I don't think many people realize how much work it takes on the part of the parent to successfully homeschool older kids and teens. When kiddo was 6, homeschooling was easy. The focus of our time was mostly the social stuff, with an hour-ish of guided lessons. I think that is fine when the kids are wee ones, assuming you're also talking with your kids, reading them a bedtime story every day, giving them good quality games and shows to watch. I've heard homeschool parents of littles say "Life is learning!". Yes, that's true, but the way the kids engage with learning needs to shift as they get older. Unschooling is lovely IF you have curious, motivated kids and IF the parents have enough resources to facilitate that type of education. It's easy to do when they are little. It's a lot harder when they are older. Unfortunately, I see a lot of people that claim to unschool while doing absolutely zero to help their kids learn anything. I was asked to help a family of 3 older "kids" that had received utterly no education beyond Kahn Academy in high school. Like, nothing. The kids are 20, 18, and 16. They "homeschooled" in a zero regulation state. Mom never wrote up a transcript, never documented anything they did. She told them to print out a diploma when they turned 18 and consider themselves graduates. Like, how do you begin to fix this? The kids want to attend college and join the military, and there is no cheap, fast, and easy way forward with that, which seems to be what the family wants. 😞

@Not_a_Number Alas, I did hear someone suggest it, (and it was in that "academic" group, too).

But as you say, you've taught older kids, so you have some experience trying to cram ideas into their heads. 😉 That's different than the pre-K mom that suggested a sticker chart to motivate a sulky 14 year old. Like, clearly, this woman has does not yet have children over the age of 5.

I have a friend that is a transplant recipient, has several significant autoimmune diseases, and is covid positive. (She got it via her older child, who was exposed at work). So far, all her symptoms have been kind of mild. She feels obviously sick with fever, headache, body aches, but no respiratory stuff at all. You'd expect with her issues that covid would be catastrophic. Yet...it hasn't been. And then there's my son's outschool instructor, who's been sick with covid since November. She'll be fine for a week or two, then cancel class because she's feverish and has gi issues. Back and forth, back and forth with it.

I find out about sales on estatesales.net. You can search by zipcode. Some of the listings will be for auctions and others are for more typical estate sales that are held at a house. Auctions are fun to attend. It's not all high end, expensive stuff at the auctions, either. I'm sure it varies by area, but most sales I've been to by me are auctions of regular household items. I've gotten some great stuff for very little that way.

Oh, I'm so sorry. 😞 I'm in Texas, and yes, it's a cold, grey, rainy day. Can you snuggle in with a blanket and something soothing today? Tv? Movie? Book? Cute pet?

I have a set of all white dishes that I got at an estate sale for $7: Oneida Stoneware in White Wicker. They are kind of heavy, but for $7 I couldn't complain. Estate sales are sometimes a budget friendly option for dishes. They are heavy and not in high demand because everyone already has every day dishes at home, so they are usually priced very cheap. The only exception to that is Corelle. Everyone wants Corelle, lol. (I do, too. I wish I had not left my Corelle behind with my ex).

Wow.

Am I the only person that thought "Flipping the bird" when considering the most appropriate bird for 2020? No? I'll see myself out...

Rapid covid tests are also less reliable than the pcr test. Maybe it's not covid? Whatever it is, it sounds like she needs medical attention right now.

Interesting. DH has always insisted on driving a pickup. They weren't cheap 10 years ago, either. Tires can easily cost $1000. An oil change was close to $100 every time. Routine maintenance for the truck was always some big production involving lots of money.

It has definitely caused tension between me and one parent. I pay my bills, I have never been arrested or in jail, I vote, I volunteer, I served my country, bought a house, have a kid, got married, and have had paid jobs that support me. Yet...disappointment from the parents because I didn't "make something" of myself (oddly, the same parents that were opposed to me becoming a scientist!). It's a game I can't win, so I have stopped playing.

Yeah, that quiz was weird. Whomever developed it must not have priced pick up trucks recently. They aren't exactly a frugal choice.

That's what I was thinking. Everyone gets defensive of the people they love that don't have a degree. Instead of taking a "different strokes for different folks" approach, there's a tendency to poke holes in other other person's plan. I don't even have a 4 year degree, lol. I have 2 A.A.S. degrees. Interestingly, it makes me the most educated woman on one side of my family (so I get bad attitude about my "Fancy" college learning) and looked down on by the other side of my family ("What a shame she never made anything of herself...all she has is basically vo-tech training!"). I can't win, lol.

