A kid I was babysitting when I was a teenager bit through a mercury thermometer and then spit the glass and mercury out onto the kitchen floor. It was a bear to try to clean up. It just rolled away no matter how I tried to gather it. It didn't help that I blurted out, "THAT'S POISON!" at the little girl. There was screaming and crying. Not my finest moment. (I was 15.) We went to the neighbor's house who called poison control. They said she'd be fine if she spat it out. They didn't say we needed to do anything else. Nothing about airing things out or anything. I'd take a flashlight and search really hard for any mercury balls. You don't want the littles to swallow them.

This is our first online class, so I have nothing else to compare it against. But I'm very happy with it.

We're using Mrs. Nowell's geometry class. Looks like Jann hired Mrs. Nowell on to help this past year, so now MyHomeschoolMathClass has two teachers. My son isn't the sort of kid who loves hitting the books. He does what he has to do to get the work done. He has ADHD, so it can be hard for him to focus. However, he's getting an A in Mrs. Nowell's geometry class. There have been only two times so far this year where he didn't quite understand an entire concept. Mrs. Nowell was right on top of it offering to help as soon as I let her know he was struggling. The one time, I had him rewatch the lesson and he got it. The other time he chose to wait and ask her about it during the next teaching session and he was fine after that. But she was willing to walk him through it one-on-one between classes if he'd wanted. And his struggling was early in the year. I think he's understanding better how to focus and learn online. It's different from working with Mom in person. This year has been so painless for math. As far as I know, he's learning, being that the tests are based on the work in the book and he gets an A every test, so something is sticking long enough for the tests. He works steadily through his homework and he doesn't get all the homework questions right the first time around. I make him re-work them until they're right, but he always manages to do so, only rarely having one that completely stumps him. I think he's had under 10 this entire year that he Could Not figure out on his own. Ten or so problems out of hundreds so far that he couldn't rework and figure out on his own. He doesn't get overly frustrated while he's working on his homework, so overall he seems to be understanding the work. (He only gets frustrated when he runs into one of those ten problems he just Can't Figure Out.) I am 100% signing him up with MyHomeschoolMathClass next year for Algebra II. Either teacher will be fine with me. I've read non-stop good reviews about Jann and now I can give an excellent review for Mrs. Nowell. The sessions are 1 hour, twice a week. Kids can join the group a few minutes before class starts to type "hi" to each other. He can see what's she's writing, and hear what she's saying, but doesn't see her. He doesn't have a tablet or pen to write to her. The students type in responses and everyone can see the typed responses. There is time spent at the beginning of each class to go over any homework problems the kids struggled with. She gives them homework and the answer key is provided as well. I simply check his answer against the key and tell him if it's right or wrong. I'm not expected to teach at all. There have been a few where I dimly remember the concept from my own school days and I've given him tips to get the problem done, but mostly he is learning entirely on his own. (Such a relief for me.)

No one reason for an altar call. Sometimes the person leading the service might specifically say, "Anyone who wants to dedicate their life to Jesus can come up now," and only those who are new to the faith will go up. But plenty of times even when the person specifies that, others might go up because they want prayer for something entirely different. It's a time when all the players are gathered: the person who wants prayer for any reason under the sun and a roomful of people ready to pray and time set aside for praying.

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What do you think of Logos Press Chemistry? I'm trying to find an online chemistry class for my son for next year for 10th grade. Logos Press Online is one of my two choices. I think it's my 2nd choice, but I can't tell without hearing some reviews from people who've used it. Background: My son does well in his studies, but isn't passionate about anything academic. He does what he's told, mostly without fuss, but doesn't take the lead. So, I'd like an online high school level chemistry class for him that is middle of the road in rigor. Not honors or advanced, but not so easy that you can barely call it high school. http://www.logospressonline.com/chemistry-online/

