So happy for you judithn...took me back to when my kids were in college in our city, but living on campus. Sounds like a great conversation, and something she needed to hear, and you were able to do it in such a way that she really listened, and matured enough to apologize. You obviously have a great daughter, there, and now you have practice for when your son leaves home...heh heh!! We Moms have to support one another...our kids are in their early 40's, so a lot of this type of thing is behind us, but there are always things to work out. We do have very thoughtful children now...they just weren't so much at your daughter's age!!

I think it is more of the popularaity of the fast food places than it is working moms or kids vegging out in front of the TV. Kids today are involved in much more activities as compared to when I was a child. When parents have that much running around it is much easier to run through a drive thru or get pizza on the way home (stay at home or working mom) then it is to make a meal, get everyone to sit down, clean up and get out the door. I know because I have four kids and it's not that they are in too much by themselves but with 4 kids it makes for a busy week. I am a sahm but I still struggle with getting them from school, getting homework done, and getting them a nutritious dinner. When we get home in the evening that is when the dishes are cleaned off the table. It is so tempting to just run to McDonalds. Also, did you ever notice how many kids have lunchables packed in their lunches? Those things are packed with sodium, fat, calories, and tons of preservatives. Plus my kids' schools starting selling snacks (like nutty buddies and ho hos for lunch) I tell my kids "no you eat the snack that I pack and you are not getting a ho ho" But of course their friends get them (12 fat grams in the pack of 2) and share some of it with them from time to time. Can you imagine the amount of fat grams these kids are getting? Over 30 at lunch with their lunchable and their nutty buddies and then 30 more at dinner if they eat at a fast food place... not to mention any cookies they might snack on through the day? That amount of fat will make an adult gain weight. I hear that some schools actually have fast food like McDonalds available to them. So even if the kids were active in sports and activities they are getting too many fat grams to offset it :( Also I heard that kids today are getting too much juice. There are a lot of calories in juice and a lot of natural sugars. It is better for them to eat the fruit than it is to drink the fruit juice. I always have OJ but after 2 glasses of it they have to switch to water. My kids would drink a half gallon of OJ a day if I let them (each one of them) So kids are drinking a lot more calories than they use to as well.

Hey sorry I haven't gotten back sooner I was having computer issues. We considered the possibility that she would be better in another home but decided, together, to keep her. We put her on her old food and she's not been throwing up since. We're mixing it with new food, IAMS (vet said to go with Hills but I educated my mom on who trains vets in nutrition). I was giving her the milk we drink but not to sustain her, just a small bit to keep hydrated when throwing up. Now she drinks water. Having three 8 week old puppies was too much at the time but now that Peanut and Punkin are almost two years old they are not as dependent and are house trained (well Peanut still goes inside if you don't see her heading to the back door) and have taken more to the puppy now. They play together a lot especially outside and there is harmony in the kitchen at meal times. I've read up on the breeds and know that early socializing and discipline are needed to have this dog's respect. I believe that she will need a long walk in the morning and evening (45 mins each time at least) and I can challenge her more if I get her a backpack when she's older. She had her first shots two weeks ago and I really want to get her walking but beegood mentioned about sidewalks and Parvo so I was wondering if anyone knows how long before I can take her outside and when she can meet other dogs? Also she has really short soft fur and seems to get cold very easily. I bought a small jacket but its light and goes over her back mostly. Should I wait until the weather gets warmer?

dbarron, I think you were harsh too. I think it's a far more responsible pet owner who gets a dog and realizes that they are in over their head and find him a new home, than one who keeps the dog but ends up confining it because they are in over their head. While it's easy for an outsider to say "Just put in more time", that's easier said than done with two young kinds and a baby on the way. It doesn't sound like DH is on board with helping with training, which makes it even harder for the OP. Unless you've had a puppy, you don't necessarily know how much time and effort it will take. It sounds to me like the OP doesn't have a lot of dog experience, much less puppy experience. She expected her 4-month-old puppy to come when called - and didn't have a plan to enforce that command. To me, that suggests that she isn't sure how to actually teach commands to the dog, and that she doesn't have realistic expectations. OP, this is not a slam to you AT ALL - there's no shame in not knowing stuff. I'm suggesting to others on this thread that keeping this dog, at this time, is not in anyone's best interests. We got a Cardigan Welsh Corgi puppy when our twins were 7 years old. We waited until they were that old, because we knew that the pup would require a significant amount of time, not on our schedule, but on his. By that age, the children were able to assist with his training, Because of his strong herding instinct, the first thing he needed to learn was to not herd the children, and that would have been difficult if they had been a lot younger. I completely agree with handymac that a different breed would be a better fit for the OP's family, and an adult dog would be even better. But I would wait until the baby is a couple of years old before taking on a dog. OP, I'm really glad you fond a good home for your poodle!