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PinkTulip

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Everything posted by PinkTulip

  1. I have four boys, ages 12, 10, 8, and 6. I figure that one of my jobs as a mom is to teach them how to work, and not just assume that those are "women's jobs." Plus, in my house, if it's only the females who do anything, that would be only me! We have a chore chart that is simply divided. Six people, working six days (not on Sunday), doing six different chores. These include: cleaning the toilets, doing the breakfast dishes, wiping the kitchen and bathroom countertops, vacuuming the living/dining room, dusting the living/dining room, and sweeping the kitchen floor. I'm not so focused on getting the job perfect, but more learning each skill with competence. I've tried to get a variety enough that one could clean an entire house with these skills. (Wiping, washing, sweeping, dusting, vacuuming, etc.) In addition to the chores, each boy is responsible for keeping his room picked up, making his bed, and putting his clean clothes away. When I was a child, the rule was that if you were tall enough to reach the washing machine knobs, you were old enough to do your own laundry.
  2. Loved the opening ceremonies! Loved the poem (thanks for the text!), love everything about the Olympics! I live in Salt Lake City and it makes me nostalgic for when the Olympics were here 8 years ago (has it been that long?!) DH and I got to go to the closing ceremonies then, and it was unbelievable. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience! I'm so excited to watch as much as I can over the next 16 days - I just love everything about it! As the Visa commercial says, "GO WORLD!" (and yeah for Vancouver - well done!)
  3. One of my greatest joys in homeschooling comes in the afternoons, from about 3 p.m. to dinner time. Rather than trying to balance lots of homework, spelling words, math facts, and pointless "parent-project" assignments, with all of the stuff like scouts, piano lessons, and sports, all while trying to figure out what to make and then prepare for dinner, things are so much more relaxed around here. We do a lot more reading, playing board games, and spending time just being a kid, instead of trying to squeeze everything into such a short period of time. I also love that we are able to eat dinner together as a family every night, and reconnect with each other daily.
  4. Congratulations on the new job - what a relief after 7 months of looking! I live in Salt Lake City, and can hopefully answer some of your questions: * My kids are dual enrolled in the Granite School District. Some are there full-time, and some are at home for the morning and then go back to school in the afternoon. Utah state law allows for dual enrollment, but it's really up to the principal of each school for how flexible they really will be with you. At my kids' school, the whole school has reading and math at the same time every day, so it's easy to dual enroll. * If I were moving to Salt Lake City to work at the University of Utah, I would be looking for housing in: The Avenues, Sugarhouse, or anywhere east of 7th east / 13th east, and from the University to about 4500 or 6200 south. Much further than that, you are looking at 20-30+ minute commute to the University. Fortunately, those areas also encompass some of the best school districts in the state: Salt Lake, Granite, and the new Canyons district. Canyons used to be part of Jordan, but it was an enormous district and two years ago, voters voted to split the district. Jordan is now more on the west side of I-15, and Canyons is on the east side. * For 9th grade PS, I would send my child either to West High School (SLC district), or Wasatch, Churchill, or Olympus Jr. High (Granite). In the Granite School District, 9th grade is still junior high. In SLC district, high school is 9-12. In SLC district, I would pretty much not choose any other high school - East (High School Musical filmed there) or Highland. I graduated from Highland, and it used to be great, but both Highland and East are not the top, safe schools that they used to be. I'm not sure about the good 9th grade schools in Canyons, but we used to live in the area and many of our neighbors carpooled into Churchill, because the middle schools (incl. 9th grade, I think) in Canyons are horrible: Butler, Albion, etc. * Other top high schools (10-12th), would be Skyline, Olympus, (Granite) and Brighton (Canyons). They generally have the highest test scores in the Salt Lake area. * I'm not sure how homeschooling in Davis County is, because I *think* that each district sets its own policy on what they need. In Granite district, I just send in an affidavit saying that I will teach my children the core subjects for the required number of hours. They sign it and send a copy back, and you're good. * I'm not sure about charter schools that give you educational funds, but hopefully someone else can help you there. If you do decide on a regular charter school, some that I know have great reputations would be: American Preparatory Academy, Legacy Prep (in Davis County), Canyon Rim, and AMES (Academy of Math, Engineering, and Science). Feel free to PM me if I can help you with anything else!
