Let's just say, it's no fun losing 10 pounds in 3 days, and leave it at that. On to this week's letters:

1) It wouldn't be wrong. It could be found offensive, depending upon your sister's sensibilities. I would recommend, however, that you seriously consider the impact upon your household should you invite your niece. If you still wish to invite her, speak to your sister first.

2) So you've made your bed and ... never mind. Only you know what is best regarding your fiance. If he is as wonderful as you say, he may forgive you. You will have to make one-night Charlie cut it out, either way. When you see your friend with this man, tell him apart from the others that you will send her copies of his messages if it doesn't end NOW. You could also change your screen name. If you fiance finds out - one way or another - and leaves you over it, perhaps you will learn something. You also need to ask yourself what your priorities are with him. You may simply not be someone who can be apart from someone that long, in which case, you need someone with a career not involving travel.

3) It's actually normal to like one kid more than another, since kids have personalities like any other people. You just don't want people to be able to tell which one is which. It seems out of your guilt of not liking her, you have put up with terrible behavior which long since should have been eliminated. Simultaneously, because you have been playing favorites, she goes out of her way to punish you for it. Your whole family needs outside intervention to straighten out the mess you and your husband have made. Don't think the oldest hasn't been affected by it, either. His reactions are just different from hers.

4) You needn't make every refusal to donate a lesson to the requestor on your world views. Simply tell those to whom you do not wish to donate that you have a limited amount you can afford to donate, and that it has already been earmarked for donation elsewhere. Refuse to discuss it further.

10 pounds in three days, that's 100 pounds in thirty days. not by choice?

No, not by choice. Even sips of sports drink with antinausea pills came back. The IV helped bring me back to life. I haven't been that sick in 20 years or more.

I've had recommended by doctors that if I'm that sick, to take Pedialyte drinks.

I'm always suspicious since I found out that salmonella can incubate in your body for up to a week before it builds up to a blood level that will actually make you sick. Yuck.

Next time, get someone to ask the pharmacist for anti-nausea skin patches. Slap a couple of those on and they really help. They're for little kids, mostly, but if you're so sick you can't keep a pill down, they're fabulous.

"It's actually normal to like one kid more than another, since kids have personalities like any other people. You just don't want people to be able to tell which one is which. It seems out of your guilt of not liking her, you have put up with terrible behavior which long since should have been eliminated. Simultaneously, because you have been playing favorites, she goes out of her way to punish you for it. Your whole family needs outside intervention to straighten out the mess you and your husband have made. Don't think the oldest hasn't been affected by it, either. His reactions are just different from hers"

Thats the best response I have seem so far to this situation. I definitely agree that the sons behavor is a direct result of the daughters. Anyone with more then one child has seen this played out. One child is in trouble and the other one kisses up hoping for some brownie points. The family dynamic in this family has gone beyond the normal though and has reached in to the extreme.

Other than probably being a suck-up prat, the son has nothing to do with it. It's the way the mother TREATS the son that's gotten her in trouble. She's taught her son that the sun shines out his asshole. She's ignored her daughter. These are the consequences.

Oh, i know all about it Neato. It's times like these, you find a dual use for that neglected butt plug in the closet.

MessyONE:

Other than probably being a suck-up prat, the son has nothing to do with it. It's the way the mother TREATS the son that's gotten her in trouble. She's taught her son that the sun shines out his asshole. She's ignored her daughter. These are the consequences.

Except the son will expect women forevermore to treat him that way. What hope does he have of a normal adult relationship?

Both kids are screwed.

Actually I think in the long run its the son who will suffer the most, if the family dynamics are as suggested at least girl can leave home at 17-18 and once away perhaps have a normal life. But the son? What chance does he have once he enters the real world?The first time he doesnt get a raise or a girlfriend dumps him or he gets fired he will probably kill himself for being such a failure since until then he was "perfect". The mom has pretty much set him up to be a failure. All that is IF the dynamics are as suggested. If the mother has only thought these things in her head and there really is something else going on with the daughter (mental illness etc) well then she should be seeking counseling to help her deal with her daughter properly as well as seek medical/mental help for her daughter.