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rainbird2

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Everything posted by rainbird2

  1. My two little ones received their vaccinations yesterday. 😊 I found a pharmacy in a neighboring city taking appointments and walk-ins. We got there right in time because when we left, there was a line out the door and down the street. It was so nice to see people bringing their kids for their shots. I was quite teary-eyed because I felt a sense of relief from the stress, like I was seeing an end in sight. It has been so difficult keeping my kids safe in an area that doesn't think Covid exists. I was broken and weary, but now I'm a bit hopeful. My younger child is sniffly and sneezy, like he's coming down with a cold. The older sibling is totally fine, just a little bit of a sore arm. I'm truly thankful for this vaccine, and I hope it brings an end to this pandemic.
  2. Thank you for sharing this. I really do hope people will take the time to watch before discussing CRT. Let's seek first to understand...please.
  3. https://www.nbcnews.com/southlake-podcast I listened to this a couple of weeks ago. It's 6 episodes long, so not too daunting of a task to listen to the entire series. I appreciated the perspective of the children and families involved who were asking for DEI curriculum in their schools. There was no hidden agenda to make people feel bad. They seemed to want people to understand the hurt they were experiencing and wanted to improve the community with the curriculum. Fritz, I read the article you posted because I want to understand this perspective. I challenge you to listen to this podcast and seek to understand the perspective of others who want DEI curriculum in their schools. Then, maybe read a book about black history, like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Warmth-Other-Suns-Americas-Migration/dp/0679763880/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3HHDVC78E83ZO&dchild=1&keywords=the+warmth+of+other+suns&qid=1633724352&sprefix=the+warmth+%2Caps%2C236&sr=8-1 This idea that CRT is taught in K-12 schools, but now labeled under the guise of DEI, is utterly wrong. Not only is it wrong, it is hurtful. Children and families are hurting because of stuff like this. BIPOC have been struggling for so long. Why don't you seek first to understand before posting stuff like this?
  4. We would love to move out of our rural area (opposite of what's happening around you), but we can't just yet. I hate being here, honestly. My kids have a Saturday extracurricular in a big city that requires all of the teachers, staff, student 12+ to be fully vaccinated. Everyone also has to wear masks. Every Saturday we are delighted to drive hours to the city so the kids can learn in a safe environment. Everyone at the school is in agreement to do what is best for the kids. They go to their classes, go to restaurants, and attend vaxx only concerts with their peers. We love being there. Then we drive back to rural life only to see our neighbor with Covid walking around the grocery store, with no mask on, looking for medicine. Our homeschool group also decided to shift towards (extremely) politically conservative, so we lost that group and all of those friends. We have been in the same group for 10 years, so it's been really hard on my kids. Being a BIPOC family, my kids were so hurt by some of their new policies. We thought these people cared about us, but their political leaders have told them to think and do otherwise. I used to love rural life but now I absolutely hate being here. We lost everyone but we are stuck and can't move. Not the exact same scenario, but similar.
  5. City Mouse, I'm so sorry to hear this. Can you tell me, how is your DH handling it? I just don't want to be in this situation...I don't want anyone to be in this situation.
  6. Thank you for this. I needed to hear it. I reached out to a counselor because this has been so hard on me. Thanks again.
  7. I'm sorry Starr. I hate to hear that anyone else is going through this. I just don't know how our friendship will continue after a covid break. It's like we are in two different worlds now...I didn't want it to come to this.
  8. I didn't end our friendship. We were still chatting via text and phone, but I was avoiding getting together with her. I just told her that I was busy with stuff, and let's get together at another time. I felt like I couldn't tell her why because I knew she would be mad. We were doing a very nice job avoiding any conversations about Covid and the vaccine for a while. We talked about anything but the vaccine. Then she sent me a story about how the Covid deaths are actually flu and totally inflated. I responded with how that is not true, and that I am really worried about her getting the virus because she is high risk. I pleaded with her to get a shot so we could have many more years together. She responded with more conspiracy talk, and how she knows I'm avoiding meeting with her in person. I told her why I was avoiding getting together with her. I told her that I wanted to wait to get together until after Delta numbers drop or the kids can get vaccinated. I am concerned about my little ones (under 12) who have asthma getting the virus. She also knows that my older kids have extracurricular activities that require them to be vaccinated, and that we attend vaccinated only events in the city. I think she is offended that I am out and about but only with the vaccinated. When I finally told her why, she said to me, "Let's resume our friendship again when Covid ends." (Her way of saying she doesn't want to talk with me again.) Should I feel guilty about attending vaccinated only events? I did not ever, ever bring up these events in our phone calls or texts until we had our text blow up. Now we aren't speaking at all. I feel like I need to accept this and grieve the loss of a friend. Not sure what else to do...
