My school requires that we go on a two week or more trip during the summer to a different evironment away from our parents to grow and learn independence and also to have fun. my friend told me about www.rusticpathways.com and i looked at it and it looks like they have some really fun trips.

has anyone been on one of their trips? if so how was it?
thanks xxx

First let me tell you WHY I’m asking this. My brother and I don’t get a long. He’s extremely mean, and is CONSTANTLY putting me down. Talking to him is like walking on pins and needles, even if he’s being "nice". It’s always something stupid too, that he yells at me for. Like today I was sitting in this chair in our TV room, and he told me to "get up". I told him no, I was there first, and it’s not "his" chair. And last night, he asked me to drive him to a bar, and it was super late and I was super tired. I told him no, and to call someone else (Legally I can’t even drive past midnight). He told me I was "an awful, terrible sister." and then continued to say "you’re just a fat bitch who is inconsiderate of others". He also takes TOTAL advantage of me. Like yesterday we were driving downtown, and we didn’t have much gas left. He made me pay for it, saying he didn’t have any money. Then five minutes later he whipped out a bill to buy gum. My parents don’t listen to me. They think I’m being inconsiderate and a drama queen. I seriously can’t deal with it anymore. He’s SO mean, and only to me. It makes me cry all the time, even just thinking about what he says and does. Now I’m questioning if I even love him. I honestly don’t know, or can’t tell, if I love him anymore. Do you think that’s reasonable, considering how mean he is to me?

Also, im asking this with a completely cool head. We haven’t spoken since 4:00 today, so it’s not like im asking in rage. And don’t say I should see a therapist, my mother will absolutely freak out at me if I ask.
Yes, I’ve told him to don’t like it when he takes advantage of me, and im getting sick of it. He doesn’t care though. This is kind of lame, but for the people who watch The Hills, he’s EXACTLY like Spencer, but a million times worse.

My family (parents, cousins, uncles, etc) always give clothes or electronics on Christmas. Should I break the family tradition and give someone a bench for their patio? The bench is sold disassembled in a box, so I can wrap it and put it by the tree.

Hey, okay I’m a girl who is 14 years old. I have an old house and my bedroom is on the 2nd floor. my brother moved out so I have the whole upstairs to myself. Well when I got this bedroom I was 5 so my parents had it all girl-afaide well I’m not 5 anymore and I’m nor girly. Me and my friend repainted my room orange and re did my furniture. Now the probblem is my closet. Like I said I have an old house so my closet it Really long and decently wide but it slant down. i have a single bar in it for my clothes but i have a bunch of randome stuff and idk how to organize it i have shoes a laundry hamper boxes with stuff in it a suitcase and other stuff i dont even no is there..HELP
and i have a loft area to redo too

