When my family had the opportunity to return to Clinton in 2020, it was an easy decision.
Having lived here years earlier, we knew it was a wonderful place to call home – full of caring people, thriving businesses and a school system that always puts students first.
One theme of Democratic control of Washington has been frustration, especially among the party's progressive wing and its cheerleaders in the media, that Democrats have not been ableto enact their progressive dream agenda from the 2020 campaign. Dreams such as nationalizing the administration of elections in ways favorable to Democratic candidates, packing the Supreme Court and eliminating the Senate filibuster.
Dear Doctors: Can you please talk about OCD in kids? We've noticed that our youngest daughter, who is 6, is developing some rituals with numbers and bedtime and mealtimes. She gets pretty worked up if one of her brothers keeps her from finishing. Should we be worried?
DEAR HARRIETTE: I went to visit my friend in Las Vegas a few months ago. She moved there earlier this year, so I was excited to see her new apartment and meet her new friends. I slept on the couch while I was there. One night she went to sleep early, and her friends – including a man she's been seeing – stayed in the living room with me. The second they left, she walked out of her room and accused me of flirting with her love interest. I was completely shocked. I have no idea why she would come to that conclusion. She wasn't in the room, and I wasn't the only woman present, so it felt random that she would point the finger at me. She apologized a week later. Do you think that my friend could have some sort of hidden animosity toward me? She never really gave me a reason for why she pointed the finger at me that night. – Strange Accusation
Two tiresome realities about being president of the United States: First, everybody blames you for things over which you have little or no control, such as the worldwide price of oil and international shipping schedules. Should there be too few electronic geegaws on store shelves to pacify American teenagers this Christmas, it will be Joe Biden's fault.
DEAR HARRIETTE: My sister has been kind of depressed and unmotivated since becoming unemployed. She lost her job at the beginning of the pandemic and has been living off of unemployment checks ever since. This is more than a year and a half of being at home, mainly in her room watching TV and sleeping. I'm younger than she is, so she doesn't really listen to me when I try to encourage her to get back out there and find a new job. She will go back to her room and shut the door or ignore me when I make suggestions. I love my sister and want her to be happy. She definitely needs to get back to her life. How can I motivate her? – Trying To Help
● Your local food bank may need more than just food for donations. Among the most indemand and in-need items are personal care items. These are things like toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper and deodorant. If your local food bank does need these, try to take advantage of special sales at the drug store when you buy one and get one free. Keep one for yourself and give the free one to charity. Keep in mind all items need to be brand-new with an intact seal or original packaging.
The man who lives in the white house made an announcement the other day that might stand as a turning point in American politics.
Dear Doctors: A friend who is 74 years old had an episode recently where she suddenly sounded as though she had dementia. Her physician diagnosed it as an effect of a UTI. Can you talk about how UTIs in older people can mimic dementia? Also, why do they affect more women than men?
DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm headed home for Christmas, and I feel nervous about it. I gained a ton of weight during quarantine. As I have been trying on clothes to figure out how to dress during my visit, I realize that most of my clothes are too small. I am feeling extremely self-conscious about seeing my family and friends in my hometown. I haven't been home in a long time – since before COVID-19. The person they remember is not the person I am today, at least not how I look. I don't feel like dealing with people asking me what's wrong with me and criticizing me about my weight. What can I do to get over this? I want to see my family, but I dread how I will be received. – A Little Heavy