  9. https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-coronavirus-vaccine-antivax-mother-death-20210923-joivkjffgfbq5gqxi7d7cyaxne-story.html I'm having a hard time with this woman's death because she looks just like my ex-best friend, right down to the "Unmasked, Unvaxxed, Unafraid...Together We Win" border on her Facebook page. We went our separate ways because of clear ideological differences exposed by our different responses to Covid. I miss my friend. I cried this morning thinking about her. There's no communication between us right now, and there really isn't anything I can do about it. I keep telling myself that most people will be fine, that the chances of my old friend surviving Covid are good. But what if she isn't one of the lucky ones? What if she ends up like Kristen Lowery? This woman left behind four children, all homeschooled. My friend would leave behind her homeschooled kids, too. I just want to shake her and say stop this nonsense, but I know she won't listen. She's one of the people saying, "Kristen Lowery died fighting for her freedom of choice." I am truly baffled. Can someone help me make peace with God's will? I feel like my friend already died since we are no longer speaking, but she hasn't. When I see this Kristen woman's picture or see an article about her, I just think to myself, that's my ex-BF...or possibly could be. How do I make peace? Is anyone else experiencing this right now? This hurts.
  10. I just want to thank everyone posting factual information on this thread. Also, thanks to everyone posting their anguish and grief. My heart is really broken right now. I'm glad I'm not alone in my sadness (although, I wish we weren't sad and everyone was working together for the common good). I'm praying for a ray of hope for everyone with heavy hearts right now. Lord have mercy.
  11. https://www.primalpalate.com/paleo-recipe/carrot-cake/ This is the best!! Even my gluten-loving mother loves it. Moist, flavorful, real food ingredients.
  12. Thanks, Faith-manor. I appreciate your kindness. Your message made me smile. I feel like I earned this punishment, as twisted as that sounds. I chose our homeschool circle, our church, our neighborhood for their "traditional values." I enjoyed the camaraderie of "independent homeschoolers", I wanted to be away from the negatives of the "city." I was not rooted in the real world, TBH. Now that I see the error of my judgemental and hypercritical heart, I realize what an exclusive circle I put my family in. I shouldn't have done that. I am learning a hard lesson right now. My kids are in groups that are outside of homeschool circles now...music stuff, sports, etc. We're finding new circles, but I don't think friendships will happen until Covid is done. We still meet with our homeschool art co-op, and the teacher is about to close up shop and teach private lessons only "to people who believe in science," lol. She is fed up with our group and the moms who keep asking, "When can my kid take off their mask?" My husband and I are ready to move, but the kids don't want to. They have pets (goats, chickens, barn cats) and they aren't ready to part with them just yet. We're stuck here for a while. It's just hard when my neighbors don't wave at us anymore. We used to bring them baskets of produce from the garden and carol at their homes for Christmas. Our mask wearing and political signs changed all of that. We're clearly not welcomed here anymore.
  13. OP (and everyone else), you are not alone. Our homeschool circle quickly went the way of "Covid is a hoax", our church dropped our family for our political views, and none of our neighbors (except for one) in our rural town talk to us anymore. It's terrible. I can handle the losses, although traumatic, but I really hurt for my kids. They don't have any friends anymore...my heart aches so badly for them. I feel like I have failed them. I tried to hold on to some friendships, but I just got to a place where I couldn't take it anymore. The issues were real, and I couldn't take the lies. I had to take a stand and say "No folks, I'm sorry, but you're wrong." I wasn't going to "agree to disagree" about a pandemic (or other issues afflicting America right now). I want to send you a hug and let you know you are not alone. It's so painful to be in this place...I never imagined there could be such a divide, but it is what it is.
