Just to change the subject...on a joyous note, the home pregnancy test was positive yesterday. We are over the moon!! I am 42 with a healthy, happy, intelligent two year old at home who needs a sibling. Merry Christmas to us!!! Go ahead and star OMGing away.

My DD10 walloped her sister 6 and is now furious with me because I called her friends mom and told her we would not be hosting a sleepover tonight. Too bad, kid. I know little siblings are a pain, but you are almost 4 years older and you can't hit little kids! Told the mom, I'm sorry but if I don't follow through she thinks I'm soft. I don't mind being hated, means I'm probably doing my job!

Thank goodness we siblings agreed to spend money on our own kids this year. So less stressful!

Dear youngest child, can you please swim back into the sac you swam out of? Your older siblings were a breeze compared to you. I hope things get better. They have to. Everyone says "why have more than one kid...?" You're nothing like the other kids. You're driving them crazy too. It breaks my heart that I feel like we'd all be happier if you never existed. I must just be having a bad day. I can't stop crying now. I can't possibly mean what I'm saying, can I? It's me. It's my fault. I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

WTF mom & dad. They spent 4 days in my hometown (where they no longer live but sis and bro do) and didn't tell me about it until they were on the way back home and wanted to "stop by to say hi". ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? I live right between my siblings and my parents and yet I'm just an F'ing bathroom break on your way to and from. I see how it is. 10yrs of this crap even after we talked about it, we're done. We're moving out of state.

My parents welcomed my DH *and* his ds from a previous marriage with open arms. They send bday gifts and xmas presents to him and call him their oldest grandson. BECAUSE HE IS. He's part of our family, that's just how we were raised and I'm grateful that my parents set that example for me and my siblings. Family doesn't always mean "blood relative only".

When my husband and I chose to become foster parents, we knew that whenever possible, we wanted to help sibling groups stay together even if it meant fostering several children at a time. We kept our word. We are the proud parents of nine children, three groups of genetic siblings under one roof. It was not the original plan, but we felt a big family was better than having siblings torn apart and lost to each other in the system. This ladies and gentlemen does not make us child-collectors or child-hoarders. Crazy? Maybe, odd? Ok, fine, but nothing unethical or harmful to children.

I was spanked, so was my brother, so was my DH, his siblings, most of the people I know were spanked. None of us went to jail, did drugs or got into trouble of any kind. We were respectful kids and now successful adults. Kids today have no fear of consequences. Time out? Ok. And? Sent to my room? Ok. Take my things away? Ok. A red bottom is something a kid remembers. A little fear goes a long way in discipline. No child is ever afraid of a time out and they get their things back eventually. They remember a spanking (not beating, spanking). When spanking is done properly, it works.

I went many a Christmas watching my siblings get presents while I sat and got nothing. My mother had an afair, and I was the result. After that she was always so terrified her husband would leave her she never stood up for me. If he decided I wasn't getting gifts, then I didn't get any. Even the gifts from well meaning relatives that were meant for me went to a sibling, while I was made stand and watch them unwrap it.

My friend works for this family of siblings a taking care of their 90something year old parents. They are healthy, witty and very active. The mom gets hair/nails done regularly and lunches regularly w/friends. The dad plays cards and does his thing. Neither if them are drooling or incapacitated. They dont drive anymore but thats what my friend is there for. So many generalizations. Every one ages differently.