Thanks MotherGoose. I am not looking to change anything right now. A pharmacist mentioned taking an extra estrogen pill to stop the bleeding. Wonder if that would work? Hmmm.

I started on Sprintec a few months ago due to severe heavy bleeding - in a 21 day cycle - and anemia. All was well - really well - until I took it 15 hours late once. As expected, I bled for three weeks - heavily (although not nearly as heavy as before). I went through two menstrual cups a day (large size - Lunette). I stopped bleeding for five days and then started spotting for three more weeks. A few days ago, it started getting heavy again. My midwife just said she is not surprised. I am getting tired of this, but I am getting married in three weeks and don't want to switch for fear of other unknown - even worse - side effects. Is there anything I can do to stop this? I have taken that pill at the same time every single night, except for that one time. Also - I wore the cup for three weeks straight - day and night and now my floor muscles are weak and I am leaking in my pants sometimes. Could the cup have that affect? Sigh. I am a wreck. I am too old for this nonsense. Advice?

When all 8 of us are here, we have a couple kids sleep on couches. Our family room has ceiling to floor curtains that close it off from the only other common area. Our house is one floor and very small. I understand what you mean about feeling awful about not being able to provide enough space for your children. I feel it. I evaluate homeschoolers and, last year, one family left exclaiming how HUGE our house was. It's all relative! Enjoy your family. I recall someone saying about large families, "If you think my hands are full, you should see my heart." Maybe we can just swap in the word house instead of hands! ETA: I am currently in my son's room, because one of the girls needs to use the computer in our bedroom. I have had such a full, giving day and all I want is to shower and be on the laptop in MY bed, alone. But, alas....

DD watched her Charlotte Perkins Gilman lecture the other day and immediately asked for more. It's the end of her school year, so I, too, am planning to do it next year. Thanks, Rose, for your goodreads page and your updated list. At this very moment, though, she is watching the first lecture as a companion to The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, which had already been planned! So glad I found this course! I'll also be planning a Women's Lit study for this dd. I did one last year with my DSD and it was fabulous. Just another idea to throw out there. Hee hee!

Thanks, Scoutermom, for taking the time to be invested in our kids!

This is a fabulous thread. :001_wub:

Thank you for this thread! I signed dd14 up last week. I have heard nothing but great reviews. DD is excited!

Wow. Never thought to use the extra tests as practice. Brilliant.

Oh Rose, thank you! I remember starting a thread a while ago about the ability to think well in order to write well. She is now available to really start thinking well. She likes the look of Help for High School. She could start that and do the intro EE class in the fall. Re: GC Utopian and Dystopian course. We just watched a lecture yesterday about Charlotte Perkins Gilman! I, too, like the instructor. DD wanted to keep going. But, alas, we don't have time. Speaking of time, knowing that I am likely going to do English, except for writing instruction, really frees up any stress in getting things done in the next five weeks. There are things that really work well with dd and I'd hate to give them up for grammar worksheets and reading books that have already been read. I think she is ready to take ownership of her education. Originally, I was thinking she would just do better with leaving me out of the picture. But, by the same token, she would have to leave herself out of the picture. Other than riding a lot this summer, DD is attending a Social Justice Camp that she is totally stoked about! Who knows if that changes what we do in the fall.

