I hate the idea that an older sibling has to lead or influence the younger children. That really is a job for the parents and not the children. My brother is older than me, and he was always held to a higher standard than I was and it was simply awful. Partly due to the fact he was a boy too, as my parents definitely treat my son differently to my daughter. I told them off several times for the way they talk to him, and now they have a very bad relationship with him, and he doesn't like them at all. :(

We're watching The Man From Uncle. I've not seen this modern version before.

Cats and dogs are smarter, and kinder. :love:

My sibling hasn't accomplished more than me, but I'm expected to. He gets the excuses for why he isn't doing anything.

I personally think you are quite accomplished, and don't give yourself enough credit. :hug:

Claire I agree, and as I've said many times, I hope your kids know how lucky they are to have actual parenta, who teach them, and also let them grow independent. I'm sorry he doesn't like your parents, but I understand.

My parents were never actual parents.

Thanks, Kimmie! :hug:

I'm glad my parents were pretty good parents aside from letting religion guide their every decision in parenting. Some of that stuff wasn't in my best interest as a child but every parent makes mistakes, they are only human, just glad my mom never yelled cause I was sound sensitive. My parents never fought in front of us, if they did fight I'm not even aware they ever did in my childhood :lol:

My parents had screaming arguments! It was hard to ignore! :lol:

Thanks Kim. :hug: It is a shame, about his relationship with his grandparents. I tried to hint to them that they needed to have more positive interactions with him, but they don't take direction easily. I do the best I can, as a parent. I've always thought it was important to acknowledge when I've made a mistake, something my parents would never have done with me. To apologise for those times I'm out of line, that I can be fallible. The kids do adore me though, so I'm clearly getting it right most of the time! :lol:

That's cool, Claire! I'm glad they adore you.

I've always thought I could get along with my own kids if I had them cause it's easy for me to like what they like and share the sense of childlike wonder and curiosity and enthusiasm I never lost, but also, I have a cynical and too "matter of fact" type way of thinking and speaking and I was scared if I had kids, I'd be like Roseanne from the "Roseanne" tv show with talking to them that way, :(

As it is, with my nieces and nephews I talk to them casually at best when they visit.

I was not good at talking to kids before having some. It's much easier these days. I worked in a school library for a year, and had no idea how to talk to them. I'd find it easy now if I had another position like that. I think it's very hard to relate to kids if you haven't had enough experience of it. :nod:

At least you try to talk to them, Leanne. :hug:

that's true Claire. They adore you for good reasons. :love:

Leanne I'm happy that you had good parents. :hug:

Yep, casual is good when it's hard on you to be more than casual with them.

Yeah, I notice the difference at work with my co-workers. They seem to have these "nice" sounding tone of voice, the kind you expect to hear women talking to young children use. And me, I try, but I still talk matter of fact like to them. :lol: but I still make my voice sound as nice as them, not so much when I have to kind of yell when they are misbehaving and I was the only one there to take control. :lol:

Ok, well, it's noon, I need to get up before my cat thinks I've died in sleep, he is quiet only to a certain point like around noon before he meows and paws at my door :lol:

I need to shower and eat. And open the stuff up I bought yesterday. As usual, after shoppping for clothes or house stuff I come home, literally drop my bags on the floor and won't touch them for a few days cause I'm not that interested in them really :lol: I only put away groceries right away.

See you :bunny:'s a bit later! :wave:

It sounds like you treat the kids like they have actual brains, and are smart. That's incredible. :thumbs_up: They are smart-and observant.

I'll see you guys later, too. :wave: It's been a lot of tun today. :party:

Claire if I don't get back before you go to bed, sleep well. :hug:

:wave: Hello :bunny: friends :group_hug:

Sleep well those who will be napping. :nod:

I got to sleep by 2 AM and rolled out of bed at 1 PM.

I got a bit too stressed out later on to have fun being :blah: Sorry, :bunny:’s! But I still got two more free days to :blah: however long we feel like it! :yay:

Kim, that’s how I’m trying to think of it. I try to speak to children like I’m not talking down to them and assume they have intelligence and I know some bios of child actors now grown used to say they felt good toward adults who treated them like a fellow intelligent peer or co worker so I try not to talk like they need to be spoken to in that higher voice that can sound condescending. :shrug:

:wave: Hey Leanne :hug:

I am tired but my body aches and I have a headache...just hope it goes away before it becomes a migraine!!! I am having caffeine ie: chocolate and coke. :lol:

Hi Karen! How many migraines can a person have before they get a brain aneurysm or something? :(

Good question.....I see my neurologist on Tuesday.

Got a busy day today as we've got a parade in the town for Remembrance Sunday. I've got to be down the church in an hour as my son is representing his school. Then we parade down the war memorial for a service which most of the town comes out for, and light aircraft from a nearby airfield flies around the town.

It's fine to talk to children like that Leanne. :nod: They are people after all.

Good luck, Karen.

I slept well, thanks, Kim. :hug: