h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

MY HOUSE would be the greatest film location. Especially if filming anything comical or farcical.
The house even comes complete with built-in "extras", in the form of over-active, brilliant, talented, entertaining children, that could keep actors enthralled with their antics for hours!
Just don't let my 18 year old near any cars. (She took apart my steering column today, for some unknown reason.)
Karen

Karen, you really should sell your own sitcom format Something along the lines of Eight is enough and The Brady Bunch, with Karen the Dragonlady in the role of the doting, funny, often brisk but always loving mum.

I'd really love to spend some time at yours and see it with my own eyes

Greta_9;

You are always so kind in your communications. Thank-You so very much!
I am going to visit your page right away, but I wanted to reply to this posting first.
Karen

Suspicious fool that I am, I can only think of one reason to take apart a steering column. To overcome the steering lock when you hotwire <!> I'm probably being a suspicious old dad myself.

I didn't quite get it either!
I think it was because my 14 year old daughter had just repaired my broken heater, and my 18 year old didn't want to be outdone by her younger sibling. So, since my steering is loose, she thought she would try and find some 'nut' on the steering column that is supposed to be the 'adjustment nut' for loose steering, and tighten it. A friend told her there was such a 'nut'. They failed to explain that any adjustments would need to be made underneath the hood. (By a qualified professional)
I think the only 'nut' in this scenario was my 18 year old.
I love my children!
Karen

I stand corrected. I also love my children and I'm happy to see you do too . That's what it seems they grow best on, love and animal crackers. Now that mine are all grown and living their own lives I think I finally believe what my father said. He assured me that I wouldn't get a good night's sleep from when they were born until I die. If I'm not worried about them I'm worried about what kind of job I did bringing them up. Oh well, time to pour a cup of and think about on the deck <!>

You know, I grew up in a family where the rule is two children per family unit, all very regular and so forth. My parents seemed they wouldn't be able to look after more than two kids, but I grew up fearing loneliness and neglect anyway. I often wish I'd had more brothers and sisters to share my time and space with, because the one sis I have wouldn't talk to me if we met at a party, if you see what I mean. I've always wanted a brother, but that's not something you can put on your Christmas list, is it? And now I'm too old for my parents to consider adoption

So I admire your strength and the fact that you decided to have so many children, who obviously seem to have turned out smart and capable (I could barely tie my own shoes at 14, let alone fix a heater.) And I think the world needs more women like you, women who love being mothers and are doing a good job of it. You seem to love a lot, Karen - your kids, life, other people - and I'd like to know how you do it, love and not expect anything in return.

I'm lucky, I have 2 sisters and 3 brothers. I love coming from a big family. I'm the baby, so I get all the attention.

Lucky you *sigh* I was often left alone with a book, even as a very small child. I was strange, reclusive and shy, and nobody knew how to handle me. I was teased a lot because of my height (I was very tall and skinny, like Olive Oyl in the Popeye cartoons), and I was always the outsider. I wondered if things would've been different if my family had been bigger.

It is so nice you can pour yourself a cup of or . It seems that every time I make a pot, I turn around for a second and it disappears.
(I actually found my Grandson pouring himself some the other day. It was all over the floor, but he was proud of himself nonetheless.)
I usually get my coffee if I wander over to my house.
I wonder what ever happened to the old wives tale about coffee stunting one's growth. Is it still told to children? I know it hasn't done anything to permanantly stunt my kids' growth. They're all s!
I got a chance to drive my car today. (It was put back together yesterday.) I went to town to get mail, and the steering in none the worse for wear.
I think I have to intervene in a rather viscious fight between two of my boys. They are supposed to be doing dishes, but are pummeling each other with wet towels instead.
Karen

Isn't that all just a part of the human condition?
I grew up with only one sister, too. She is not exactly my biggest supporter. It seems that everything I have ever accomplished in life, she has tried to claim as hers. (She slept with my last husband, too.)
I have 2 half-siblings that I do not speak with, and 2 step-siblings from that same family. I do not know where they live. Heck! I don't even know where my "father" lives.
My Mom and her family were the best, though. I miss them a lot. My Mom is living with Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, and drug induced Lupus. She is having a hard time. I wish I could help her more than I can. She is probably the best Mom a person could have ever had.
I read a lot when I was a kid. It was because I was a bit of a genius. (I completed my education in 9 1/2 years.) I had to have something to occupy my little mind, and keep me from getting into lots of trouble, as I often did when left unchallenged, and to my own resources.
I love reading still. I simply do not get as much opportunity to do so as when I was younger (and childless).
Parenting has been the only thing in my life that has been really challenging. It has captured my interest, and I have managed to stay interested so far. It has also been the most rewarding, gratifying, brain-boggling, exciting, frustrating, best decision I ever made in my life experience. I wouldn't trade my life for anything.
(Even on days when I can't think too straight from overload.)
I'm sure that some people here would gladly consider being a sort of "adopted cyber-brother". Perhaps you could ask someone you know?
Be careful, though. I hear that brothers can be a pain in the butt!
Karen