It’s still worth it for us - we have an executive membership ($125 a year which pays for itself with the %back for every purchase we get). And sometimes it isn’t that Costco is cheaper than another store but that the quality of the item is better for a similar price (eg beach towels, or wool socks, or linens). Costco deals for me: (ymmv) organic raw cashews, pre-popped Nearly Naked popcorn, kitchen and large black garbage bags, cleaning wipes (Kirkland brand pop-up style, I hate the wipes in a plastic cylinder), Izzy sodas, vanilla (which right now has CRAZY prices everywhere), cinnamon, men’s shorts and dress shirts, batteries, organic boneless/skinless chicken breasts, GASOLINE!, Kirkland Brand TP, Excederine, Acetaminophen, Naproxen, kids gummy vitamins, printer ink, organic pure maple syrup, organic almond butter, pasta sauce, almond flour, fresh flowers

I hope we haven’t driven OP off. It can be hard to open up about a personal issue and find it might be even worse than you thought. Or it might be validating, which is my hope! But hearing things like “fetish” “creepy” “controlling” and “abusive” has got to be hard! OP, I hope you sense that we are trying to validate your feelings and support you in establishing a healthy relationship with healthy and mutually respectful boundaries.

Is this Wattpad? I have not used it but I ask because recently in another group a concerned parent asked how to handle dd 17 who, after being grounded from the app for reading pirnographic/sexually explicit material, had continue to sneak on (specifically to read the sexually explicit stuff). Many parents piped up that Wattpad is a great sharing space for writers, but this mom’s point was that there’s adult content on there and no restrictive controls (or at least not any that a sharp kid could circumvent). So, I personally wouldn’t allow access to this app or any that says 17+ for a 12 year old. Usually the ratings are not interest levels but maturity levels.

So what you’re after is a model kit? Or a playscape? That’s fair. And it would be frustrating not to have models you want (have you checked out diecast midels - almost all vehicles!). What I see with LEGO is a kit that has model (or sometimes two or three) instructions with it, but it can be made into all sorts of things. They don’t always look as polished as the kit, but for a toy I think it’s awesome!! Sorry I misspoke about the line the detective office was in.

Wait, but couldn’t you have just built a hospital? I mean, that’s the point right? It’s like building with blocks (except they are smaller and stick) and you can make it whatever you want. I suppose it’s different if you use them more like a model kit though. eTA DS’s City line detective office/pool hall/bagel shop building you can play inside of. Same with a Creator line cabin.

I personally don’t like the color pink, and the themes of many of the “girly” sets. But some people do, and that’s super - if you don’t find a different set. There’s a lot out there As to tiny specialized parts, my kids use them in very creative ways that have nothing to do with their intending purpose. It’s great! I had classic legos and one set that was a spaceship with a couple of seats, bricks with computer screens painted on them, a lever handle, and hatches in a hinge (like a jet cockpit’s) - they were always the pieces I dug our first! I didn’t always build a spaceship, but having those unique and more detailed pieces gave me options that square bricks didn’t. And as to feeling like you can’t build anything except the sets, I don’t think that is the case, but I think if that is all people want it for that’s ok. People like to build models, and building the plans is like building a model. My DS has a large, complex city build that he keeps up. One day he may take it down but for the last year it’s been up. He also has dozens of sets mixed up together in a bin (Star Wars, creator, LotR, Classic, City) as well as bulk random pieces we bought off eBay and they get plenty of use. i guess I’m saying there are a lot of options for LEGO out there, and the only thing that will confine your building is your tastes (eg “I don’t want mixed up colors” or “I only work in black”), your requirements (eg “I need to have these particular animal fugues” or “I keep my builds intact and don’t mix pieces between sets”) or your imagination* - not the brick colors or shapes, not your gender. Have fun building! ETA *or if you don’t have strong spatial skills (ergo it’s more challenge than fun) or favor other activities!

