First of all, the LW should be commended for being a good saver, living within her means, and sparing her kids the stress of not knowing where their next pair of shoes is going to come from. But she herself recognizes that she's taken things a little bit too far, perhaps crossing the border from thriftiness into miserliness.

Although many people think that Americans are double mocha latte-ing themselves into debt, what's really going on is that the basics of middle-class life (decent house, car, schools, college, etc.) are becoming ever-more expensive while wages have not kept up. Yes, the price of a daily latte adds up over time -- but not as fast as a mortgage and car payments! The LW has this problem licked, though, so I would advise her to buy herself a double mocha latte (or whatever her equivalent is) because she deserves it. She needs to value herself and her needs as much as (or more than) she values the money she saves by not meeting them.

This doesn't mean that the LW should completely abandon her sense of thriftiness. What she needs to work on is developing a better sense of when it's appropriate to spend money. Take a yoga class by all mean -- it's fun, it's healthy and it'll get her out in the community to meet other people. Buy ice cream cones for the family as a summer treat. Make a conscious effort to purchase nicer presents for friends and relatives, especially the children. These kinds of things will make a big difference in her quality of life without having much effect on her financial well-being.

I also recommend thinking of purchases in terms of their value, not their price. Value takes into account the quality, beauty, utility, and longevity of an item -- not just its cost. Something that is a good value may be more expensive initially, but in the long run it will work better, last longer, and be less costly to own. (Not to mention that you will probably like it better and be less frustrated with it!)

It's kind of silly to blame feminism because you're embarrassed about your old wardrobe.

In 10 years, we'll all be embarrassed about the kinds of clothes we're wearing right now ... and in 15 years, they'll be recycled back into style and we'll wish we had hung onto them!

Daddy and Mommy have given him everything he ever wanted, and now that he actually has to do some schoolwork that he doesn't care for, he runs to dear old Dad to set things right. He isn't doing great in school and hates his homework assignments, so obviously he's being discriminated against because he's a boy and Daddy (who happens to be a lawyer -- why am I not surprised?) is therefore going to sue the pants off the school district.

What a load of codswallop!

This kid needs to get his butt in gear, hit the books, and do his homework assignments. While I sympathize with having to do pointless homework (my kids have had plenty of dumb homework assignments, as did I back in the day), guess what? Life is full of annoying and boring things that may seem pointless but still need to be done, like cleaning the bathroom, paying taxes, filling out forms, and so on. What he is really supposed to be learning isn't how to decorate his notebook: it's the self-discipline to complete an assignment regardless of whether he enjoys it. (This is a lesson that applies regardless of gender or learning style, by the way.)

But instead of learning from experience, sucking it up and finishing out his high school career, he's trying to take the easy way out. And his parents, who should be working with him to improve his study skills and sense of self-discipline, are instead catering to him. He's going to be in for a rude shock when he actually has to make his own way in the world.

I think that in general people are on to something about unusual numbers of boys having problems in school. My younger son has run into these kinds of issues with his teachers, as have the sons of quite a few friends and neighbors. It is something that certainly deserves further discussion and scrutiny.

However, I stand by my assessment that this particular boy is a whiny, over-entitled brat. Having your dad sue your school district to inflate your grades really is, as one letter writer here so memorably put it, "being a pussy."

... you need to change your job.

This goes for anyone, not just pharmacists, doctors and nurses.