Hey, do you like this style of writing, how can i improve it? Btw, i know my punctuation and spelling might not be the best, this is just a draft.
Tears streamed down my face as i lay there in huddled in a ball against my bedroom door. The screaming and the shouting coming from my parents in the room below me downstairs was unbearable, almost painfull to listen to, and it was impossible to escape from no matter where i went or how tight i put my hands around my ears. Surely parents aren’t supposed to argue this much, it’s not normal, it’s not right, it’s not something i can cope with anymore. I’m sick to death of hearing it, "YOU BLOODY B****, YOUR PARANOID,", " I SAW YOU WITH HER, I SAW YOU, YOU CAN’T LIE TO ME LIKE THIS ANYMORE, I’M OUT OF HERE," was the usual one between them, my mom has always been insecure about herself and so is always paranoid dad has been with some other woman, i have to say i’m on my dad’s side for this type of argument, she IS paranoid, i think it’s ridiculous how she tries to make up situations where she ‘saw’ dad cheating on her just so he will admit to something he hasn’t done. "YOUR TIRED? TIRED? WHAT THE F*** AHVE YOU BEEN DOING ALL DAY WHILST I WAS WORKING MY ARSE OF ALL DAY AT WORK YOU LAZY SLOB,", " Well, I’VE BEEN LOOKNIG AFTER OUR KID, DO YOU REMEMBER HER?" was another one, Dad works, Mom doesn’t she lookes after me, and when i say look after me i mean that on the lowest level possible.She feeds me (crap, usually beans, packaged meals and anything cheap that she can stick in the microave), she gives me somewhere to sleep, i suppose my room is quite nice, purpley lilac with yellow flowers and a mathcing bed cover with cream furniture, chosen by me. And she makes me go to school, well i wouldn’t exactly say make considering i’ve been bunking off about 2 days a week for 3 weeks now, i’ve never been clever and i don’t think my parents are particually bothered about my grades, they have enough money to live and that’s all that matters. She doesn’t do anything else, she doesn’t take me out like normal mums would, we don’t go to the cinemas or watch tv toghether, we don’t go to the park or go on girly shopping trips , infact come to think of it i can’t remember the last time i had a conversation with her and i’m not exactly your typical hormonal teenager infct i’m quite lively, so i think it’s quite obvious that she basically doesn’t give a shit. At least she’s better than dad, he goes to work, goes for a drink in the local pub argues with mum and sleeps, thats literally all he does and his work isn’t exactly hard, i don’t think anyway all i know is he works in his office and to me only being 15, that’s not hard.

My brother is getting married on October 9th and the rehearsal dinner is October 8th. I am a bridesmaid. My parents are planning the dinner. It is a sort of rustic/romantic setting it the attire is semi-formal. I need ideas for what to wear to the rehearsal dinner. I am 16, and like Forever 21 and Urban outfitter kind of clothing. Any ideas are helpful and appreciated!
Thanks!

I don’t know what to do. I live with my mom, and my parents got divorced about 2 years ago. She has a really good job and I basically get whatever I want. I know I’m kind of spoiled, but my mom says I deserve it. So I have a good life here. But, my mom is drunk every night. She started going to AA meetings for a few weeks but then me and my bro found out she was really just going to the bar that whole time, and when we accused her of drinking, she said she was just tired, not drunk. (Thats the main reason I want to leave) Honestly, she’s only slobber in the morning before work, and right after work until she starts drinking. When she starts drinking, she starts acting like a total b****. But, if I move in with my dad, I’d miss my sister and friends and my dog. My bros moving in with his dad(we have different dads), so I wouldnt see him anyway. My dad doesn’t have a job, but he’s living with my grandma and he’s pretty stable. He rarely drinks(the last time he drank was at bachelor party, 2 months ago.) He’s trying to get a job, too. I haven’t seem him for 2 years. My dad’s bipolar and he acts… well, weird if he doesnt take medication(lol i have a messed up family) but, he takes his medicine every day and hes happy. my moms always stressed and drowns herself in alcohol, but my dad still isnt all perfect. hes living with my grandma, and shes kind of mean. i wouldnt want to live with her. my mom drinks soo much, and i cry myself to sleep most of the time. I honestly want to live with my dad, but is that just because I havent seen him for 2 years and miss him, and if i move in with him will i regret it and move back? my mom said once i move there, im not coming back except for visits. what should i do? move in with my dad, or stay with my mom?

and another thing, if i move in with my dad, ill lose a lot of things. ill have to get all new furniture because im going over train and ill only bring things thatll fit in suitcases. oh, and my mom is soooooo nice and sweet and loving when shes not drinking, and whens shes like that(which is rare) i forget all about me hating her and smile and say im sorry for everything, and then she goes right back to drinking. i love both of them what do i do?
I barely get to see my dog anyway. And my grandmas not mean, she just gets mad easily.

Emilio lived with his parents at a small house near the seashore. Every morning, he’d wake up, have his breakfast and walk to school, feeling sleepy and tired.

For the outsider, Emilio’s family seemed so harmonious but, to tell the truth, none of them was happy.