Don’t read cause and effect. There’s a correlation, not causation. What if kids who play games with complex maps, Minecraft, and LEGO do so *because* they are innately good at spacial cognition? We all tend to engage in things we can be successful at. It’s self reinforcing. That being said, who does NOT let their girls play with LEGO if they want? My girls (and DS) all play with them. I played with them as a kid (and Dh did not). I am with you that girls should have the chance to play LEGO! So should boys ?

WHY is he coming in? I mean, does he come in to get things? Is he using the toilet while you shower or brushing his teeth while you toilet? Does he have a need to be in there? While I’m in the shower, brushing teeth, doing hair, etc he may knock and ASK “may I come in” and I nearly always say yes because he is respectful and usually has a reason. He’s either coming in to ask a quick question, grab something from his drawer, or get medicine out of medicine cabinet. He might playfully peak in the shower, but not often. I often leave the door open while brushing teeth, in which case there’s no need to lock because I’ve left it open. He does not come in when I’m on the toilet! (except if I’ve found too late there’s no TP and I’ve asked him to bring me a roll, even then he discretely sticks his hand through the door around the jamb so he doesn’t see me). I don’t understand why anyone would want to see another person on the toilet.

Found it!

"Somos Juan y Muzzy! Somos Muzzy y Juan. Tu y yo, son los dos, amigos tu y yo..." still hearing the song in my head 12 years later ? We got it from the library the first time when my precocious oldest kids were 1 and 3, and a few times after that. They enjoyed watching it, but I didn't see much of any retained learning. I tried again later but there was no interest. It was fun when they were little, but I wouldn't spend money on it.

You can use their phonogram app instead of the cards (or make your own if needed). The game cards and game tiles aren’t essential, but good way to review that is engaging. The handwriting tactile cards are great if you are using Rhythm of Handwriting (as opposed to some other program). We used them with older kids learning cursive (we did RoH and Essentials) and I got rid of them when they were done. But then when youngest asked to homeschool I bought them again to go with Foundations. They were very helpful for my kids (not essential, but helpful). The Doidling Dragons Book is NOT necessary. Any Alphabet book will do. The reference cards (spelling analysis and cursive) are not needed. white board my dd loves, but not essential

My guess he is that he is a brilliant physicist, but perhaps not an educator, and that his children (being receivers of his genes) probably have very similar ways of thinking and learning to their father. Math facts are important. How you get to mastery (and when) will look very different for some people. Not every great writer spells well, not every great student of history was reading at 4 years old, not every great musician mastered major/minor/7th/diminished/etc scales through the circle of fifths before beginning their first jazz piece. There is no absolutely limiting gate in math through which passage is obtained by the “Ive got my facts down” ticket. Not having them poses obstacles for some things until they are memorized, but often those same obstacles increase motivation to internalize the facts, and all the while they can be learning and applying other topics in math. So yes, memorize those facts for facility but don’t think there’s only one way to get there, and allow them the time they need to get there. Timed drills and flash cards about killed my incredibly competent and creative math student’s love of math. Thankfully we took a different approach for her, and she’s excelled.

I hope Lori has an answer about Father Brown - I haven’t read any. Though I have really enjoyed the series on Netflix! (I have a feeling that after the first few episodes they probably strayed from Chesterton significantly - preview before sharing with kids).

I didn’t know there were illustrations. I don’t believe any of my volumes have them. I don’t own The Complete Sherlock Homes (because between all the books we have we have the complete works). But I did give my sister this edition which she likes (though says it is a bit big) https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Sherlock-Holmes-Knickerbocker-Classics/dp/1937994309/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1531195486&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=sherlock+holmes&dpPl=1&dpID=61%2BDd7qIX5L&ref=plSrch

My vote is The Complete Sherlock Holmes ? I like the longer ones: Hound of the Baskervilles was written as a novella, but is sometimes included in anthologies. Also Valley of Fear, Study in Scarlet, and Sign of Four. My Sherlock fan (dd15) says some of her favorite shorter cases are: Speckled Band, Red Headed League, Five Orange Pips, The Cardboard Box. We own The Adventures of... The Memoirs... the longer ones mentioned above, and His Last Bow (which was probably the least favorite collection), and three different other collections. Anyway, there is some repeating in different collections and that’s why I suggest The Complete Sherlock Holmes - you get them all without repeat!

