The nearest thing I can think of to that mess in our history is that Emmett had a couple of almost intractable biters and bullies in one of his daycare situations, and Hec may remember what the daycare staff did to rein them in and control the misery.

They never stopped it. One bad kid can sour a whole daycare class. Emmett moved on to pre-school and was very happy to discover kids who didn't want to leave huge purple bite marks on him every day.

Nora, I agree with La Scrappalina. You should rehearse interviewing with Tom. It'll help him with his nerves and give him some muscle memory for the actual event.

Yeah, but I can't do the technical stuff, and that's the part that he's been having trouble with. He needs someone who knows that stuff.

barb that sucks.

Pix I'm glad your day got better.

DH just learned that there will be another big announcement about the future path for his division on Sept 29 so I'll be hat in hand for ~ma then too. This is part of the reason I'm still at my current job even though I bring the crazy to the board time and again.

Ok I need some advice. Iris and i are at the beach with one of my closest friends from college and her family. It's been great even though I'm on my own with iris this week. Lots of good conversation and I've put together a couple of great meals and helped get all three kids fed and to bed each night so far. I'm wiped out, but my friend and her husband are moreso with two kids so I've wanted to help as much as I could.

So today my friend took a six hours to drive up to see a campus for a place she's been studying. Her husband and I took the kids to the wright memorial. A whole lot of things happened including iris choking at dinner because things had gone completely berserk. She's ok. I'm not really though because when the friend got home around 9pm, which is a lot more like 12 hours, I found out she'd also gone to the spa. Can I pack up and leave now?

Eep. She didn't know about all that though, right? Just took advantage of some off time to go pamper? How about instead of leaving, friend and her H take on the three kids for a while while you go to the spa?

Thanks, everyone.

Aww. My students are sweet. I had to cancel class yesterday and office hours today because I was sick, and a bunch of my students have emailed me to say they hope I feel better.

Sox, in your shoes, I might lobby for both you and the friend's hubby getting spelled to have some pampering time, to make up for it.

Awesome, Hec, I've heard that my girl's getting some good notices. Which I think is awesome, both cause she isn't going around trying to look twelve, and because of the thorough dissing she got from Fontana Inc.(Which, don't get me started. It's like Olbermann and the baseball hall...major rant potential.)

I'm sorry Hil, losing someone you'll miss is always hard.

Good luck, Tom!

And vw, eep! IME 3 year olds are always a handful, but I make a distinction between mean behavior and high spirits/lack of control. My first thought is that the child may be acting out in order to force you to set limits. Maybe see if you can intervene earlier, pull the child to one side and then ask her why she just bit Freddy or choked Zola or whatever, validate her feelings (no matter how 3 year old they seem) and then suggest to her other ways to respond.

thanks brenda & windsparrow. That is a really good point!

Hil - so sorry for your loss

Thanks for the commiserations, guys-- I basically had myself a really good, rail at the fates sort of cry (even the Hub was shocked because I rarely let go to that extent) had a cup of tea and proceeded to watch Food Network and HGTV the rest of the night. (Alton has a tat, who knew? And boy, that Carter Oosterhouse is one big, earnest, SOB, but it's offset by the goofy adorableness.)

I'm not really though because when the friend got home around 9pm, which is a lot more like 12 hours, I found out she'd also gone to the spa. Can I pack up and leave now?

She did this without telling anyone she was going to the spa? ::blows whistle and throws flag if this is the case:: I mean, I remember that feeling of desperation and utter relief to get away from the wee ones, because no matter how much you love 'em, they're a handful, but six hours is already taking quite a bit of time-- to stretch it to nearly twelve seems kind of inconsiderate. I'd definitely lobby for some pampering time.