Ask GoodJoan

Questions and answers from July, 2004:

How do I get baby urp stains (and smells!) out of carpet? [More...]
I have mounds and mounds of laundry, how do you keep up with it all? [More...]
Is it appropriate to return / exchange gifts from a baby shower and if so, what do you say when the person who gave the gift asks? [More...]
How long past the expiration date can I keep eggs in the fridge? [More...]
Hypothetically, what would be a good place to hide my boss's body? [More...]
My 9-month-old daughter has a rash all over her legs; they look like little pinpoint bumps, not very big, and are red. It doesn't seem to be bothering her, but should I be worried? She's been feverish off and on for two days, but the rash started earlier than the fever... could it be related? [More...]
Thank you notes... do 'em, skip 'em? Are e-mail thank you's appropriate or do I have to send a paper one, if I have to send one at all? [More...]
How do you get mildew out of a car seat (the original car seat, not the baby's)? [More...]
My neighbors, whom I barely know, keep sending their 9-year old boy over to play at my house. I wouldn't mind so much except he's four years older than my oldest child, and he tends to tease and bully the boys by pushing them around, taking toys from them and running away, etc. I'm sure the boy just wants some attention, but I'm tired of dealing with all the fights and squabbles it causes. How do I handle this? [More...]
Why do we spend too much money??!! Or rather, why is it the more money we have, the more we spend? [More...]
How do you cope with male relatives of your husband's who are uncomfortable with you nursing in public? One of my husband's uncles consistently left the room, mid-sentence, for the first six months of my daughter's life whenever I began to nurse her. [More...]
In the wake of my son's birthday -- do I send thank you notes to everyone or just those who gave gifts? (Please note I do not care a few people did not give him gifts -- he has plenty of stuff). [More...]
My husband forgets to feed our kids, any suggestions? [More...]
In regards to little boys with cute curls... Should we chop the curls, or let him have a mullet? [More...]
Do you have a favorite recipe for play dough? [More...]
Did Mary-Kate really use cocaine? [More...]
My mother in law is overly helpful with our children, how can I tell her to back off with out her kicking us out? [More...]
How do I prepare my child for a new sibling? How do I deal with sibling rivalry? [More...]
How do I get my baby to nap!?! He's over a year and still fights naps and wants to be put down asleep rather than awake for nap(s). [More...]
My two-year-old (first child) doesn't like joining us at the dinner table. In order to get him to eat, we are often the ones putting the food in his mouth - he is happiest if otherwise occupied with play dough or walking around and enjoying his toys. Some experts would have me believe that this is interfering with the development of healthy eating habits and that he'll never learn to feed himself. I tend to think it's a phase, but would prefer him to feed himself so that I could focus on my own meal. What would you do in this situation? [More...]
How do I discourage my almost 13-month-old from wanting to nurse so much? I'm not ready to wean him, but he's still nursing 6-12 times a day! [More...]
How can I best treat carpet or furniture that's been peed on? [More...]
Where's the beef? [More...]
How do you deal with TV? Do you set limits? [More...]
How do you get a toddler to sleep in his own bed? [More...]
My mother-in-law's house is not baby proofed at all. My son is her fourth grandchild and she has never bothered. I keep a close eye on him when we are there to make sure he doesn't hurt himself or wreck anything but she leaves things on the coffee table and end tables, like candles, vases of flowers and knickknacks, etc. Is it my responsibility to clean up after messes he makes, or if he breaks something? Should I run around and put stuff up out of his reach as soon as we get there, or is that her responsibility? [More...]
My sister-in-law sent my son a chain letter. Instead of asking for money or luck, you're supposed to send stickers to the first person on the list, move the second person up, add yourself to the bottom, and send the letter to six of your friends. How do I tell her nicely that I don't want my son to participate? [More...]