  5. My son was 27 months and still had not said any meaningful words, like mom, ball, etc. He clearly understood everything we said, but was not speaking. We had been through speech therapy with his older brother, and had an appointment for later in the month for the initial evaluation to get started on that route. One night we were having a family barbeque, with limeade to drink. My 27 month old came up to me, holding a cup and said his first word(s) ever: "More ... lime ... juice ... please ... mom?" He is now 8, has been evaluated and found to be profoundly gifted in several areas. I think for those first two years, he was just processing everything around him. I wouldn't worry yet at 13 months, but like others said, check with your ped.
  6. In Utah, the place names that distinguish locals from visitors are: Tooele (Two-ILL-uh) and Alta (the ski resort) East coasters come in and say they're going to ALL-tuh, but locals pronounce it AL-tuh :001_smile:
  7. Congratulations!:grouphug: I am so happy for your blessed news! Praying that everything continues to go well.:)
  8. For me, it's all about having choices. In my family, not only was going to college not optional, but going to graduate school was not optional either. I have a law degree, and worked in a large firm for several years before having children. Once my oldest son was born, I made the conscious choice to forego the financial opportunities that the law firm life gave me, because for me, being there full-time for my children while they are growing up is more important. Over the years, I have done some legal work here and there as time permitted, just to keep my knowledge current. When my youngest starts high school, I will probably ease back into the workplace, but keeping in mind that my kids are my highest priority. I look at it like this: I'm not a SAHM because I have nothing else to do, but I am a SAHM because, although I had something great to do, I have consciously chosen the most important thing in my life to do instead. I feel like I have set the example for my children, and expect them to go both to college and to graduate school. On the tombstone of my great-great-great-grandfather: "Learn thy lessons well, education is thy life." This is pretty much the philosophy of my family for generations: learning is a life-long project, not an attainable goal to check off.
  9. I don't know specific answers to your questions, but http://forums.studentdoctor.net/index.php is to a great group of forums where a lot of your questions could be answered. (My boys want to be dentists, so I have browsed the dental forums)
  10. Great suggestions - thanks for everyone's input! We will definitely be checking into Poplar Forest - it sounds really neat!
  11. We're super-strict around here: * We don't have cable, never had. No plans to ever get it. * My kids watch about 30 minutes of TV a day, only PBS shows. But most days, they don't watch any at all. (Although my DS10 was mad at me last night because Nova wasn't over yet when it was his bedtime). * No video games in any way, shape, or form. No DS, no Wii, etc. * My 12 yo son is convinced he is the only 6th grader on the planet that doesn't have a cell phone. (He'll probably get one this summer before he starts PS Jr. High) * We have a strict bedtime of 8:00 quiet reading with lights out at 8:30, except for nights when my 12 year old has scouts. He showers and goes to bed as soon as he gets home. * My kids get about 30 minutes a week for computer time, only on websites that are pre-approved by mom & dad. None of them have email accounts, let alone facebook, etc. Having written all that, we sound downright archaic! My four boys spend the vast majority of their free time time playing with each other: Playmobil, legos, or outside. We are looking for ways to gently move ourselves into the 21st century, without compromising our priorities for our family, i.e. we just got a new computer that will have high-speed internet available for the kids, which they will be able to use a little more, but not hours on end each day. This is one of the reasons I love coming to this board - I know there ARE other people in the world who are just as strict as we are. It helps me to feel not so weird!
  12. If you could only go to one, which would you choose, and why? DH and I are planning a trip to D.C. / Williamsburg for sometime in 2010 (hopefully around Thanksgiving, but might be end of June), and would like to see one of these great historic homes. We'll probably make a day of one or the other on the way from D.C. to Williamsburg. If it helps in your decision, we have 4 boys, ages 12, 10, 8, & 6, and I am very interested in seeing the gardens (hoping to maybe emulate them in some way or another with a potager-type garden at our new house).
