Nicehubby, get ready for some culture shock! It sounds like you come from a fairly traditional Indian family so you were probably raised with a lot higher standard than what is now mainstream American (or Canadian) culture. The difference between going for dinner and going for dinner as a 'date' (as adults) is this (I'll use examples so it's a little clearer). Two co-workers go to dinner...they eat, drink, visit, laugh. At the end of the night, they've both had a good time, they've bonded (like friends), they say good night. The next day at work everything is still normal because they know how to respond to each other. Now... Two co-workers go to dinner, only this time it's a 'date' (which indicates that there is romantic interest)...they eat, drink, visit, laugh. At the end of the night, if they've both had a good time, because it was a date, they may or may not say good night. Depending on the values of the people involved it may end with a romantic gesture (such as being walked to the door) or it may end in sex. Dating used to be known as 'courting' (a long time ago now) and was used for the purpose of deciding who you wanted to marry. However, now it is what I would consider to be recreational. Many people who go on dates have little or no interest in finding a spouse. They 'go out' because it is fun or exciting, and out of a desire to feel romantic closeness (and physical intamacy) without needing to make a long term commitment to that person. Hope this explains it a little bit for you. About the issue of whether or not to let a child have a boyfriend/girlfiend... My personal thoughts are this. It's great to let kids have friends from both genders, however I would discourage the use of words like 'boyfriend' or 'girlfriend'. While to some it may seem cute, when they're eight or ten, the reality is that by the time the reach eleven or twelve, there is pressure to play spin the bottle, etc. By the time I was in grade six, some of the 'kids' parties involved alcohol and getting locked in a closet to kiss or more. I never went to these parties...M&D wouldn't allow it...and I completely understand now. It was the parents who thought it was 'cute' that thier young children were going on 'dates', that were having these co-ed overnight parties that were, for all intents and purposes, unchaperoned. By the time I graduated half the girls in my class had dropped out because of pregnancy. It's great for children to play with lots of kids their own age...but we have to remember as parents, that children have a natural innocent curiosity (I'll show you mine if you show me yours...etc.) and that when you pair that with the barage of sexually charged media they see at a very young age, it will impact them. At ten years old she may say this is my 'boyfriend' and they just play together like two best friends, but in another two years her friends and classmates will start teasing and pushing her to kiss or ... whoever her boyfriend is then. Kids, especially girls, get a lot of pressure to grow up, be sexy, wear makeup, act like adults. And girls, especially those in Jr. High (grade 6-9) can be cruel to those who don't fit in... Know who your children hang out with, know their parents. Let the parents know what your standards are, and that if they won't ensure your child is held to that standard while at their house, then you would prefer if their child came to yours instead. I'm a firm believer in no closed doors (and computers in high trafic areas), and that no matter how good of friends they are, boys and girls don't get to have sleep overs-together. I do think that it's important to still educate your children though...because there is truth in that the more sheltered child is, if they rebel or find themself in a situation without supervision, more likely to end up in trouble. My parents had very high standards, and didn't allow me to be in a position to become pregnant while I was in their care, but when I graduated I rebeled and moved out. I was completely clueless to the risks out there. I understood about condoms to prevent pregnancy, but I had no idea about STDs, date rape drugs, etc. Fortunatley for me, my sister took me under her wing (she was raised completely differently, by her mom) and gave me a quick education on the risks 'out there'. If not for her, my life could have been very different. I think the biggest challenge I will face with my children, is leaning how to protect them, while still educating them in time, to the dangers that are out there. And no, there won't be any little 'girlfriends'. My $0.02 Verena

I just painted me boys' room, age 6 and 3. I wanted something fun and bright, but was hestitant to go with a theme because they will outgrow it before I have time to paint again. I did a really rich blue wall (medium to dark color - I just found a blue shirt I really liked, then used it to pick a paint color.) The blue really pops with the trim I painted white, their white dresser and warm pine colored beds. Then, I painted 3 stripes about 1 foot from the ceiling - thin white (about 1 inch thick), then a thin band of the wall color, then red (about 10 inches thick), then a band of the wall color, then thin white again. It goes all the way around the room, and adds some serious pizzaz and helps to make the space appear larger. I did the same stripe in my last house at chair rail height, and stenciled some Dr Seuss words on it for a more juvenile effect. You could stencil any shapes you wanted, or use those wall stickups if you wanted a theme. Then I added red/blue plaid quilts, and some fun artwork, some red/blue striped curtains with white curtain rod, etc. It is super cute and they won't outgrow it anytime soon, I hope! To the person looking for surfboards, I saw one seller who makes them on ebay if you search, and they are super cute. I looked at her surfboards and ended up just making my own with plywood and a jigsaw. Not that hard of a project, and I was able to personalize them for my girls.

Sounds like you've gotten some great ideas. Here are a few more sites to check out: BMX mural http://www.lelandswallpaper.com/images/BR-75039C(large).jpg BMX black decal http://cgi.ebay.com/Wall-Mural%2FWall-Decal%2FBMX%2FBike%2FExtreme-Sports_W0QQitemZ320385268408QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090617?IMSfp=TL090617187004r30320 Scroll down to the BMX decal (looks like you can choose the 2 colors used in this decal): http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18553777 2 BMX bicycle scene choices: http://www.stevesblindsandwallpaper.com/1/3/bmx-scene-mural Also, search ebay under Home & Garden-> Inside the Home-> Home Decor & Accents->Wall Decor->Decals, Stickers & Vinyl Please be sure and post some before and after pics when you're done. I'm glad your son is getting excited, too, about his room makeover :-)

Yes, I did briefly (and now even more) worry about overspending on one. At my local S.A tree they have sibling tree cards together. My gal Natie was not a combo. So, Tina, should I just not give the wish list part (camera or skates) but give the rest to my girl? Not give poor little Natie these very cool skates? Boo hoo. Really though, I have spent enough. Or, should I take what I have to the gift Tree volunteers, show them what I've got and ask if it should be split? Edited to add: strangely there were mostly boys left on my local angel tree. I'm wondering if it's because their wish list had some expensive things on it. Not much under $140. I know this because my squeaky butt husband was standing at the tree looking stuff up on his phone and then being embarrassingly loud about it. Or, maybe people just prefer to buy for girls? I did ask the volunteers about the many boys on the tree and she did say that every year they have all been taken up by givers. I'm thinking with all the money in my area of Florida combined with the large percent of snowbird wealthy retired people that angel tree kids around here tend to get overspent on. I do think it's a bit more normal. My husband along with others does a toy drive every year and just off that one place three large truck loads of toys will go out. There are hundreds maybe thousands of such toy drives in my county. Mtn, I have always in the past just given money to different causes at Christmas. This is my first time actually getting a kid, a kid with a name and sizes and wants. It's so very addicting!!! In fact it's even more than that as I'm an empty nester. I don't have any kids to buy for and that bites.