I work part-time, 20 hrs/week, 5 evenings/week, from 5:30pm-9:30pm, with Tuesdays and Fridays off. It's a great schedule. Dh and I switch off (he gets home at 6). Homeschool stuff & outings all during the day and I'm home in time to be with my girls before bed (and all day with the family on Saturday and Sunday til 5).

Perfect timing. I was just watching this today - a collection of videos on depression era cooking. The woman (Clara) is so wonderful to watch. Check out all her videos and you'll get some great ideas. I did. The first video: She started doing these when she was 91 years old. She just turned 95 last month and I think she's still making videos - AND she just wrote a book! http://www.youtube.com/user/DepressionCooking

Congratulations! That's so awesome.

I don't start out sure that they'll go to high school, but I do prepare myself either way. I've always been in camp of letting the kids choose for themselves. So far my oldest went to school til the beginning of 8th grade, homeschooled for 8th grade with the full understanding that yes, she will be going to high school (she's a senior now). Her school focuses on what she loves, she's done well, and enjoys it. I couldn't ask for more. My middle child started homeschooling in 3rd grade, homeschooled for 5 years, and is now a freshman in high school. She went back and forth on what she wanted to do over the years. By the time she was about 12, she was sure she wanted to go to high school - as long as it had a strong performing arts program (dance) AND a strong academic program. She auditioned for 3 schools, got into what I believe is the best one, and she couldn't be happier. (I mean if Madonna can send her kid there, I can send mine there, right? :tongue_smilie:) My youngest is 9 and has been home since he was 5. I am prepared to homeschool as long as he wants. He has the option to go to a wonderful middle school that starts in 5th grade and we've spoken about it. He's not interested at all. I do think he is leaning toward high school. With all the school choice in my city, I'm fine with it. He may choose a school for art, film, music, or even math and science. We'll see in a few years. As much as I'd love to homeschool through high school (I keep a TON of high school curriculum & website links in a bookmarked folder, lol), the kids have the final say.

I think it's just a site that reprints whatever homeschool updates are on the web under certain categories. Yours in under the "Christian Homeschooling" category. Your original blog post is linked underneath. It seems to be a homeschooling news update site or something (kinda like the blogger buzz site, except blogs are on this one without direct permission - but, since it is out there on google and they put a link to your original post, they're free to do that. Still creepy and big-brotherish, though). I've done homeschool searches and found my blog posts on these types of sites as well.

I've been doing the baking soda thing for over a month now. What works for me is washing and rinsing with my head down instead of back. I loved using the acv as a conditioner, but it stunk even after it was dry. Then I'd sweat or get rained on and it would smell all over again. I'm using a regular store-bought conditioner again now. I just need to avoid the sodium laurel/laureth sulfate that strips my hair terribly.

I'm having the same problem. Just today, though.

No circ here. Didn't circ my girls, either. No regrets, no issues, no infections, no problems. ...And my dh had to have his appendix out and my MIL had a double mastectomy - both as adults. I don't think removing these things at birth would have made sense. ;)

Teen Vogue is good. Teen Ink is good, too, but not so makeup/fashion orientated. It has teen poetry, fiction, non-fiction, articles on health, opinion pieces, reviews, etc.

I can't stand it either. I made a point to get a few of her friends' phone numbers to call if dd's phone dies. I know her best friends (and their parents). I never call unless I can't reach her and I'm worried. Not sure this works with sons' friends, though, lol. I also tell dd (and younger 14y/o dd) to call me at least once from a friend's phone so I know you're ok. They're usually pretty good with that. But, yeah. The waiting up thing sucks. My imagination goes wild, too.

I was 5 miles away holding ds (6mos at the time) answering the phone. It was dh telling me to put the TV on. A million images passed through my mind. My husband just started a new job the day before - in Manhattan, down the block from the UN. I had just dropped the girls off at school - do I go get them?? My sister was catering a breakfast in the South Tower that morning. OMG what do I do? After the towers fell, I got the phone call to pick up the girls from school. Dh walked home over the 59th St Bridge, since the subways were not in service in case of more attacks. F-15 jets were flying right over my head... and no other planes at all. I found out my sister got home from downtown before 8am. I was dumbstruck. I knew so many people who worked in those buildings (I worked there in the early 90s myself). Dh's friend (who he grew up with and who lived down the block from us) and a woman I had met the week before at a candle party were both killed. I remember being in a total brain fog for weeks. I cry every year.

