My dd grew the most when she was in a class with lots of peer review. They seemed to take criticism better from each other rather than from the adults and there was a lot of improvement. Of course, there was an adult leading and guiding the class but I can't believe how far she has come. She is now in a different school and seeks out clubs in her high school where she can peer review and get their feedback. It really helps her. Is there maybe a homeschool class or club she could join, or you could start, that could provide it?

I would have, wrongly apparently, assumed a home school co op class would be more welcoming. I'm starting to feel bad for the mom and think maybe she left off the allergy because this is what she faces if she includes it. She has found a therapy that is working for her child. She feels he understands his allergy and he is safe enough to do the class. The idea that it is just too hard to make a few allowances for him to be included seems harsh. It can be done. Just admit it's not something you want to do and move on. Please make it clear in the future that those with allergies will not be accommodated, though, instead of having them fill out a form that you will turn down anyway.

Yes! I watched my aunt pull a boy from the bottom of a pool once. There were only five kids and two adults in the large pool and it was in the middle of the day. No one heard or saw him. Luckily, she saved him. I also once pulled a small girl out of the deep end and back into the shallow water as she was reaching out for help. Her mom was close enough to be upset and worried that I was touching her child but didn't at all notice the girl was having trouble and bobbing up and down.

I agree with you. My dds aren't strong swimmers (despite living ten years in FL and being in the pool and ocean all.the.time.). It's like some weird genetic thing they got from their dad and no matter how hard I try they just can't swim well at all. I only let them go to a few swim parties or parks and that was only due to the small number of people there and the adults involved.

I have my first one coming up on sixteen and it will be a big deal because she will get her learner's permit that day. So, for us it will still be about driving (she will not have ever driven before then) but it won't be the freedom of being able to drive on her own. She's still excited, though. We will probably do the same thing for youngest and not do formal driver's ed/permit at fifteen and wait for license till 16 and 9 months. It's only a three month difference if we did the driver's ed.

Every shower I've been to had only been one of many the bride is having. Gifts are pretty much all off the registry and were a mix of big and small. If I attended the wedding, I didn't take another gift. Most had already received everything from the registry so the only thing left was cash. I had zero showers so there were lots of gifts brought to the wedding, which made it difficult since we lived 1000 miles away from where we were married.

They don't need to be gay to avoid tension. I'm not gay but still had close relationships with boys without sexual tension. I don't like the idea that boys and girls can't be friends without tension. It does happen and it's okay.

My best friend and I did. It wasn't any different as we didn't view each other that way. I understand it even more now that I have a teen dd who is gay. She still has her friends who are girls that she can sleepover and hang out with. She has a girl here and there that she will refuse to sleep over with because she is interested and it is awkward.

This reminded me of my high school years and how stupid I thought adults were. I had more guy friends than girls. We had many sleepovers that included many boys and girls. Parents would freak when they found us out. There was absolutely nothing going on, though. I had many an awesome night hanging out with my friends all night and nothing ever went on. Even teens are quite capable of just being friends. My dds are 13 and 15 and I wouldn't rule this situation out. I hope I would be more open than my parents. ETA: There were definitely situations of siblings having sleepovers of opposite sex where we all hung out. I didn't know that was a big deal as it was just normal where I grew up. I was one of four close in age with my siblings and we all had sleepovers and parties. No one ever made a big deal about it.

Has anyone asked mom if she would like to participate in the class as well? Is she expected to volunteer her time for her child to participate in the co op and her class is the same time as the food class? I wouldn't want to exclude the student and think his mom didn't know best. I can understand being apprehensive but I would ask his caregiver to help with the class before I excluded him completely.

I was pulled over once for no reason. I was only 16, though, and the cop told me to get into his patrol car. When my family found out, they flipped. It wasn't for safety reasons because the cop left my little brother sitting in the front seat of my car. I only received a warning and he didn't do anything, but I was told after that to never get into their car. Some of my family went to the local station and had a chat and I was told I wouldn't have to worry about that particular officer again. I was pulled over another time but only given a warning as well. My driver's license and registration had expired but still no ticket. I've actually never received a ticket.

