I will echo the others against leaving the cats alone for five days. Talk to your vet and get the name of a reputable cat sitter. My cat sitter came to the house to meet my cats (years ago) and they grew to love her. Before leaving on a long trip, the sitter always reminded me to change the batteries in the thermostat (if it was winter) and she kept a folder with information about my preference for a plumber, electrician, etc. After all her years of pet sitting, she'd seen/experienced it all. Really, it's good to have somebody set eyes on them once a day. It's worth having that peace of mind while you're away and it's kinder for the kitties.

So what if you go through the list, and are still having problems? Because our 3 year old cat was so playful, and we thought it would be nice for him to have a buddy, we adopted a 2 year old neutered, declawed male cat from an animal shelter. After their initial adjustment, they seemed to get along well. The new cat was never very affectionate with us (our first cat is), but I don't think that's all that unusual. All was well for a few months, then the new cat started pooping outside the litterbox. My vet said he had colitis, and gave him some prescription food to try, which worked well - I kept him on the prescription food, and he always pooped in the litterbox from then on. A few months later, though, he started occasionally peeing on our beds. Thinking it was another medical issue, I took him to the vet a couple more times. He didn't find any medical issues - said it was most likely behaviorial, and gave us some Feliaway and advice similar to the above article. We had two litterboxes, and both were in the laundry room (upstairs). I could imagine that the location and/or noise might be an issue, or maybe privacy (our bedrooms are all upstairs), so I bought two additional litterboxes - one for the main floor (covered), and one for the basement (uncovered). I scooped all litterboxes daily, changed litter, tried different brands, etc. He continued to pee on the beds, and then later started peeing on our leather furniture, and carpet. I ended up returning him to the animal shelter, but have always felt terrible about it. I know that being a good pet owner means that you are willing to spent a certain amount of time and money when necessary, but after paying for several trips to the vet, Feliaway, replacing mattress pads, carpet pad, sections of subfloor, pillows, and buying gallons and gallons of Nature's Miracle and Urine-Off, I just reached my limit. Thank goodness for our first cat, or my confidence as a cat owner would be completely gone. Still, I don't think I will ever get another cat - I feel horrible that our second cat's behavioral issues were just beyond my capacity. Every time I see an article like this, I read it and think, did I do all I could? One of the most frustrating experiences I have had.

Don't expect that you have to love someone's child, but you need to respect him and at least like him enough to smile and show kindness. Your actions and how you treat him can pattern his emotional health for life. How old Is this child? Remember he didn't choose you either. You knew you were going to help raise this child when you married father?? Did you have pre marrage interactions with the child? This happens a lot... 2 people get married and there are children involved...where do the children fit in...you and husband both must make an important place in your lives for the child...there is nothing on earth more important than the well being and happiness of children...if you can not give this child a stable life full of respect and at least deep like than I'd say you should move on. only someone that has children and can put their child in this situation could understand the hurt a little child will feel if they know their not wanted

For those of you with train-obsessed family members: our family did a "train-cation" to Scranton, PA, home of Steamtown, a truly amazing National Historic Site. This park is SO BIG that it makes the full-size trolley museum with a working trolley line inside the park look small! It has something for everyone https://www.nps.gov/stea/index.htm We went with our 3YO son and a super mechanically inclined older family member. DAY 1: AM; visit Steamtown. Go see the exhibits, go for a ride on one of the historic trains. Eat lunch on the premises. PM: Go back to hotel, hit the pool. Old Forge pizza for dinner. DAY 2: AM: visit the Electric City trolley museum within Steamtown. Go for a ride on the trolley. Eat leftover pizza for lunch. PM: drive home The indoor part of the national historic site is located in a giant roundhouse. After we saw the trains roll in and go to their berths, our 3YO NEEDED a roundhouse for his train set in the worst way.