Mrs. Falk hated her life as a housewife. She woke up every morning and started running around the house, collecting dirty clothes and unwashed dishes. After finishing her work at the kitchen, she’d walk up to the bathroom and after finishing her work at the bathroom, she’d return to the kitchen and start cooking for her husband, who’d be returning home in less than an hour.

Mr. Falk worked as a manager in a sweeties company. He usually returned home with his pockets filled up with candy bars that he ate furtively at the bathroom. And although he always smiled at strangers, he was never happy. Sometimes, he’d burst into fits of shouting at Emilio or Mrs. Falk.

Emilio usually never replied and he walked back to his room with his head bowed to the ground. As for Mrs. Falk, she wouldn’t let such a thing as shouting at her to pass.

She’d start shouting herself and eventually Mr. Falk would slap her and, like Emilio, she’d dash up to her room, crying.

Emilio on the other hand, preferred to stay in his room, reading a book or watching the birds from the window. On the outside, he really enjoyed his calm life but deeper down he was feeling alone, so alone.

Sometimes, he’d wake up in the middle of the night and walk to the window. He’d stand there for hours, watching the stars, shining far away in the sky, always having each other to talk to, always clustering up.

He eyed the sky once again and there was this lonely star at the north.

He smiled at it and wondered when would this lonely star find a friend? when would this lonely star join a cluster?

One day, he thought of asking his parents for a brother. He walked down the stairs and went up to his mother who was sitting at the kitchen stool, peeling onions with tears in her eyes.

“Mom,” Emilio said, “I was wondering of you getting me a brother.”

Mrs. Falk raised her head from the onions, wiping her nose with the sleeve of her red shirt. “What?”

“A brother,” Emilio repeated barely able to breath.

Mrs. Falk swatted the knife against the marble table and got to her feet. “I hate babies,” She screamed at him, “I barely raised you. You’d better go find a stray dog.”

Emilio nodded and ran back to his room.

After thinking of getting a dog, Emilio found it rather good. So one evening after finishing school, he headed to a small alley and sat at a garbage can, waiting for a dog to pass. And eventually, after some minutes, a shaggy, dog with brown fur and runny nose passed by. He stopped at a garbage bags and after sniffing at them, he started tearing them open.

At first, Emilio was afraid to approach him, but he reminded himself of his need to a brother or a friend and it was sufficient to force him towards the dog.

“Hey, Doggy,” Emilio said, in a girly voice, holding a piece of chocolate in his hand and shaking it at the dog, “Come on, I have chocolate for you.”

The dog parked twice.

” come on,” He said again, “ I have a sweet home for you,”

The dog parked again. He stepped a few steps backward and after parking for a third time, he dashed forward at Emilio, snatched the piece of chocolate from his hand and scurried away, parking the anthem of victory.

Emilio returned home, hopeless of finding a true friend. A strange voice in his head started telling him that he’d always be alone, and that no one loved him and that no one ever would care for him.

Emilio lived with his parents at a small house near the seashore. Every morning, he’d wake up, have his breakfast and walk to school, feeling sleepy and tired.

For the outsider, Emilio’s family seemed so harmonious but, to tell the truth, none of them was happy.

Mrs. Falk hated her life as a housewife. She woke up every morning and started running around the house, collecting dirty clothes and unwashed dishes. After finishing her work at the kitchen, she’d walk up to the bathroom and after finishing her work at the bathroom, she’d return to the kitchen and start cooking for her husband, who’d be returning home in less than an hour.

Mr. Falk worked as a manager in a sweeties company. He usually returned home with his pockets filled up with candy bars that he ate furtively at the bathroom. And although he always smiled at strangers, he was never happy. Sometimes, he’d burst into fits of shouting at Emilio or Mrs. Falk.

Emilio usually never replied and he walked back to his room with his head bowed to the ground. As for Mrs. Falk, she wouldn’t let such a thing as shouting at her to pass.