I know of a couple of parents like this, but they were not good, loving parents.

I don't assume that everyone with a degree is necessarily intelligent or well educated. I don't assume that everyone who lacks a degree is dumb or uneducated, either. This is the sort of discussion that develops whenever I mention I think DS12 will likely go to college. Someone points out the people they know that are intelligent, well-educated, but lack a degree. Or I get cautioned to not worship at the altar of higher education. Ok? I won't? I don't think I'm doing that. If kiddo wanted to become an electrician or a barber, I'd be just as supportive and enthusiastic about it as a path that led to college.

Don't over think it. If they ask "So what's new?", I think it would be weird to hold back something like "We are fixing up the house" or "We just got a new car! I am so excited!" Giving an update on your life isn't necessarily bragging.

For next time, then. 🙂 And you know there will always be a next time with some folks. 😉

"Oh, Mr. so-and-so! It's Christmas! Let's talk about something more joyful!" When my uncle drones in about unpleasant topics, I say "Uncle, we see each other so rarely! Let's talk about something happy instead!"

I have seen Mike Rowe, yes. I know that a degree won't guarantee anything. I just have a kid that is very likely to go into a field that will require a degree. My kid is only 12 and hasn't sorted out what he wants to do later in life, but I suspect he'll end up an accountant, an actuary, a data scientist, or something like that. Or maybe even a math teacher, lol. (I think it's funny that the homeschooled kid could end up a math teacher, but he's really good at explaining concepts!) He's not a trade-school type of kid at all. When DH goes on a rant about "university kids who do nothing but party", I say "Yeah, I hear you. That is a big waste of money. If we think all he wants from college is to party party party, then he can pick up the tab for that and deal with the consequences. Or, he can wait a year or two until he's ready to buckle down, and THEN we can help him pay for it". It's really just envy on DH's part. He didn't go to college because he became a parent at a very young age and needed to get to work to support a family. His life was hard in a lot of ways then, and he has some...feelings...about that period of his life. It's understandable. At the same time, he can't dump all these feelings on kiddo. Some people aren't suited for college or don't need it. But there are still some people that *do* want and need college to move them along their path in life. I also admit that I am defensive about this topic. I wanted to be an archeologist or paleontologist. My parents shot that down and I ended up studying music at a school I did not want to attend. I still wish I could be a paleontologist or archeologist, but at 48, that ship has sailed. It is what it is. I'm not going to allow anyone to railroad kiddo into a career he doesn't want simply to make his parents feel better about their regrets.

My DH is a reverse snob when it comes to college education. He speaks very negatively of people with college degrees. They are "out of touch" and "spoiled", and has a lot of unfavorable opinions about people who went to college right out of high school. Lots of comments that having a degree in XYZ doesn't mean you actually know how to do anything. It blows my mind because it's so reminiscent of how my FIL would trash-talk DHs career interests as a kid. DH has done well for himself with a GED, but he won't acknowledge that he could have had an easier path to walk if he'd had a 2 or 4 year degree. He says "Well, if they won't even consider me because I don't have a degree, despite having X years of experience, then I wouldn't want to work for them anyway!" It makes for some challenging conversations when I discuss future education goals for our son. 😕

The tomatoes are Tiny Tim's and self pollinate. I keep a small fan blowing on them, just in case that helps with pollination, but I probably don't need to do it.

I have that reaction, too. The people that call it that are definitely jokey about it. Like "Ha ha, I can't tell whether I'm hung over or have The 'Rona!". 😠

Because the people that have the ability to make improved maternity leave a reality have enough money that needing paid time off is irrelevant, so it's never a priority.

I forgot about this. This has been a huge issue for us. I have basically had to hassle and nag skilled tradespeople when I've needed work because no one wants to come out this way. It took 6 months to get the propane company to come out and pick up the tank that we no longer wanted. It's not like it's THAT far; about 25 minutes to the big, big suburb with lots of plumbers, electricians, roofers, etc. But nope; no one wants to drive "all that way" when they could take a job that is 5 or 10 minutes from their home.