  14. DH and I are 24 hours post 2nd Pfizer shot. About 4 hours in, I needed to take a nap. The rest of the night was really rough...chills, severe headache, fatigue. It felt like the flu. I'm starting to feel a lot better now, but I'll keep that a secret. My MIL decided to come to town, so I may have to suffer side effects for another 4 days. 😉 It's best if I stay in bed and not witness her quizzing my homeschoolers to see if they have actually learned anything this year. 😡 I had quite a bit of anxiety about the side effects. To prepare myself mentally, I envisioned my post shot experience like my natural childbirths. I knew it would be rough, but in 24 hours I would be done...and I would be with a new, sweet little baby. Now I have a new, sweet "immunity baby", which makes me so happy. I get to look forward to all of the good that comes from this new "baby" - vacations, hugs, parties with vaccinated friends. It's worth it. One last thing for those of you with anxiety (well, anyone getting the shot). If you can, plan to stay home and rest for 24 hours post shot. Make yourself some soup the day before, clean up your bedroom, change the sheets, find your favorite pjs, get a movie ready on Netflix. Just prepare like you're about to have a homebirth. 😉 Know that you may have a rough go, but it will end. Focus on how fortunate you are. Be brave. You can do it!! Enjoy your immunity baby!!
  15. I appreciate you taking the time to write this. Your words were really encouraging and helped me put things in perspective. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
  16. Ktgrogk - Easter is over, but I'm still watching this. I'm also forwarding it to people in my life who need a bit of hope. Thank you for posting this because it really made my day. Halleluiah, anyhow. 😊
  17. This was my first Easter feeling hopeless. I am painfully grieving this year, and I had such little hope today. I read Isaiah 25 (God Will Swallow Up Death Forever) and held on to that all day. I made it through Easter without crying, which was my goal. Trying to be strong for my kids. I enjoyed reading your responses throughout the day, so thank you for the replies. I kept reminding myself that I don't have to be at church to celebrate. There is Easter joy in family, nature, food, and scripture. My kids' hymn singing lifted my spirits. We can be anywhere and have the joy and hope of Easter.
  18. What are you doing instead? I am cooking a ton of food (a blessing), taking a nice walk with my family (a blessing), and we're going to spend some time singing our favorite hymns (always fun...and a blessing). ...I'm still struggling, though. My kids, too. We miss church, but we can't go back...it's hard. Will someone please remind me to focus on the good? There is so much hope in the message of Easter. I must focus on that message.
  19. This is great information, lots to think about. It's a fine balance with competitive sports. After adding the costs of lessons, club fees, travel expenses, etc. over years, some of the kids at our academy could pay for tuition (and then some) at a good college.
  20. At our academy, this is the minimum, usually expected of the late elementary/middle school age kids. The high school kids have 1 hour physical conditioning, 1 hour lesson (usually 4 lessons a week), 2 hours drills, 1 hour match play...that's 5 hours, and sometimes more. They usually put in some serve time, too. Then two day tournaments a couple times a month. Kids at our academy are regularly recruited for D1 schools.
  21. I've been gone for the past few days, but I want to come back and thank everyone for the replies. 😊 I'm feeling more confident in our decision to continue with SOHS for high schooler's education. Thanks again!!
  22. Congrats to you, too SeaConquest!! It sounds like you have quite the precocious child on your hands. Your STEM focus at SOHS and humanities/social sciences elsewhere sounds like a good balance. Good luck to you!!
  23. Oops!! I made a mistake there...typing while children are screaming at me. My apologies! 😊 What do you teach at AoPS? I have other kids who will be taking classes in the future. Do you know anything about how math is taught at Stanford OHS? My ds said he's reluctant to stop his classes at AoPS...he loves the program. He made it to state level MathCounts Competition last year, but it was cancelled because of Covid. He's still really upset about that. He said AoPS adequately prepared him for the competition! I'm hoping Stanford OHS can help him prepare for future math competitions because he is hooked and wants to continue. We'll look for a math club. I think he will continue with math contest prep at AoPS while attending Stanford OHS. Now we want to know who you are!! 😁
  24. Would it be possible to take one class with Stanford OHS so your ds would have access to the clubs and summer program at Stanford?
  25. Thanks, Lanny!! DS has two great extracurriculars, so we are good there. They were heavily sidelined because of the pandemic, but things will return to normal soon. The academic community is what ds really needs. I think we will find it at Stanford OHS.
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