She’d start shouting herself and eventually Mr. Falk would slap her and, like Emilio, she’d dash up to her room, crying.

Emilio on the other hand, preferred to stay in his room, reading a book or watching the birds from the window. On the outside, he really enjoyed his calm life but deeper down he was feeling alone, so alone.

Sometimes, he’d wake up in the middle of the night and walk to the window. He’d stand there for hours, watching the stars, shining far away in the sky, always having each other to talk to, always clustering up.

He eyed the sky once again and there was this lonely star at the north.

He smiled at it and wondered when would this lonely star find a friend? when would this lonely star join a cluster?

One day, he thought of asking his parents for a brother. He walked down the stairs and went up to his mother who was sitting at the kitchen stool, peeling onions with tears in her eyes.

“Mom,” Emilio said, “I was wondering of you getting me a brother.”

Mrs. Falk raised her head from the onions, wiping her nose with the sleeve of her red shirt. “What?”

“A brother,” Emilio repeated barely able to breath.

Mrs. Falk swatted the knife against the marble table and got to her feet. “I hate babies,” She screamed at him, “I barely raised you. You’d better go find a stray dog.”

Emilio nodded and ran back to his room.

After thinking of getting a dog, Emilio found it rather good. So one evening after finishing school, he headed to a small alley and sat at a garbage can, waiting for a dog to pass. And eventually, after some minutes, a shaggy, dog with brown fur and runny nose passed by. He stopped at a garbage bags and after sniffing at them, he started tearing them open.

At first, Emilio was afraid to approach him, but he reminded himself of his need to a brother or a friend and it was sufficient to force him towards the dog.

“Hey, Doggy,” Emilio said, in a girly voice, holding a piece of chocolate in his hand and shaking it at the dog, “Come on, I have chocolate for you.”

The dog parked twice.

” come on,” He said again, “ I have a sweet home for you,”

The dog parked again. He stepped a few steps backward and after parking for a third time, he dashed forward at Emilio, snatched the piece of chocolate from his hand and scurried away, parking the anthem of victory.

Emilio returned home, hopeless of finding a true friend. A strange voice in his head started telling him that he’d always be alone, and that no one loved him and that no one ever would care for him.

If any of you moved a baby’s cot to a different room or even a different position in a room, did any of you have any trouble? Currently, myself and my son are still sharing a room for the forseeable future as we are living with my parents while I study. He’s 9 months at the moment and in a cot bed which was in the centre of the room at the end of my bed, but it was taking up all the room so I had a huge clearout a few days ago and rearranged the furniture and got rid of a few bits and I now have the head of my single bed against the wall, and the head of his cot bed against the wall right next to my single bed with a little gap, so there’s much more floor space and the room seems twice as big. But he’s sooo excited to be in a new position lol, at first it was cute but now it’s wearing a bit thin! I never used to have any trouble getting him off to sleep, but since it’s changed he’s been up as soon as his bedtime feed is finished jumping about in there and not wanting to drop off, and now when he wakes for a night feed like he just has (we’re in the UK) instead of going straight back to sleep like he used to, he’s standing up jumping about squealing and peering at me over the side and poking me through the bars. There’s no other way the room can be positioned other than like this or like it was. It’s cute that he’s so excited to be next to me lol but do you think he’ll get used to it and adjust back to his previous routine, or is this the price I have to pay for a less cluttered room lol?

Here’s the situation. I am dating a guy (I’m a guy as well…we’re gay) who I always thought came from a wealthy background, but I didn’t realize just how wealthy till I visited his parents’ house this past weekend. Let me give you an idea:

10acre plot, 5bdrm/7.5bath, 12 fireplaces, a fully wood-paneled library w/ a spiral staircase, a "wet-bar", 3 staircases, multiple living rooms with furniture that belongs at Versailles, a kitchen the size of my parent’s house, 3 car-garage w/ a Porsche, etc. etc.