  13. I'm sitting here looking out at my garden that is currently under about 18" of snow and dreaming of warmer days. We moved into this house about 6 months ago and one of the things I'm so excited about is that we have a 25' x40' space where the previous owners had a garden years ago. In each of my 5 previous houses, I've never had such a great garden space so I really want to go at it this year. I would love to know your favorite seed catalogs so I can continue planning. I would like to do traditional veggies (tomatoes, peas, beans, etc.), but also try some fun and unusual things, too, like fingerling potatos, or something else. Thanks!
  14. So let me ask you guys this (in all sincerity!): how do you have that conversation with your mil? I am the kind of person who usually tries to keep the peace, put others' first, and not be the source of contention. However, I have had a major epiphany in the last few months: I am an adult woman! I know it sounds stupid, but I have realized that it is time (way past time) for me to start making my own decisions, doing things on my own schedule, and doing things when and where it works for ME, rather than the way everyone else wants things done. On the one hand, it sounds incredibly selfish, but otherwise, I am basically the sweet and accomodating doormat. I don't want to be the doormat anymore, but I also don't want to cause a major family divide. So when MIL says she has already invited xyz family members to our house at 4:30 for a visit to see my kids (which will turn into dinner with our family), do I just say, "that won't work for our schedule (which is just sitting around spending time together)," or "I'm afraid we aren't available, but I would be happy to drop you off to meet them at a restaurant." Help me think of some good, neutral, relatively peace-keeping responses that make the point without being offensive. As far as the visits go, they only have 5 grandchildren, 4 of whom are my kids. I'm not going to be that person who denies them the opportunity to see their grandchildren; but I am going to have DH have a talk with them that as the kids get older, they are busier, and we would love to welcome them maybe 2-3 times a year rather than 6-8. NYR for 2010: Take better charge of my own life and time!
  15. I completely agree - I would put this book in my top 5 books that have changed the way I think about things, or actively changed the way I live my life.
  16. Thank you for your replies and a reality check. Since posting that, I have been feeling guilty and thinking I am over-reacting a little. I think it's the timing of today, with no notice, and the fact that it could have been done so easily yesterday. Having said all of that: I guess it's just the history I have with these people that makes it difficult for me. They come to visit about every 6 weeks, for 5 days at a time, in addition to the annual Christmas visit. In all, they are here about 60+ days a year. Each time they come, I put my life on hold, stop everything I have planned (they usually give 1-2 days notice that they are coming), and end up hosting enormous family get-togethers every time. It's not unusual for me to have 27 people for Easter (not including my side of the family that lives here), spur-of-the-moment Tuesday night dinner for 18, etc. I am tired of being the family hostess, the facilitator of the reunions, etc. DH works a ton, so his life is not changed in the least when his parents visit. His relationship with his parents is an occasional call or email, but not super close. My in-laws visit us to see our children, and I get that. Also, StephanieZ, without getting into the personal identifying details of our business, money is tight at our house, and hiring the babysitters, cleaners, and caterers is not an option. It is the end of the year, and we have things that need to be done now, before Friday, or we will not be paid for them. If DH takes 4 hours off today, that money is lost to him forever. I wish it were differently, but that is our reality. I will just breathe a little deeper and start cleaning the Christmas mess that is still in the living room.
  17. Is it just me, or is it the height of audacity for a houseguest to invite people over for a *house tour* without checking with the host first? This morning, my MIL announces she would like to see her sister, who is staying with her daughter an hour away, so she invited her to come today to spend the day and see our new house that we moved into 6 months ago. The thing is, just yesterday, we were in the daughter's area, not more than 10 minutes away, just kind of hanging out. She easily could have said, "let's stop by daughter's house and see sister." Instead, I have three options: 1) just suck it up and have sister come (which is what I will do), 2) drive MIL an hour each way to see sister, with four kids in tow who are not going to just sit quietly on the couch while they chat; or, 3) as MIL suggested in the alternative, have DH drive them there this morning, go to work, and then drive back this afternoon to pick them up. The problem with that is that we own our own business, and his time is literally our family's income. Four hours of his driving time is worth about $700 of our income, and that's not going to happen. A little background: for the first 13 years of our marriage, DH's parents came to stay with us every year for Christmas for seventeen days. My relationship with them suffered severely, so three years ago, they started staying with their daughter instead. They stayed with her for 3 years (one of which we were out of town), and she called this year and said she can't take it anymore and they have to come back to our house. So this year, we have split the time, and they are with us for this second week. My relationship is not improving! My chant this week: "It's important for my children to have a good relationship with their grandparents . . . "
  18. Sorry, that just made me laugh: "Hootchie-Girl Barbie" ????!!!!! for real? :lol: So glad I have four boys and don't have to deal with stuff like that!