What do you think of Currclick's online chemistry class and/or the text they use? The text is Discovering Design with Chemistry by Wile. The text can be taught alone without an online teacher, but I'm not comfortable teaching chemistry completely by myself. It looks like this class and text might be just the support I want. The text is supposed to be clearly written enough to use on its own, but having a once a week class with a teacher who fully understands chemistry will ensure I'm not flailing around next year staying up late trying to teach myself high school science in my (nonexistent) spare time. BTDT, no thank you. Our goals: I'd like a regular high school level chemistry class for a student who does what he's told without fussing but doesn't have a passion for academics. I've overworked him this year and need to back off or I'll burn him out unless he discovers his passion and takes the lead. (I might start a separate post for the text because many people use it alone without an online provider.)

Oh man. Wish I could help. I'm the opposite from you. I'm looking to back off in intensity for chemistry next year, so I've nixed and then ignored anything labeled honors. I've spent 9 hours now researching regular chemistry books/classes. I thought I was done at the 5 hour mark and then after reading a bunch of positive reviews, negative reviews came in and made me change my mind. If only I'd been researching honors level stuff, I could have shared all my notes with you. (Sorry, no point to this post other than I'm here with you in Chemistry Land getting cross-eyed from all the staring at the computer screen I've been doing and feeling a compulsion to post on your chemistry thread.)

This is so true. I know there's really no other way to answer the question than "depends on the college they want to attend", but my 14 year old has no idea what college he wants to attend. And unless something dramatic happens, he won't know until the last minute like you said above. Honestly, he didn't even realize he was expected to go to college until this past September. The future is all a fuzzy blur to him at this point. He's not picking colleges and thinking of majors right now. :) Sorry OP that I can't answer your question, but it's a good one and I hope some good answers come in.

Yes, we're using the Illustrated Guide for biology with our CK-12 text. The labs are very intensive and time consuming, but even on weeks when we don't use them, it still takes a long time. I did know going in that they'd be intense. I reviewed what we've done so far and we've done 15 of them. And that's enough. I'm going to play it by ear as to whether or not we do any more of them. I had a schedule to complete another 10 or so, but maybe we'll just do 5 more. Depends on how in-depth they look. They have been the highlight of our year, so I don't want to stop doing them entirely. Thanks for the tip on the chemistry kit.

I wish I had a magic ball and knew what my son's future was. If he wants to go into something scientitic, then I want him to have a good grounding in Chemistry. But if we're doing this to just check off a box and he'll never use it again, then the pressure is off me to find the "perfect" fit. I spent 5 hours researching chemistry stuff the other day and finally settled on Spectrum and now I'm re-thinking it. Last year I was so sure I'd outsource it, but it's so expensive that I'm not sure I can. I do not feel qualified at all to teach chemistry. I've been able to teach myself biology because other than the biochemical chapters (that cellular respiration stuff with things like the Kreb's cycle was brutal), it's pretty straightforward. But chemistry is another matter. I was hoping for something pretty straightforward that won't take us the 2 to 2.5 hours a day we take on biology this year. Sorry for whining. I was so sure I was going to go with Spectrum and now I just don't know. At least this thread is out there for other people to read in the future to get a more balanced picture of Spectrum's pros and cons. If I knew this was the only time he'd mess with chemistry, I'd probably still go with it. But I just don't know what his future holds and I want to set him up as best I can. We all do, right? I honestly remember nothing from my chemistry classes in school. I don't remember doing any math for chemistry, but I guess I must have. I think I managed a B- in the class, but I don't remember anything.

I was thinking that when I read your review: that a layman like me wouldn't know the deficiencies, but someone well-versed in chemistry would see the holes/flaws.

Bumping just in case people are ready to think about Chemistry now that Christmas is over. :)

Uh oh! I'm listening to you, but I have to say this is the first flat out negative review I've seen on Spectrum. :( A number of reviews say how their kids went on to AP chemistry courses from Spectrum and had no trouble and are in STEM fields now. Well, here's hoping more people chime in with their experiences. From what I've read, most people like it and their kids learn enough to go forward with Chemistry. I've seen a couple of posts like JanetC's where people felt the need to do some sort of supplementing, but it didn't seem like more supplementing than what is normal for homeschoolers. Thanks for your honest assessment.