DD14's reading and rhetoric skills are really starting to develop, at the same time she is developing emotionally. She is finally happy and strong - the reason I brought her home. She wants to challenge herself, but, unfortunately it is coming at the end of the school year and we have quite the busy summer. She is already doing DO Geometry over the summer, because she wants to. I originally signed her up for Blue Tent English Intro to Lit and Comp. I thought the structure and interaction and gentle guiding would be good. She doesn't need the grammar or vocab (she loves MCT vocab and has had plenty of grammar this year in preparation for Lukeion Latin in the fall). Then she asked for more Sue Fisher from Lukeion. Dr. Fisher has a lit course, Muse, which seems fun on one hand, but there is a ton of reading of Greek works. I am afraid it will kill dd's newfound love of reading. She is not advanced; she is just playing catch up. This week, she has read and analyzed A Modest Proposal and Yellow Wallpaper, and began Hound of Baskervilles and Pride and Prejudice. She loves Great Courses' Analysis and Critique by Armstrong. She is also watching Great Courses' How to Read and Understand Shakespeare. We are halfway through Writing with a Thesis; she is enjoying that. She is also going through Lively Art of Writing and does NOT like it. She is exploding. But now I don't know how to handle next year. Do I stick with Blue Tent? Or do I spend the time exposing her to more difficult works? I love the idea of her interacting with others, discussing with others, developing a viewpoint (WTMA's Socratic Discussion?) AND getting that writing instruction in there. She wants a women's lit study and a dystopian study. I can handle all of that. But her writing. Oh boy. That I would need to outsource with an excellent, secular teacher or class, at least until she is less resistant. I know I'm rambling. I am desperately looking for thoughts. ETA: Would this work? WTMA's Socratic Discussion, Bravewriter's Expository Essay and the rest made by me?

Welcome to the board, Lizzytra! I love your pic! :thumbup1: DD is reading The Hound of the Baskervilles this week.

I think Nan called it, "To all of you with 8th graders..." Or am I mixing it up with something else? It included "other" skills that our homeschooled kids miss out on! I just recall it being quite funny and enlightening and true! And Lisa - you are welcome to visit any time you'd like. Or, if there are horses in your area, she'd happily visit you. She came home for the emotional stability and, just in the last month, has regained her strength and positivity. I have my little girl back! And...this has created the emotional space needed to learn. She is starting to kick butt. Another thread idea, Nan. How freeing up that emotional space makes one ready to learn. These teenagers go through so much doubt and pain, we forget to be gentle in their "recovery". But, once they do, yowza! Watch out world!

Look at old posts from Rose (Chrysalis Academy). I seem to recall that she used it with a middle schooler and didn't find it too inspiring.

Wasn't there a Nan thread that listed all of the skills we needed to teach our homeschooling kids? I recall it being enlightening and funny! That's the one I was thinking about this week - I need it for my rising 9th grader.

I was just thinking about those days and those threads. Lisa - you asked the questions, Nan supplied the anecdotes and Jackie offered the out of the box ideas. And so many brilliant others contributed in their own ways.

Just put it into my cart! Exactly what I wanted. I am just beginning to teach dd how to read closely, so this will be perfect! Thank you!

You know the feeling? Trying to cram things in that just couldn't fit? I'd love to do a crash course unit on poetry or maybe Emily Dickinson only. She has done tons of Poe. Hey yeah! We've done poetry! Is there something a bit structured out there for me? I want dd14 to see the beauty, not memorize terms.

Hugs to OP and others going through this. Thinking of you all.

And here's the thing. She is in the midst of reinventing herself. She had NO idea she had it in her to be captivating and worthy, because, in comparison to many, she didn't have all of those impressive ECs. That interview - done at a school that wasn't a dream school, early in her college search - did exactly what I had hoped...made her believe in herself. That is how I contribute. I scheme a bit; I plant ideas in their heads. Then, when their own roots take hold, they bloom.

