Sometimes you need a 64 oz soft drink. Sometimes you share it with 4 family members. Having the option to buy something doesn't mean you are going to OD on it, jeez. I rarely drink soda. When I do, I would like to choose how much I would like to purchase. I do not want anyone other than myself deciding what they think is best for me, as they don't know me. Some times if I am going to have something decadent and unhealthy, I make up for it in other ways.... I dislike people who assume that others are too stupid to make their own decisions. Or decide that if they see someone make a decision different from theirs that that is ALWAYS their choice. Just because something is available, doesn't mean people's brains fall out of their heads when they see something. BTW, I THREW OUT a bunch of those scary "little hugs" sugar juice things that a parent brought in for a class to share. Sorry, I will not give that to anyone's kid. Am I going to assume that that's all she buys? NO. Do I even care? NO.

I hate cheesecake and I LOATHE pie. I will, however, walk a mile for a creampuff..... In my black stripper pumps.

Hey, why does my thingy say "0 warning points" when no one else's does? I will need to work on that.

So sad that my witticism gland is depleted right now. I would so love to participate. That ark is so shiny.

Here is a link to a group that is not H S L D A that has information on the topic. You can also subscribe to their email list etc. This seems to offer a longer explanation, explains how it would to go through legislation, and doesn't make an assumption about how you are supposed to feel about it, but politely asks you to read the actual legislation and if so inclined to call whoever. An even keeled, informational site, IMHO. http://www.carolinahomeschooler.com/social/forum/9-talk-about-legislation/ If this has been posted before, I apologize. I prefer sources that don't tell me what to think and tell me what to do, but sources that give me the information and ability to do what it is I think is right in an informed fashion. I have no Idea who Brannon is, and why he gets pointed out, but there are 3 other people on this legislation. It also looks like 2 have likely dropped their support for the bill. <Disclaimer: I do not live in S. Carolina, no dog in the fight, just dislike fear mongering propaganda in any form. If I lived in SC I would likely be against this, if I knew what it was about or cared. > <Caveat: I am not a fan of HS L DA in general, mostly for this sort of way they present many things, so take my opinion with whatever grain of salt it requires.>

Well, honestly.... actors don't write the script, and rarely get much leeway within a role (especially with a director like Cameron). And as far as her character in S & S, I suppose you might have a bone to pick with Jane Austen, and the brilliant Merchant and Ivory. If you want to see some top notch acting, watch Heavenly Creatures. Maybe you just really dislike her as an actress, or maybe she has trouble masking a crappy role (Titanic). I think you might be off the mark in S & S, but you are allowed to have an opinion and your own personal taste. :thumbup:

10. I also type with my hands, and walk with my feet. I am always moving something while doing anything, even if it is my toes inside of my shoes, clench certain muscles, or rub my tongue around in my mouth (i.e. things I need to do when I can't move anything for whatever reason). I am a total spazz. :D

It's totally your responsibility. You need to teach her the basics of hygiene, and how when the body goes through changes, things happen. Smells start. If she wants to wear the same clothes day after day, and only those clothes, you have to wash them in the laundry when she goes to sleep. If you see a battle brewing over this, then pick a middle ground...like "I know you hate bathing, but you must bathe, with soap, every other day and that is part of your personal chore list." Heck, tell her you'll give her school credit for it, showering 101. She might not know as much as you think she does about cleaning herself as well. There is all sorts of stuff I didn't know for a long time as no one told me. I sort of had to figure it out. With my 14 & 12 year old, they must take showers every other day...I even write it on the calendar. If they get too stinky, then they are told to take one immediately. Good luck!

JUst wanted to pop in and say hello, lest some of you forget that I exist or don't belong here. :D Too much to read, going to sleep.

I am on a diet and out of vodka! The horror!!!! :svengo:

when you click on your messages on the L sidebar under your profile photo and news feed, it will have a new screen that will say Inbox (black) other (gray) and more (gray) other is the other box. It is where odd ball messages go to die and be ignored as they don't show up as a little red alert like a normal message. Just click on it and go. I usually only remember it every few weeks.

I think OP is gone. What would I do? That what was asked. I would go and meet the parents/grandparents guardians. I would explain that we homeschool, so we're home a lot during the day so when the girl is home from school early, to wait until after school hours. You kill 2 bird with one stone, you let them know your boundries and that you are paying attention, and give them a chance to open up to you as neighbors if they want. You might actually find out what is happening instead of random speculations. Last year, my neighbors kids missed a lot of school. There was both bullying and a divorce, and the kids would milk it a bit too. It ended up fine. Some kids have a rough time, and the school is well aware usually. Especially when a kid goes home early. You did come across as judgy and a little mean though, so I think that is part of what people were responding to. It happens. It's the interwebs. :tongue_smilie: Also, if you are legally homeschooling, who gives a flying carp if a truancy officer comes up the street and sees kids playing? I would have no problem inviting one in for cupcakes and a martini! I'm serious!

