with people has nothing to do with which job one takes on. In my experience, there are far more trashy, argumentatitve, obnoxious people working in fast food, who cant get along with others, than there are in professional circles. If that makes me a snob, so be it.

kkny - I agree that these things should be discussed beforehand. Too many people jump into remarriage without sorting out the details, and expensive tuition payments are one HUGE detail. Before I married DH, we talked about tuition and all expenses associated with his children. I do not mind contributing to his daughter's braces, education or enhanced lifestyle, and I know that my feelings stem from the fact that I had a choice in the matter. Not sure about CS... I think it varies depending on location, but where I am, the lifestyle of the children (and thus support) is based only on the income of the paying parent and not on household income. But there again, I knew how much CS he was paying before I married him; I knew he was planning to increase CS on a yearly basis (he is now paying much more than the order stipulates, there is no way his ex would want to involve the law -- she'll end up oweing him a lot), and again, because we discussed it beforehand, I felt like I had a choice.

Lucky him! First time I went to Croatia while in University (so long ago, 1990) we got around by train. Older women were waiting near the trains with pictures of their homes and you chose the nicest place and friendliest lady and stayed there. Dirt cheap. 1990s version of couch surfing I guess, or Airbnb. Here is my thread from January, but I was imagining a car trip for this one. Cesky Krumlov is a great recommendation and worth doing. You can easily fill two or three days in both Vienna and Prague, it is a tough choice. Maybe only do two nights in each if your interest in the drive through the Alps and along the Adriatic is stronger than your city interest. Start in Prague if possible, drive south to CK then through Austria to Vienna. I'm not certain of driving times, but head south to Bled. Bled is beautiful, but very small. If you can stop here for lunch for a couple of hours en route that is enough. You just have to see it, which doesn't take days. One night there if necessary. Drive on to Slovenia's capital Lublijana (spelling off a but, sorry). Lubijana is the capital of Slovenia and is a magical place, full of dragon bridges and beauty. Spend a night here. Then down to Split, you could easily do two days here as you visit the islands of Hvar, etc., from Split. Split is lovely too. On to Dubrovonik, or Mostar (Bosnia) then Dubrovonik, depending on routing and timing. One night and a full day is good for Mostar, at least two for Dubrovnik. Mostar is truly special and so dear to my heart (I worked there after the war, arriving just days after the Dayton Accords). It is a little off the regular tourist track, but it is remarkable and I'm sure you will love it.