I have a catalog with a course I want that is 70% off, plus a coupon for a little more off. It expires 12/28. Should I buy now? I feel like I heard that GC has 85-90% off sales post-Christmas. Do they? Consistently? Should I buy now, or wait for a better sale?

Wow! Thanks for the update. Santa is amazing!

No, bio son is not interested in the same girl. He is interested in the daughter of the man who left for 1.5 years when he was in love but not prepared to date the girl he loved.

Oh wait...I'm remembering my other friend with her strict no dating rules. Same things happened with her sons. They hated her for a number of years once they turned 18 and could get away. They would say the cruelest things to her. It was mind-blowing. She was pretty strict about dating and looooved those boys so much, but they couldn't see it. The one who let her daughter not-date the boy at 14? Amazing relationship with her daughter. This girl and her not-boyfriend have certainly not had sex. The friends with the strict parents? Those kids all had premarital sex. Gosh, I hate when people do what I'm doing and I never believed the sorts of things I'm telling you. I thought people who talked like I'm talking now were just trying to be shocking or were making things up because they disagreed with having strict dating rules. But I've been sitting back and watching what has happened. I've known these kids since they were all pre-teens. I've seen the ones with the strict parents blow apart when they were finally "old enough." And I've watched the few who took things in stride, allowed the "dating" with complete chaperoning end up having controlled kids. The girl who didn't-date the Boy is engaged, yes, but they both have said, "We're not ready for marriage until we have steady jobs," so they're further deferring being sexual On Their Own while they meet their other goals. I never would have believed it all without seeing it. Holding on too tightly causes them to slip through your fingers.

Ah. Yeah. My other friend tried that. It didn't go well. I'm sure there are times when it does, but I wish to goodness that I'd told my friend, "You are going against nature and your daughter will hate you and cause you nothing but heartbreak," at the time. Because that's exactly what happened. The girl turned 18 and went completely out of control--dating boys, dating girls, driving drunk, staying out all night, going on a roadtrip for 3 days without telling anyone, finally getting kicked out of the house to live with her girlfriend. My friend says she cries most nights of the week, worrying about her daughter. This place in annonymous, so I can gently say to you what I wish so badly I had said to her. Please reasses what you're doing. Please think this through. Teenagers aren't projects or plants you can force to grow the way you want. They're thisclose to being adults. Trying to squelch what is completely, 100% natural--God-given natural, since he's the one who made those hormones kick in now--will end up causing seething anger and hatred in your son and probably much pain in you later. My friend's daughter went completely bonkers. Her son didn't go bonkers, but he has gone completely aimless. Lives at home working a part-time job, contemplating how much his parents don't love him (I've seen him at another person's house talking about how his parents don't love him, though I know they do, but he can't see how they could with their harsh rules.) I am not yelling at you. I don't think you dislike your SS as others have suggested. I know you had that rat of a first husband, but don't go so far the other way in trying to control your kids' love lives that you end up with a different set of problems.

I agree with okbud that if they are in love and not having sex, they are totally controlling their actions. Texting sappy 'I love you"s back and forth isn't not being in control. Not having sex is being in control.