We pay for one cell phone ($55/mo) with unlimited everything (we all have phones, though - long story) Internet = super fast 50mbps wireless modem. (free) [one desktop 2 laptops] Cable = full pkg, close to 500 channels and all the premiums in all the rooms. ($40/mo) Phone = regular landline $50/mo. I'm switching to digital (cable) phone really soon (for $20/mo). Have you considered just getting home phone with the cable company? I know it's usually unlimited calling in all 50 states, Canada, & PR for about $40. I work for the cable company, so they give me almost everything for free or heavily discounted.

Generosity Is Very Easy (Effective, Educational, Enjoyable, Enriching) Generosity Isn't Very Expensive Generosity Instills Valuable Education

Dd got hers a couple of months before she turned 14 - for cosmetic reasons - and will have them on for 2 years. So far, only the top are done (all for one crooked top eye tooth :glare:). The bottoms will be put on another time (maybe in a few months) since that crookedness is a quicker fix. She has the clear braces on top and will have the silver ones on the bottom.

I usually spread long chapters over a few days, too. Ds (9y/o, AO Yr3) does better with 3-4 pages at a time of many books, than 12 pages of 1 book. Narrations are better and more specific. I may change to full chapters in the future, but for now I'll just do whatever works.

Wow, my first thought was Marie, also. What about Michelle? or Christine? Jane? Joy? Renee?

I like paraphernalia, nomenclature, & fixture. On a different note, I hate the words tasty, moist, and meal. :ack2:

My 4th grader's favorite group things to do are: Nerf gun or water gun tag Manhunt/cops & robbers Basketball Wii Wood crafts Flag football Water activities (slip n slide, water fight, water balloons)

I used it with ds who was 8 at the time. And yes it really works. It is at least 6 month later and he hasn't forgotten anything.

LOL! See what we deal with??

Me. My dd(14), who has been homeschooled since she was 8, will be starting high school on September 8th. She'll be going to the "Fame" school in Manhattan. 4 hours of dance instruction, lunch, then 3 hours of academics. 8am to 4:10pm every day. She can't wait. I'm a nervous wreck. Dd(16) is starting her senior year of high school and ds(9) will still be homeschooled.

Hmm.. I don't think I blog for any of the reasons above. It's mainly a way for me to keep a record of what we've done & used, where's we've gone, what worked, & what didn't. I enjoy it as a way to share my experiences and thoughts. I also hope to be somewhat of an example for other NY homeschoolers - easing their minds about the regulations and paperwork, giving reviews on places we've gone and curricula we've used, and allowing them to email me privately with questions. It's the perfect outlet for my Virgo, Type-A, OCD prone personality. :tongue_smilie:

I give a general overview of topics and subtopics learned at a certain grade (usually from the worldbook site) and I preface it with: "may or may not include and shall not be limited to...". Never had a problem.

Yep. When I first started homeschooling I remember having to send the district a copy of these Q&As with a few things highlighted showing them that they were wrong in requiring certain things. Once they realized I actually did know what I was doing, they left me alone. Good luck.

She may be in her jurisdiction since the Q&A for this states: Are parents required to submit more than a list of textbooks in the IHIP to comply with the requirements of subdivision (d) of Section 100.10? The IHIP must include for each of the required courses either a list of syllabi, curriculum materials and textbooks to be used or a plan of instruction to be followed. A different alternative may be used for different subjects. While a list of textbooks may be submitted, it is reasonable for the district to require more than the name, publisher, copyright date and author's name if the district is not familiar with the textbook's content. If the district requests additional information beyond the list of textbooks, the parents may, at their option, submit either a written scope and sequence describing the text or a copy of the text for the district's review (which copy shall be promptly returned to the parents). The purpose of such review is not to compare the text with those employed by the district, but rather: 1) to insure that the parent is providing the mandated subjects for the grade level in question, and 2) to provide the district with more complete information to assist its review of quarterly reports and annual assessments. She didn't need to be nasty and it makes no sense to bring up any old IHIPs. I agree that they do try to flex their bureaucratic muscles when they can.