Sorry, I realized afterwards there were two separate schedules (I'm scrolling on my phone). If writing is a difficulty, both handwriting and composition, then I agree it needs your attention. I would go with a focused writing program, and not require writing in content areas. Also make sure to separate the tasks of penmanship and composition (eg copywork or other simple practice in handwriting, allowing typing or you scribing for composition time). Something else to consider is that WTM writing instruction isn’t for everyone (it certainly wasn’t for my oldest three learners, and we had to take different approaches). It can be overwhelming to synthesize ideas for content areas, form them into coherent sentences in a composition, all when you’re still struggling with fluid handwriting. Best wishes!

I think you’ve chosen some great materials. AAS/AAR and BYL are the only really teacher time intensive things I see. Do you have parkour and theater every day? That’s your time hog - 15+ hours a week. Either pare that down or if it’s that important pare down some content work redundancies. Can some of the work be done while at theater class waiting for sibling group? Doing HO and RSO Bio 2 AND WTM style writing across curriculum has redundancy. I know HO has writing assignments in it already, and there is some writing in RSO Bio 2 (lab reports). I would reconsider this combo. Maybe don’t add writing across the curriculum? Or a history with less writing? Also, I really like RSO Bio 2, and used it for DS when in 5th. It is easily done independently (except grading SWYK and reports), even many labs will only need you to consult. RSO’s sciences have options to do fewer days a week. Would that help? I’d ditch spelling for 5th grader. Also consider AAS (which has dictation) as filling a portion of your writing. I am a better late than early person for composition and grammar so I would ditch WWE altogether. Does’t BYL also have writing and othe LA activities in it? Good luck working it all out - sounds like some fun things this year! eTA: I see i was blending the MWF and TH schedules. Sorry!!

Many high school Latin programs are accessible to 7th graders, which may be why it’s described that way. They looks like nicely published materials. We have like the logic books from the same publishers. If no one else replies I might consider your confidence with Latin (and English grammar) and decide whether the text and teacher guide are sufficient for you as the teacher. Best wishes!

If i has to put Story of Science into only one school subject category it would be history. Not science. I think it’s history of science, but that is not the same as science and teaches more of the thinking processes of history. I would not choose it for science. I think the books are great!! But they are not science.

I haven’t heard of Kraken Latin but I am pretty sure Prima Latina will also be way below their working level. You might consider GSWL, Lively Latin, Latin Prep, or if you like the Memoria Press stuff First Form Latin.

I thought I’d throw this review site out there. They are family oriented in reviewing so that may be helpful. http://www.theboardgamefamily.com/ BoardGameGeek also has reviews but their site is old school clunky and most of the reviewers are hard core gamers.

Smallworld would go nicely into the same area-control category as risk. My dd played it at 9. Plays 5 King of Tokyo is a very different mechanic but it plays up to 6, is fun for multiple ages, accessible to 9 yr old. Ticket to Ride Rails and Sails has enough change in the game mechanic to make it interesting as a new game. Plays 5 Dominion is a deck-building development game (7 Wonders has some of that, but Dominion is a bit more), and if you have two editions (eg base game and Dominion:Intrigue) you can set it up for 6 players.

Wow, this sounds neat! Maybe for output you can do a compare/contrast essay over two culture’s dragons? A synthesis project at the end where she creates her own dragon? You could have Intermediate assignments like create a field book entry for your dragon (description, characteristics, habitat, range, natural history, etc), draw your dragon, write a folktale with your dragon as a character, etc and all pieces are synthesized together into a display and oral presentation (or YouTube video or other format) at the end.

Getting Started With Latin

Some early orthodontia can prevent later issues with permanent teeth (eg mine had an undescended baby tooth that we didn’t deal with until 15 and requires a lot more moving of things around in her mouth now).