I have a number of church friends whose kids are now teens. When the kids were younger it was always, "They won't date until they're X. They'll hang out in groups and get to know lots of people." Sure, the kids don't date. Yes, they hang out in groups. But they still fall in love. My one friend's daughter turned 18 this year, and about a day after her 18th birthday, the boy that she hasn't-dated for 4 years asked her to marry him. Ever since the two of them were 14/15, they haven't-dated in groups and they haven't-dated when they've visited each other's houses, and they haven't-dated when they've texted each other. My friend rolls her eyes at herself and gives a wry laugh and says, "Yup. My daughter hasn't-dated Boy for 4 years now." Sometimes the plans just don't work out. Once my friend realized that her daughter was like your SS--had fallen for Boy--she had to adjust their dream. The two of them didn't hang out alone until the dating age (16), and even then aren't left alone in bedrooms for hours at a time. It was more like out to the movies and then right back sort of dating. They spent most of their dating sitting in the livingroom at their houses with the younger siblings and parents hanging around watching tv. I understand your mindset. I understand that the ideal is being challenged. But I think it's going to be ok. Coming down hard and separating them just isn't realistic. Let them hang out together. Let them go to group church events. Let them come over with the family and eat dinner and go mini-golfing or out to the movies with the family. Don't say they're "dating", but let them be together. Put limits on the texting. And ask your DH to talk to his son about how strong the feelings are and how we all have them and it's ok to have them, but we have to make sure we still get our work done and keep our wits about us and not moon after our love all day. ETA: Pretty much all my friends' kids are 1-8 years older than mine. What I've learned from watching them is to play it by ear. Take each situation as it comes. Don't make rules that are too set in stone, because teens love to throw curve balls at you.

Dear MIL, I know you try so hard to be a good MIL and grandma. But I need you to completely change your world view. You see the negative and problems in everything and I need you to be happy and see the good. I need you not to think you're helping by pointing out all the problems in an idea, and instead to join in and see how we can make something happen. No more negative Nelly. No more Eeyore. And I need you to listen to what I'm saying in an accepting manner, rather than me feeling like I'm the defense attorney in front of a judge/jury trying to state my case. I'd like to just say something without a, "Well, I don't know. Maybe...." Just a, "Heck yeah! That's a great idea!" once in a while would be great. And I know you don't even know you do this to me, but you make me feel like nothing I do is good enough or well thought out enough. Which is crazy because I'm an INTJ so I *always* overthink *everything.*

Dp

Dear Mom and Dad, Why in the world did you get it into your brains that I liked my MIL and FIL better than you? That can't be further from the truth. I find my in-laws very difficult to deal with as we seem to think so oppositely on just about every issue. But for some reason, you allowed a complete lie to take over your thoughts toward me. You allowed it to make you think I was embarrassed to be around you and that I was trying to be like my in-laws. It wasn't true. I adored every moment I got to spend with you and would die inside every time I was around my picky, snippy in-laws. But because you felt betrayed from a lie that never happened, you left in a huff and moved 2000 miles away. Oh, the joy I felt when I had my first son and you moved back after 8 years of us being apart! I thought we were having such a great time together. I loved being able to drive over to see you whenever I wanted instead of only seeing you once every 4 years for a few days b/c plane tickets were prohibitively expensive. But then your weird border-personality-disorder friend you had in Arizona got mad at you for moving away and she knew you doubted my love, so she poisoned your minds against me AGAIN and convinced you to move out there with her--and you signed a contract on a house with her, sight unseen, and a month after my second son was born you were gone. Again. This time 2500 miles away. We only had 2 years together as a family and you left me. Again. And for good. And so my kids don't know you and I've missed out on 20 years of time with you. You were my best friend, Mom, but you chose to believe a complete lie. I can't even express the pain this whole weirdness has caused me. And I can't believe I only found out that you were believing this lie 2 days before Christmas, so I spent yet another Christmas crying over how much I miss you, but this time it was tinged with hatred toward your bpd friend and regret/frustration that I didn't realize you thought I was betraying you with the in-laws. The in-laws! I find them soooo difficult to handle and you thought I liked them better than you? My best friend? Why? Why did you secretly believe this about me?? Love, Your daughter who will try to put this out of her mind now for the rest of her life, because the thought that I could have had 20 years with you but it was all lost for a lie is more than my heart can bear. I'll see you maybe 8 or so more times in my life before you're gone in death because I just can't afford those damn plane tickets.