Alicia - I read that book 5-6 years ago, before my oldest went off to college. It didn't help me guide my kids, as they are very self-guided, but I read the book with interest. Because you are looking for specific ideas, here is a taste of what my older kids did and what my other kids are doing. DS1 - owned website design business, then worked for local company, won design contests (not just free, but made tons of money). Designed opencourseware, obsessed with Social Entrepreneurship, summer music camps, organized/hosted TedX event; then Ted organization sent him to Qatar for free - for a conference. Lots of self-educating through books and online. Volleyball - travel and high school. DS2 - Baseball, baseball, baseball. All year round; all over country. Travel team and high school. Involved in a couple of clubs and tv production studio at ps. Worked at local grocery store from the time he could legally work (15 1/2 or 16 ). DS3 - Involved in Rubik's Cube world - youtube channel, competitions, interviews, sponsorships (much of it free). Summer in Japan through YFU (full scholarship). Summer astronomy (paid) and math camps (free). Classes at local ivy league school (free). Lots of self-educating through MIT Opencourseware and EdX and books. DSD (rising senior) - Full-time ballet dancer until January. Returned to PS. Playing catch up with adjusting to school, studying for SATs. Applied to summer writing program. I suggested spending the summer developing a writing portfolio or starting a blog. Not sure if my ideas will take hold. She self-educates on social justice issues. DD (rising freshman) - Rides horses in shows and works at the barn (for free) at least 10-15 hours a week. Will attend a week-long, overnight social justice camp in Massachusetts (received financial aid). Will attend riding camp rest of summer. Will begin geometry over the summer. Obviously, they have all had different paths, different interests. They lead the way, but sometimes they need an idea or a nudge in a direction. For instance, I found out that the TED organization started having TedX events and found a local one to attend with my son. He took it from there. I had a friend whose father is a math professor, so I made sure to bring it up in conversation. I told my dd to pick three new things to try last summer (she was feeling lost) - and first was horseback riding; the rest is history. If I see an article about a current interest, I pass it on. I discuss with them. I look for opportunities. I don't "package" my kids, but I get just as excited as they do in pursuing their passions. Also - each school is looking to fill create a diverse community, and kids fill a sort of quota, whether that be a boy or a kid from Alabama or a kid who rides a unicycle while juggling cans of corn. Who knows how they make their selections - maybe it depends on that particular admissions counselor and their own biases and the type of day they're having. I think the essay can have a great effect in certain schools. An interview can, too. DSD and I visited a lot of schools last month. Much to her dismay, I set up an interview at Wooster. She had never done an interview. She is painfully shy in public, but remarkably articulate; other than dancing, which she doesn't do at all anymore, she has no ECs. She gave me a look of fear as she walked into the admissions person's office. I texted her dad, saying I may or may not have made a huge mistake, since she was caught off guard. At Wooster, they bring the parent in at the end of the interview. They were both all smiles. He called her extraordinary. Apparently, she got started on her social justice passion and couldn't stop. She even wove in references to Swift's Modest Proposal! The point is...that interviews can reveal something about a child who doesn't seem to have a lot going on. The key is to be authentic. If your kids are doing that, finding a school will be no problem.

There are a lot of different kinds of private schools. There are only a few which rank in the exclusive niche with a high percentage going to top tier colleges. These schools cost $60,000 around here. And there are only a few. At those schools, the GC makes a difference. Most of the other private schools and public schools have GCs with limited scope and knowledge. I mean, shouldn't a good college counselor consider finances first and foremost? That would involve revealing discussions with parents. That is definitely out of the scope for most GCs. And think about it, most GCs have other roles - scheduling and counseling kids in emotional ways etc. They have way too much on their plate.

You did it, Nan! But, of course, we knew you (and he) would. Big congrats!

Oh, I like the idea of a tutor over the summer. She can't fit any into her ps schedule. She is allowed to take an outside class that will be a pass/fail on her transcript, but the cc course at her evel starts at the end of May, when she still has ps and SAT studying to do. I'll reach out to Swimmermom. Thanks for letting me know.

Kinsa, that's a good idea to look into the specific schools. All are liberal arts colleges, so they tend to be more holistic in their reviewing of applications. Thank you!

DSD returned to PS in January after pursuing ballet full time. It is been quite the struggle, but she on her way! I am so very proud of what she has learned about herself through all of this. She is currently a junior, with all As (she worked very hard to bring those up), and is preparing to improve her SAT scores. She is finally embracing her new identity and focusing on academics. Because she is playing catch-up, she had no room in her schedule for Spanish 3 this year. Her favorite colleges will want to see at least 3 years. Her senior year schedule is packed with 3 APs and Calc. She is required to do ps electives to graduate. We thought we could squeeze in a CC Spanish class in the summer, but it won't fit in her schedule. Is there an alternative to taking a class? Is there something that I am not considering? SAT Subject test? From past experience, she is not sure if self-studying is best for her. Thoughts?