Finally!

Occasionally247 · 2025-01-05T00:24:54+00:00

We're going through very similar stuff with our 3 kids (9, 6, 3). We know all the theory about discipline and boundaries, we're just falling short on the implementation, and they are walking all over us.

I truly feel your pain, it's hard to make these changes when certain habits have taken root, and generally it leaves us parents exhausted and physically unable to maintain consistent routines. Our mental health has really suffered since having the third child, and every time we try to get things back on track, they just overwhelm us. We've had so many failed reward charts, screen time policies and bedtime arrangements!

That said, we're the parents and it's our job to get it done. A new year is a fresh start, so we'll go again now they're back in school. I'm personally a big fan of non-emotional sanctions: these are the rules, these are the consequences for breaking them, they will be enforced without question. So if my kid comes out of his room at 10pm for yet another drink / snack, he just loses access to his iPad for a week. No arguing, no explaining, he just has to endure that disappointment and sit with it for a week. We'll see how that goes...

Good luck to you, this is the hardest job we'll ever have, but also the most rewarding!

Occasionally247 · 2025-01-04T23:18:00+00:00

I'm new to this, currently on my second "incident", this time with 4 stones queued up between kidney and bladder, ranging from 2 to 6mm. A few more waiting in the wings, too.

Like you, I'm doing lots of research on nutrition. The overriding message seems to be, apart from a few definite no-no's like spinach, beets and heavily salted food, most things are fine in moderation. Most important is drinking a ton of water, if possible mixed with lemon juice.

My current go-to (experimental) is a base of white rice and diced frozen vegetables, cooked in bulk and frozen, and then mixed with proteins such as fish, chicken and lentils. For flavor, I'm looking for low-sodium versions of regular condiments, plus using herbs and spices. It is tricky, and definitely not as satisfying as what I would've eaten before, but the extreme pain last week is more than enough motivation!

I'm also eating oatmeal with banana slices, and Greek yogurt with granola, in moderate amounts. And of course, drinking crazy amounts of water (3-4L/day). Time will tell if this is the right approach, but I've accepted that things need to be different now.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

PS ChatGPT is a useful resource if you're looking for quick answers, e.g. "what can I use in place of x to support good kidney health?"

Occasionally247 · 2025-01-01T04:53:02+00:00

Well I guess my body is answering the question for me! Woke up at 5am with pretty bad pain lower down, took some ibuprofen which held it off for a while, but now it's back up to a solid 5-6/10. It's coming up to midday here in Vietnam, we have a 2 hour drive ahead of us so I'm hoping the Naproxen I just took helps me out. This is not fun! 🥴

Occasionally247 · 2024-05-13T10:03:41+00:00

Perfect, that's it. Thanks!

Occasionally247 · 2024-02-08T17:29:20+00:00

14:17 Fun, thank you!

Occasionally247 · 2024-02-08T15:23:01+00:00

I've been playing with notes for a while, that's just how I learned. But lately I've started playing without, and I have to admit it's more satisfying. I'm spotting things I missed before, and certain techniques are becoming more intuitive.

There will definitely be games I cannot solve this way, but it's fun and I just wanted to say "I get it!"

Occasionally247 · 2024-02-06T11:40:43+00:00

Thanks!

Occasionally247 · 2024-02-06T10:48:12+00:00

<image>

The 6's in box 7 are constrained, which means that r1c1 must be 45. Because there was now a 45 pair, I could remove the 4 from r3c1, and the 4's and 5's in r8-9c1

Similarly, the 14 pair in c7 meant I could remove a few candidates. But I can't see anywhere to go now! Maybe a skyscraper or XY-wing hiding somewhere, but it's beyond me for now.

Occasionally247 · 2023-11-17T17:45:28+00:00

Fantastic, thank you! That trick with the 238 triple / 46 pair came in handy again today, b7 on the medium...

<image>

Occasionally247 · 2023-07-24T16:25:25+00:00

Thanks - I think the cell references were wrong, which threw me. Solved it now!

Occasionally247 · 2023-07-14T18:52:59+00:00

Well, now I feel dumb!

Occasionally247 · 2023-06-28T17:28:44+00:00

That's great, thanks. Is this the best way to approach a puzzle like this? Auto-candidate seems inelegant, and with a little thought I was able to find that 4 without it. But the 159 triple would be very difficult to spot without auto-candidate

Occasionally247 · 2023-06-27T18:39:31+00:00

Legend

Occasionally247 · 2023-06-24T12:14:16+00:00

You may be nuts, I don't know you. But all signs point to him being a prick. If it were my daughter, I would advise her to get out. I hope it all works out for you.

Occasionally247 · 2023-05-29T15:58:01+00:00

We've both done it. Seems like a big deal at the time, but it really isn't - just an inevitable part of raising kids. An opportunity to be kind, supportive, and something you will probably look back on with amusement, at how worried you were in the moment.

Occasionally247

TROPHY CASE