  19. We have an Ektorp sofa and loveseat with the navy blue denim covers. We've had them for coming up on 3 years, and I've decided they are indestructible. Quite comfy to sit on, super easy to clean - I love these sofas. BTW, I have four boys, ages 12, 10, 8, and 6 - and they certainly act their ages and gender with this furniture! The current favorite is stacking up the cushions near the LoveSac, then jumping off the back of the loveseat onto this "landing zone." Of course, this is when I am upstairs making dinner, so I technically have no knowledge of this! Knowing what I know now about this furniture, I would buy it again without hesitation. Plus, you can't beat the price!
  20. My in-laws arrived in town last night for their annual 17-day stay for Christmas and New Years. Yes, you read that right: seventeen. days. every. year. for the last. sixteen. years.!!!! This year, they are staying with my SIL for 5 nights, of which 3 full days they will be at my house, then the remainder with me, 24/7, while my DH goes to work for 12 hours a day. "It is important to me that my kids have a good relationship with their grandparents . . . " Said repeatedly while cleaning up after them and suffering stimulation overload. Had to get that one off my chest.
  21. If you own more than one ipod, how do you download to each of them? Do you have separate itunes accounts, (and if so, how do you get separate accounts?), or do you just have one big account and each one gets its own music moved onto it manually (and how do you get your other ones onto your account?) DS got an ipod for his birthday earlier this month, and we are finally getting around to putting some music on it. DH and I have an older ipod, which we use occasionally. When we plut our old ipod into my computer and start up itunes, our ipod shows up, along with the music we have on it. When I plug in DS's new ipod, nothing shows up on itunes, and I don't know how to create an account for the new one on itunes. Yes, I know I am completely clueless about this. I called my 14-year-old nephew for help but he is out skiing right now. Thanks for any help!
  22. I talked with my son's principal this morning and made the arrangements necessary for dual enrollment to homeschool all his language arts stuff. He has dyslexia, with spelling especially being difficult for him. His reading teacher is *OK*, but there's only so much she can do with 27 other kids in the class. We live 2 minutes from his school, so he'll go in the morning, I'll bring him home at 9:00, and then he'll go back to school at 10:45 every day. We are former homeschoolers, current afterschoolers, and now half-time homeschoolers. We'll start after the Christmas break in January - we'll be doing R&S Grammar, WWE 3, and Apples and Pears Spelling. Just had to share - I am really excited about doing this!
  23. My neice has an ipod docking station with speakers that is pink and shaped like a VW Bug, but my sister can't remember where she got it, and it was several years ago. DH and I just bought ds his first ipod for his birthday earlier this month, and would like to get him a docking station with speakers for Christmas. All of the ones I've seen are just regular black alarm clocks - does the hive know where I could get one that is a little more fun?
  24. Help me decide which curriculum to use for my 10 year-old son. A little background: he is currently in public school, which I like, overall, but I want to pull him out during his language class because his teacher is making both of us crazy. He has homeroom, then separates out for language and is grouped by ability. I love his homeroom teacher, so I would just bring him home from 9:00-10:45 every day (we live 2 min. from the school). Dual enrollment is allowed in our state, and I have done it with this school in the past, so I know it won't be a problem. Now to the curriculum: I have used FLL 1/2 in the past, as well as Rod & Staff 3. I'm not familiar with the newer FLL (3, 4), or WWE at all, and I'm just looking for a thorough language arts curriculum. We will focus a lot of time on spelling, as my son is dyslexic and spelling is his hardest area. I'd just like a good, thorough curriculum we can do daily that will include: grammar, comprehension, writing, etc. I know there are a lot of other curriculia out there, but help me focus on the pros and cons of these two. Thanks so much for any input you can give me: things you like, don't like, things you have to supplement, etc.
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