u/OrdinaryStudio6074

At our studio, you are handed a list of required classes for whatever competition team you a make that year. It includes 12-15 hours of required classes that you take as a team. A dancer may be able to take one or two other classes that is not on the required list, but they must stay at the same level or go down levels (ie- your team takes intermediate level classes. You cannot take intermediate/advanced classes, but can take beginner/intermediate).

Team selection is based on skill level, yes, but also has a lot to do with average age, height, numbers they need on each team, etc.

The way this has shaken out for my dancer is she has been placed on the same team multiple years in a row- meaning she has taken the same technique classes for multiple years in a row. At the beginning of each season when she is placed on the same team again, they tell her they want to “see more growth.” How is she supposed to grow if she keeps taking the same classes over and over?

I’ve tried to be a team player and be positive about the situation, but I’m growing very frustrated by the feedback we are getting when she’s taking the required classes each year and we basically prohibited from taking anything that would really help her grow!

Does this happen in all studios? I don’t feel like I should have to spend extra money on outside help just to make a higher team at our own studio. Dance parents, talk me off the ledge or help me know if I really should be making more of an issue of this!

My in laws (mid 70s) are slowly opening up more and more about their finances and things look dire.

He was downsized and is having difficulty finding work in his previous area of expertise. Many people are not looking to hire someone who is 75. She has significant medical issues that mean she cannot work and will need greater and greater care as time goes on.

They have no savings and have debts, including parent student load debts for 3 of their 4 children. I don’t know the extent of their other debts. He is totally willing to hustle, but a $20 dollar an hour job won’t be enough to cover what they need.

They need real financial help/planning. Possibly bankruptcy. For sure planning for significant medical needs in the not too distant future. Of the children, we are the only ones in any type of spot to help them, and we certainly didn’t expect to support them so any help we could offer would be minimal. What type of advisor can sit down with them, look at all the factors and help them make some decisions?

This is the year my son and his crew will turn 16. They have been close since 2nd or 3rd grade, so they feel closer to sons to me and I have become close with many of their mothers. I would love to come up with a special gift (the same for all?) to mark this year. Typically I would spend $30ish for a birthday gift, but I am willing to spend up to $100 this year for the right thing. Any ideas? I've thought about a pocket knife but I don't think that's the right item.

(i realize the best advice will come from someone in our area who has seen our home, and we are doing that on Friday- just wondered how this turned out for others.)

We are under contract for our next home somewhat unexpectedly and are making a plan for our current home. We could list it as soon as we move out, or do some kitchen and bath renovations and list in a few months. Our home was rebuilt from the slab up in 2011, so nothing is horribly dated, but the houses getting the most $$ in our neighborhood are freshly renovated with lighter woods, quartz, etc.

If you did a cosmetic kitchen and bath renovation before selling, what % of the money put in do you think you got back on the sale? Was it worth it for the stress and management of that project?