$100 per family for registration. This covers building fee, insurance, cleaning and misc fees (copies for announcements, coffee/tea, a few co-op events over the year, etc). Everyone helps in some capacity-teaching, assisting, set-up/year down. We have about 90 families.

I would toss it

Public school would be a last resort. My dc did attend public school last year, after ds was severely bullied at 'the best' private Christian school in our area--and the school did nothing about it. IME, private school is not always a much better option than private school--at least in our area. And public school, while not my top choice for a variety of reasons, really wasn't the horrible place I'd assumed it would be. We just think homeschooling fits our family better. I'm glad we have choices about where our children receive their education and think every family needs to make the best decision for their own family.

Nosh I don't even know why, but I just hate that word.

I need an 'other' option, too. I see pictures (like a movie), but I also 'see' the words, not hear them. I am definitely not an auditory learner. Dh and ds love audiobooks and being read to.....I can't stand audiobooks, do not like having someone read to me and struggle to pay attention in those scenarios. For listening at church or to a lecture, I have to take notes to remember anything that was said. I've always been very good at spelling because I can 'see' the word in my head.

((((Hugs)))) I also have fibro and completely understand.....hope you keep feeling better. It is hard.

Italy or France would be my top choices.

I have stick straight, fine hair, too. I've had pixies many times and love them, and spent most of my 20's with one. I did always wear at least a little makeup and earrings, which I do normally anyway. Grew it out after having kids, quitting work and not being able to get a trim every 3 weeks or so. I'm also a little too chubby currently that I don't think it would be flattering. Now have a mid-jaw length, slightly inverted bob. No problems with it being in my face. I like the current length because it's short, but doesn't 'look' short and adds volume.

It's been so interesting to hear all of your experiences.....if only we all lived near each other, we'd have a great homeschool group! :-)

Agree with pp that rest during a flare up is really important. I know it's hard to rest when it's your foot, but try to reduce activity until it heals. As previous posters also said, Keen shoes with my orthotics, or Asics with my orthotics really help prevent it.

I did a 'for fun' co-op class with that age group using the Magic School Bus DVDs and corresponding lesson plans/experiments on Scholastic.com. We covered lots of different topics, did a lot of experiments, and had a lot of fun. :)

I'm not a doctor but have flare ups of plantar fasciitis every once in awhile, and it does sound like what you're describing. I just got over a flare up after increasing my exercise too much, too soon. For me what has worked is icing, stretching calves and hamstrings and wearing a supportive shoe all day....not going barefoot at all while it's irritated. I also have both custom orthotics and Superfeet orthotics that help prevent it from getting flared up.( I have no arch in my foot at all and severe over pronation that caused my plantar fasciitis originally). I would recommend a podiatrist if it's not improving with home measures of rest, ice, stretching, etc.

nm

nm

Windows Surface with the keyboard?

I'm sorry for your dd. Although, I did attend public school and had the same thing happen with my neighborhood/church friend when I was in kindergarten, and she lived directly behind us. We've had mostly an opposite experience making friends. We've had much more trouble with other homeschoolers, and being left out by them. My dc's closest friends attend ps. Most live in our neighborhood, and two attend our church. They have homeschool 'friends' we see at co-op and other activities, but except for one boy, we are never included in any outside activities...I'm assuming because we don't attend the same church most of them attend and are just forgotten.

nm

I had mono in my early twenties. Sore throat, swollen glands and fever the first week or so. The worst part of it for me was the overwhelming tiredness. I missed two weeks of work, and slept probably 16-20 hours per day. It is the fatigue I remember most....it's really indescribable. The first couple weeks were the worst, but I did fatigue easily for months afterwards. No long term effects though.

I don't know about the legal/contract part of it, and it doesn't sound like the ortho was completely out if line....but, no, not all orthos are like that. Ours gave me a written treatment plan before my ds started and has always been responsive to questions or concerns from either myself or ds. But, I think it's really more of a personality if the ortho thing. My ds has sensory issues and the beginning of treatment was difficult. Spacers do hurt--(I remember my spacers hurting more than braces) ortho treatment in general is uncomfortable. I would give regular doses of ibuprofen before a visit and for a day or so after. He will also get somewhat used to the soreness over time. I don't think you've necessarily made a mistake choosing this ortho....hope it gets easier for your son. :)

I've also started having palpitations (racing heartbeat) over the last 6 months or so (I'm 41). Mine are mostly during PMS week and happen randomly. Saw the cardiologist who did EKG (which looked perfect, no PVC's or any abnormal rhythms) and did a stress test (which also looked good). I also deal with pretty severe anxiety during PMS, so I think it may actually be a flare up of the anxiety that triggers the racing heart. Dr. said I didn't need to worry about them, but if it's causing me more anxiety, he would give me a very, very low dose of beta blocker to try. My blood pressure is normally pretty low, so he only gave me 6 mg atenolol/day. I've been taking it for a little over a month, and the dose is so low that I haven't noticed any side effects--except it has stopped the palpitations and significantly reduced my anxiety. I was very hesitant to try the beta blocker, but now I only regret not trying it sooner.

I have both a Keurig and a Brewstation. Usually, dh and I only drink one cup each per day, but I still start to feel guilty buying the K-cups. So, usually, every few months, I bring the Brewstation back in an use it for awhile (until I want the convenience of the Keurig again.:-) ) That said, I do love the Brewstation for a regular coffee maker.

Dd is almost 9. She wears a size 10 in clothes, and 3 in shoes.

Boy, 6 lbs 3oz born at 35 weeks. Girl, 8 lbs, 2 oz born at 38 weeks. I'm guessing they would have been similar if my son wasn't born earlier.

I play the piano professionally, so my children both have had piano lessons from me . Dd likes piano and is continuing lessons, but ds didn't enjoy piano. It was important to me that he continue with an instrument. He chose drums. Not my first choice, but we found him an excellent teacher, he's enjoys playing, and I love having a drum set in my living room! :huh: If your ds is interested in mandolin, I don't think it would be unreasonable to try it, and I would think you could find a teacher fairly easy. It's not that unusual of an instrument. Edited to fix spelling.

Co-op- No Support group- Yes