ANYWAYS, my parent’s are lower middle-class, they drive old crappy cars and their house, although once nice, is now falling apart. I’m a little nervous about bringing my bf there cause I’m afraid he’ll judge me, especially since my parent’s are immigrants and have accents, and they’re liberal. What do you think?
He (we) are not openly gay. We’re both closeted and we’re both conservative.

I know this kid. he’s 8 years old. he and his sisters are home schooled so he doesn’t have any other kids his age for his parents to compare him to. there are no teachers to point out that maybe your kid is a little different. he doesn’t play any sports either. all the kids at his church close to his age are girls so his family thinks his strange behavior is just because he’s a boy (he the only son they have as well). i have known these people for a long time so when i see him i realize that something isn’t quite right. his family is with him ALL THE TIME and so they would never really notice it.

I don’t know much about autism but I do know that it differs in ever kid. I"m thinking maybe he has a slight case of autism or whatever. everything i’v read about it and the 3 other kids i know that have autism seem to act like this kid.

here are some examples of the way he acts. maybe you could tell me if you think he has some troubles or if it’s jsut me.

he has good days and bad days. sometimes he acts great and normal other times he acts almost uncontrollable.

AGE 7-one time he was not done eating dinner and was sitting at the table still finishing after his family dispersed. he picked up a napkin and put it on top of a candle (he later said he didn’t think it would catch on fire). the napkin caught on fire and he dropped it to the ground. luckily his mom saw the whole thing.

AGE 8- he literally HUNG from a cork board i have on the wall in my room. he hung on it like a kid would hang on monkey bars.

AGE 8 – (same day as the above example) he got his shoe lace stuck in my brothers bike. don’t ask how that happened i have no idea!!

AGE 8- again the same day- my dad is funny about his cars. he has two nice cars he doesn’t want anything happening to. he NEVER lest us ride our bikes around his cars. Andrew (that’s the kids name) knows that. I had to tell him multaple times that day not to ride his bike around the cars. he would listen for about 10 min then come back and do the same thing i would tell him and he would act like he was hearing it for the first time.

AGE 7- he called my name over and over just to put his hand on one of my hockey trophy and pose like they guy on the trophy. he knows i dont’ like him touching them.

AGE 5-present- every time he is at my house i have to tell him about 3 times to stop jumping/bouncing on my bead!

AGE 4-present- he’s winy! he wines all the time!! and cries when he doesn’t get his way often. i wouldn’t think anythign of it except for the fact that he’s 8!!

AGE 3-8- he’s spaces out often

AGE4-present- he has imaginary friends! i woudn’t think anything of it except that he’s 8 now…

FOREVER- he’s EXTREMELY creative!! with things like legos, drawings, playdoah, his toys, and has a great little imagination.

ALWAYS- he’s really forgetfull!! he can never remember to do his chores or clean his room. stuff like that

RECENTLY started climbing on our furniture when he’s at our house. (like the backs of couches) that may jsut be a boy thing my 11 yr old brother stil does it

AGE 6- when their cat was a kitten he would torment it. example: pulling his ears and tail. and would literally THROW the poor cat. he would also jump our and scare it

FOREVER- he struggles in school (remember he’s home schooled) he spaces our and jsut has trouble learning.

FOREVER- his room is ALWAYS a messs. AND I MEAN A MESS!!!!!

i dont’ want anybody to think i’m complaining about this kid! i love him like a little brother. i jsut feel like there’s something not quite right with him. it’s not my position or my parents position to say somthing to his parents unless we are posative.

what do you think? do you think there’s somthing up with him or do you think it’sjust me???

thanks guys

carly

My son is only a few days away from turning 4 years old and he won’t reliably answer simple questions. He does have the ability to answer questions correctly, but only does it about half the time.
For example, today I asked him "Why did you move the step-stool into the kitchen (from the bathroom)?" and he wouldn’t answer. When he did try and answer he kept repeating the last word or two I had said, saying "the kitchen" or "step-stool".
Is this normal??? Is it just a phase? Like I said, he CAN half the time answer correctly, but his language is not that good, but not bad enough that the Dr. would refer him to a speech therapist when I mentioned it at his last appointment almost a year ago. He has a 4 year old check-up coming up in a couple weeks, but I’d like to hear from other parents before then.

