You could look at the MENSA reading lists. http://www.mensaforkids.org/achieve/excellence-in-reading/

Sorry. There was no need for my sarcasm, I was out of line and I apologise. I'm also sorry for what happened to you. I don't really care about this song, I have never deeply thought about it before this thread, though now I do think it lends itself to some criticism in the context of rape culture.

I know, date rape is hilarious right? /sarcasm Look, I don't really care about this song and I agree that in terms of songs/entertainment there's bigger fish to fry. But this thread is to discuss this song, no? I can easily read it through a feminist analysis that makes it problematic. I mainly wanted to respond to the idea that the only date rape drugs are roofies et al. Nope, alcohol is the #1 date rape drug.

Yes, yet another man assaults women, better make sure we don't hurt other men's feelings...

Alcohol IS a date rape drug. If I agree to half a glass of wine and you drop a vodka bomb in it - I didn't consent to that! Add in the power play, 'here sweet innocent girl that I have entrapped in my house, I know what's good for you, have a VERY STRONG drink, let's loosen up those inhibitions and retard your reactions/reflexes and make sure your memory is fuzzy!'

You reminded me to get out the water beads today! Lots of fun!

Haha, yes, I'm trying to walk a line because I value the activity enough to try and make it work - it's more than just a playdate - but the scales were tipping dangerously close to calling it quits. I like the mother, I feel for her, I like the kids much of the time, but I can't just let it go forever. I'm honestly not sure if the mother is comfortable with it, but I wasn't comfortable with how things were. She was right there both times and didn't say anything. I don't really want to give details but behaviour that is definitely way ott (damaging property & name calling for example) is excused away as a phase, the child in question is rarely spoken to and disregards what mum says anyway. This is basically my last resort before we ditch the activity. Her kids seem to respond well, I am pretty good at hitting the nice-but-seriously-listen-now line. My kids and I have a game plan and so we'll see how it goes.

☺ I'm totally with you on the supervision of toddlers. And yes, many times I've not been able to sit with all the mums chatting because I need to supervise my 2/3/4+ year old. I agree that it's age appropriate. I take your point about a gentle tone not being effective with your child. I am trying to picture what a situation would look like. My kids do have friends with ASD - as do I - but either the parent intervenes or I redirect/remove my child if needed. I've never had a parent of a kid with ASD literally shrug off nastiness and violence as a phase, repeatedly. I do know the kids in my situation and it is NT boundary pushing stuff, where the child is smirking whilst doing something specifically forbidden, there's also a pattern with all the siblings over time. What the kid stole wasn't a toy, they were deliberately pushing buttons to get a reaction - again. Another incident from the same day had the same kid threatening/pretending to throw objects at my child, I caught his eye, raised my eyebrows and shook my head 'no'. The child stopped immediately and went off to play. It's hard to convey in writing but, I feel like I'm setting boundaries that elevate the respectful play, rather than just letting things devolve because mum doesn't know how to use her authority... I have given many, many chances for mum to deal with it, and I have tried to gently say something but it is a touchy subject. So it's either really offend the parent, stop going altogether, or just gently instruct the kids when they are misbehaving.

:grouphug: hornblower.

My 10 year old adored this book and the sequel, Sophie Quire.

Narnia? Patrick Stewart narrates The Last Battle. The Swallows and Amazons series. I agree with Wizard of Oz and Treasure Island.

Well, tell off is probably a bit strongly worded. But if your kid steals something from my kid and runs, right past you, and you know what's going on but do nothing, NOTHING - just like all the other times you did nothing, then yeah, I will say something. What I actually said was "I'll have that thanks" in mother-is-serious voice. Kid stopped in his tracks and gave it back immediately and was fine, no whining etc. I don't think that's unreasonable? I will stand up for my kids. This is not one off behaviour and the kids are all well older than 4 - except my 4 year old, who I supervise. I actually think it's kinder to help create a safe and respectful space for everyone, rather than just cut them off. People are free to correct my kids if they're being a pita, a stern look & a "knock it off" is appreciated by me! I will take all the support I can.

☺ Yes, of course there were issues on both sides of their relationship (and mine!) Her issues just didn't present in a typical millenial snowflake way - though come to think of it, he would be right on the x/millenial cusp! Anyway, that was just one example. I have seen this assumption in some millenials that they can be supported by their parents/other adults indefinitely in a weird dynamic because, life is hard and they're afraid to try. Obviously not all millenials (hello! I'm a millenial myself!) Maybe I'm just cranky today, highly probable...

I get what you're saying but this was a very different dynamic, that I didn't really describe very well. I knew the couple very well and he really wasn't a misogynist, he adoes his wife and kids, he was just... useless for a long time. A kind of learned helplessness mixed with the 90s apathy maybe?

We used to have the coffee condensed milk tubes in high school! Yum. Study for hours hahaha. I use it for Jelly Slice. http://www.bestrecipes.com.au/recipe/CWFs-Jelly-Slice-L669.html My mother in law boils the tins to make this: http://heneedsfood.com/recipe/oblatne-croatian-wafer-cake/

Oooh yeah I know a few. I'm right on the upper crust of millennial. When I was a young adult, I had to teach some friends how to make mashed potatoes. They lived on 2 min noodles when the parents were away. One didn't want to work full time, so his newly post-partum wife had to go back to work sooner than planned (and no, he didn't cook/clean) There's a few in my in laws family, that's a cultural thing that has good aspects about it, but when adults are earning as much as their parents, pay no rent and the parents buy a house for them, but they can't afford to move out - yeah I roll my eyes.

My ds for 4th this year did: MCT's Grammar Town/ Paragraph Town level and copywork/narration/dictation WTM/WWE style. He did spelling using Natural Speller, and read lots of good books. For 5th he will finish MCT's town level (vocab/poetry/rest of practice) and do Classical Writing Aesop. And continue the spelling.

I read Bryan Dysons 5 balls life analogy yesterday and liked it: "Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them work, family, health, friends and spirit. And you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – family, health, friends and spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life." Brian Dyson And we currently have a Rousseau quote on our wall: "What yoke, indeed, can be imposed on men who stand in need of nothing."

There's a difference between difficult behaviour where the parent is trying, and difficult behaviour that the parent literally shrugs off as a 'phase'. I don't believe (in my case) it's neuro diverse thing, because they do stop immediately after an extremely mild & kind reminder from me! Eta- one of mine was the nightmare child. It was hard, so hard, but calm coffee catch ups were impossible. I would expect close supervision of a difficult 2 & 4 year old, and I'd probably encourage it by modelling it with my own young children.

I have a shelf of montessori works for my 4 year old. He can do them himself.

Cabin in Tasmania. When we retire as millionaires, cruise down the Rhine.

I'm at the stage where I will tell off other people's kids. I'm sick of it.

You have more agency and less control than you think. Choose D - none of the above! ie, you really don't have to follow 'the life script' Finish things well. Need less, rather than want more. A good reputation is valuable.

For the Children's Sake.

Sarah Juliette Sarah Genevieve Sarah Danielle Sarah Felicity Sarah Verity Sarah Pearl Isaac Mathew Isaac Lachlan Isaac Lincoln Isaac Vaughan Isaac David Isaac Jeremy Isaac Rhys I like to use family names as middle names though, so that's where I'd look first for inspiration!