I'm loving our new public school schedule. They get a two week fall break, a two week winter break, and a two week spring break. Then, they have two months off for summer. Basically, they get a break at the end of every grading period. I was worried they would have trouble getting back into the swing of things after their fall break but it actually seems to have helped them refresh and continue on. If we ever homeschool again, I think I will add in the same types of breaks.

I was horrible with shots as a kid but neither of mine have ever had issues. I've never held them down and always let them look. Mine did become resistant when certain doctors wanted them to be held, or lay down, and look away. Once I said let them be, they were okay.

I honestly don't get your thinking here. I want my children willing to help with the little things as well the big things. I've found they're more willing to help with big things if they've practiced with those little things first. They also know, and have experienced, that things they may perceive as little are quite big to someone else. The idea that they should only feel obligated to help with something they deem important isn't something I want to instill in them. ETA: An example would be their experience at a local food bank. The children coming there needed food above all else. One little girl was there and it was her birthday. A worker found some gummy bears and gave them to her. She lit up. It seemed so small a thing but it meant something big to her. My dds remember that and try to help even with those little things.

Huh. I think one of the most amazing things about my mother, a Christian, was her ability to forgive the teen who took my dad and brother's lives (car accident). She went to him, held his hand, and told him it was ok. She was worried about him and his well being. I'm glad she showed so much forgiveness for an accident and didn't want, or push, for his life to be ruined. He's an amazing man today who is a youth director for his local church and is able to help many. I hope to be her someday and I try to parent my children with that same spirit.

Yet, so far. Not anywhere near as close a relationship as that of parent and child.

Yes, and this is why I'm having such a reaction to it and I'm not even LDS. It's absolutely hideous to think some are moving in a direction which says they must kick out and reject their own children. I don't get how the LDS leaders say once you hit 18 you must disavow and move out of your parent's home if they are homosexual and not take it a step further to affect parents of homosexual children. Why is there only talk so far of one and not the other. What happens to parents who allow their homosexual children to continue living in their homes?

We're Catholic. My dd is gay. The only opposition she has with the church is in regards to same sex relationships. She agrees with them on pretty much everything else. She loves the church. You don't honestly think you know what every family believes or teaches do you? How are offenses handled that aren't related to marriage? Are those children also not allowed to be baptized or are they given a pass because...?

If this is truly the case, then no minor should be allowed to be baptized. If this is the stance they are taking, then maybe no child in LDS should be allowed to be baptized until they are legally an adult.

We're Catholic and dd is gay. I'm not expected to shun her and kick her out at 18. I don't get this at all.

Thank you! It worked.

Or they can work out at the gym regularly (and be active in their daily lives) and volunteer in positions that have them conversing with others. I honestly feel my dds are getting more out of volunteering than I ever did with working. My dds definitely have more contact and conversations with diverse groups of people while they volunteer than they would working in the local grocery store or fast food/restaurant place.

I also want to point out that I think school and academics are a lot different today than when I was in school and able to work. Both of mine are in school from 7:30am-3pm, which means they are out of the house from 6:50am-3:30pm. Oldest, a sophomore, is slammed with homework. She's had two hours of homework each night for the last two nights for only one class (AP World History). When you add in her other homework, showering, exercising (she needs due to anxiety), eating, and sleeping there is no time for a job during the week. There are none around here I know of that allow Saturdays only. So, volunteering makes the most sense. When I was in high school, I was able to work and participate in sports. I never had as much homework to do as both of mine do today. Dh had the same experience in a school on the other side of the country.

Our music teachers have all been through a larger business and have taken credit/debit. Our gym is automatically drafted from our bank account. We don't use babysitters anymore but we always paid cash. We've never used tutors.

Every one we've done business with takes credit cards. We recently had to have the glass on a patio door replaced. It was kind of an emergency with the glass being broken and I had to take the first person who could get there that day and even they took credit.