For the record, he’s a very social little boy and LOVES other kids and makes eye contact, and he’s very affectionate. He knows all his letters and the letter sounds, shapes, colors, and can count to 20. It’s just worries me his language is not quite right and I don’t know if it’s a "red flag" of something else or not…
Have your kids ever done this? What is your opinion?
Thanks.

I am 15 and want to go on a rustic pathways service trip but not to far away. Which trips are the best and why? How should I convince my parents?

My boyfriend’s family really dislikes me. It all started around Novemeber, when we started seeing each other. He asked me to move in fairly quickly, and I accepted. He had even mentioned it to his mother and she was excited for me to move in. I moved in around January. I had previously had my own apartment, my own everything.. I had been single and independent for years. Shortly after I moved in, his parents called him and asked him to come over and have a family talk with them. He drove over to their house and sat through a lecture about how he was changing because of me. They also said I was a party girl and that I was an alcoholic. (I drink socially, but not excessively. And it’s not very often that I go out socially either.) He defended me to his family and told them they were wrong and that there was nothing wrong with me. He came home and was honest with me about what his parents concerns were. It really hurt my feelings. I thought my relationship with is parents was good, but really they were talking behind my back.

His brother came over in January and told us that his parents had been complaining at home about how I changed the way the house looks and it doesn’t even look like their son’s house anymore. I had an apartment before I moved in.. I had furniture and decorations, what was I supposed to do with them?? Anyhow, we mentioned these things to his mom and she denied ever saying anything.

Last month my boyfriend implusively bought a new vehicle. His family blames me for making him get a new car, when I had nothing to do with his decision. Then my boyfriend and I talked and decided to trade in our other car and get another new one. Realistically, we have to pay to tag 2 new vehiles, but the payments would be the same as our other cars. I just feel like everytime he makes a decision, it’s my fault.

On Saturday night, we went to his parents house to ‘show face.’ We brought some movies, because we thought we’d stay and watch something with them. Well, we mentioned it and no one seemed interested, so everyone kinda dispursed and did their own thing. I’ve been to his parents house multiple times, and I don’t usually have much to say. Mostly I’m too afraid something I’ll say will be twisted and used against me later, but I’m also a very shy and quiet person. We went outside and his brother’s girlfriend was grinding on his brother lap and it was just awkward. I mean, they were just messing around, but it made me and my boyfriend uncomfortable. My boyfriend mentioned they should ‘get a room’ and then shortly after we left. My boyfriend was told by his mother yesterday that he should call and talk to his brother. My boyfriend called his bother and his brother pretty much said I was using him. He kept saying they try to talk with me but I don’t open up and that his parents were ranting about me once we left the night before. (for the record, I do talk to them when they talk to me directly. I can’t help that I’m not a social butterfly)

So, my boyfriend called his mom and wanted to question her. She got all defensive and just handed the phone to his dad. His dad tried to play it safe and didn’t say too much. He did say that I should be calling his mom if I have an issue. But I’m not the one with the issue, she is and she tells everyone else about it but me! He said he didn’t have any issues with me and that we shouldn’t worry about what his brother was doing since it wasn’t our house. I can respect that, but it still doesn’t change that it made me uncomfortable. Something like that wouldn’t happen in my parents house.

There have been tons of other things, but I don’t have time to list them all. It just seems like I’m never doing anything right in their eyes. My boyfrieind has gone out to a bar with me twice and they were accusing him of being an alcoholic last night and saying he might need to go see someone about it. Every decision we make is the wrong one. If I come over and don’t talk, I’m bitchy. If I come over and talk, then I’ll say the wrong thing.

HELP??