This is something that happened that I have knowledge of. Middle school science teacher at really expensive private school, also a boy scout leader. Molests 2 brothers. Neither know about it. Neither do the parents. He moves into an apartment over the brothers, builds the father a harpsicord, etc. When it finally comes out the father goes to the school (where he also worked) and reports it. When he got home the guy had already been fired quietly, and he was able to go to the apartment and get his crap and disappeared. They weren't even able to press charges if they wanted to, and no one ever said anything and the school wouldn't provide any personal info on the guy. It was as if he never existed. This was in the mid 1970's. Now, who knows how it would have been handled. Was he a teacher, a boy scout leader...no he was a predator. PERIOD. And due to the school's actions I am positive that he moved on to another school and another troop in another state.

Pedophiles go into jobs, careers and situations where they can succeed. Whatever that is. It isn't that a priest, teacher, volunteer, boy/girl scout leader, day care worker, clown, coach, etc "becomes" a pedophile, it is that a pedophile chooses the profession they think they will be the most successful in. And ANY institution will try to sweep something under the rug or keep it quiet so it doesn't get out that they would hire the person in the first place.

Hey, why doesn't anyone miss me? :nopity: I'm barely on here anymore! :rofl:

Um, where to start. Rude, is not exactly the word I would use to describe the behavior. But a 13 year old boy's brain is not the most thoughtful and logical of places on a good day. :tongue_smilie: First of all, decide exactly where you want to stand with this kid. You are either the cool aunt or the evil aunt. You are not the parent, though. Any apology letters, etc. need to be up to them. Any punishment or whatnot is also up to them. They cannot do either w/o info. It is your duty as the person who they left their kid with, to tell them everything relevant. What they do with the info is their business. I know that I would want to know if my kid did that. I think the adults in the house they were visiting were definitely odd, hands off types, and bear a certain amount of responsibility... but so what? It sounds like they weren't very interested in their kids either. I wouldn't let any kid I didn't know touch a computer in my house. Then again, I wouldn't let a kid I hadn't really met be dropped off for a playdate, either. I know you feel sorry for this kid, but it sounds like he's irritating. Some kids just are. You should do what you can, but set up your own personal bounderies, or you know what? Your BIL/SIL will start pawning him off on you more and more. I have seen it a million times. Do what you can, but don't do it all.... That all being said, when he is your responsibility... then you do get to do a bit o' parenting. Hopefully you learned some things and he can benefit from your way of handling the situation. So, tell the BIL/SIL, leave out the lying, leave a tiny bit of wiggle room for the kid, you already apologized to the family, they likely learned their own lesson too. Then it's done. Get over it. :thumbup: Honestly, I don't really know what I am saying. I am tired and cranky. :)

Well, my kids wear regular clothes, as they sleep in their undies. They would be too cold and embarrassed, otherwise. Now, I on the other hand, love to teach in my pajamas.

It would help if I spelled the freaking name right!!! :banghead: Landry Academy....LANDRY

I have credits for 2, semester classes next year and was wondering if anyone had any advice on what to expect, or which classes to consider and/or avoid. I am not married to any one class I want to farm out, and I am pretty sure I will skip any science class (We are a secular family) although if presented right we might consider a Marine Biology or something. My kids will be 13 & 15 next year. Both capable of upper high school content, but not HS output...yet. Just post whatever you want. I assimilate all info and use as I need. Plus, someone else might benefit as well. THANKS IN ADVANCE!

That isn't blood. It can't be. There is part of me that thinks that someone used photoshop to change the color to something dark enough to cover up the kids, so that they could have it and not be accused of child p**n. They chose a rather unfortunate color, IMHO. But what else would have worked? Blue? Think ty-d-bowl. Green? there is no good choice, if you ask me. I feel sorry for this family who had someone take a special moment in their lives, albeit awkward to the viewer, and after the fact, and have it put on that site. Unless THEY did it. ANd if they did, then I don't think they have a problem with it. Some people equate nursing to p**n, so not all individual sensibilites agree. blah blah blah. I do love that site, though.

I generally think this: Whatever your family wants to do, within obvious limits, is fine. Video games, no video games, whatever... who cares? I tend to be a moderation person in respect to electronics, and I waited as long as I could reasonable before releasing my kids into the digital realm. We don't own a gaming system except for a computer. I doubt we ever will. However, I have always allowed them to play at other people's houses. They are limited to 30 min a day, either on minecraft or a lego video game, and sometimes, I stretch it. They get an hour after they clean their room on Sunday. But that is just my family. Is that the right way for everyone, um, no. And is that written in stone? No. As they grow up, they will have more responsibilities and freedoms. I don't change their diapers any more, and one day, i will not have any say in their gaming. What some other family does is their own business. I might think they are making a mistake (either by allowing too much, or not at all) but so what? Who made me supreme judge of everything? Even if I was the Queen of All, I would say "Do what is best for your family!" If the OP was asking a real question, she'll get varied answers. If she was looking to justify her own position, half will and half won't. Woopty doo. Major shocker! :)

exit stage left....

I need a little Kahlua in this here coffee!

IMPdate is better than ImpGATE (which I thought it was when I first glanced at your title. It could only be Impgate if your MIL was in the driveway. :D