Hmm, I know the origins of hysterical, and yet I have a hard time taking it seriously as an upsetting/insulting word, since I feel like it's most often meant as "OMG that's hysterical[ly funny]" and not "OMG you're hysterical [you female you!]"

No grandparent (or any) emailing here. But then, most of the grandparents are not big emailers themselves. As a side note, and one I have been thinking about as I am leaving my headstrong 10 year old with my headstrong mother for 2 weeks this summer, you have to let them develop their own relationship and negotiate the terms. You're not responsible for HKF's emailing choices, no matter how much your mother thinks you should be.

I hate homework. Especially since both kids are standardized testing this week and STILL HAVE HOMEWORK. Also also, while my son is very funny and cute I wish sometimes he would STOP TALKING FOR 5 MINUTES.

The house was mostly what I expected - immaculately kept, smaller yard than I wanted, kitchen is tiny, no closests/storage except (immaculate and dry) basement. Great dead-end street.

I mean, I kept up a longstanding written correspondence with my grandmother. But nobody MADE me write to her. She wrote to me because she loved me, and I wrote back because I knew it would make her happy, because I loved her. There were probably years when I was a terrible correspondent, but my grandmother certainly never bitched about it, especially when I was, like, 9.

Yeah, Sox, I would tell your mother in very clear terms that email replies from the kid will come when the kid is ready. And you might add that if it becomes a chore or an obligation, she might not want to do it anymore at all.

Thanks you guys. It helps to hear I'm not alone in my thinking. She's super-dissatisfied with everything right now and I'm trying to set boundaries. Which is making things worse.

Buffistas parents, I have a question-- we went to the Spiderman movie last night with a friend and her two sons. One is 11 and one 16. After the movie, the 16-year-old and I liked the film. The 11-year-old announced it was "the worst movie he had ever seen." His brother then said "That's because you're 11." The younger became furious and started punching his big brother and his mom put a stop to that. He then stalked off, announcing first that he was entitled to his opinion and that his brother was lucky he didn't punch him in the nose and then that he wanted to be alone. He walked way far ahead of us all the way down the sidewalk in an epic flounce, although he did manage to choke out a "goodnight" when asked to by his mom. He was clearly really angry.

The DH felt that this was way too upset for an 11-year-old and that he might have a problem, but I seem to recall myself and my brothers getting that upset. Does this seem in the normal range to you?

Seems a little melodramatic for 11, but every kid is different. He might have been humiliated by his brother belittling his opinion because of his age, too, and embarrassed because Other People witnessed it. But the flouncing and hitting still seems melodramatic to me.

Melodramatic for sure but I wouldn't automatically jump to overly so. My kids have had epic flounces and they are ok for the most part.

Not trying to be provocative, but what do you think about hysterical as a word?

Hm. Good question. Depends on the context? I think I'm fine with it if people mean "that was so funny" but if there's any shade of "female hysteria" about it, I would go on alert and tell someone to back that truck up.

My SIL is complaining that the 11year old is acting like a 13 year old 3 year old. So.

It also depends on what kind of skirmishes the siblings had earlier. My brother and I were truly evil to each other over simmering grudges at times.

COSMOS Sisters of the Sun made me cry. I appreciated the sly snarks at sexism. I even more appreciated them putting those womens' names out there.