[Curious???? At what age should children generally stop]

I've had the same issue with my son. My friend, a former PS teacher and now a HS'er and tutor for Sylvan, said not to worry until after age 8 or so. Especially with boys, it can be really common to do this.

 

His biggest problem is with lower case d,b,p and q.

[Tummy sleeping babies?]

I woke up this a.m. with her having rolled off of me and lying in between me & dh, which is not something I allow in co-sleeping (men aren't supposed to be as "in tune" to their babies while sleeping). I'm apparently not as "in tune" either, and this worries me. Not sure what the answer is yet! I'm not 100% comfy with tummy sleeping, but we'll see...I think sometimes a sleep deprived mama can be more fatal than any of the other hazards out there!

 

I still remember clearly when DS1 was a newborn sleeping with us. I actually woke up suddenly one night, a moment before my DH started to roll back toward (on top of the baby!). I don't know how I knew he was going to roll over, but I can still see his back tipping over and I SHOVED the poor man out of bed before I knew what I was doing! We laughed about it, but yeah...after that, I put a mesh fabric toddler's bed rail along my side of the bed, and baby slept between me and it instead of between me and DH.

 

I have another baby due in a few weeks, and have been thinking about this issue again. Both of mine were also the kind to wake up on their backs. I did back-to-sleep as long as we could stand it, but eventually put them on their tummies. It was early with DS1 as he was a spitter and very high-maintenance. I'm hoping this little guy is the laid-back type who will sleep wherever you put him. I guess we'll see!

[Did anyone do cash for clunkers?]

We thought about it but in good conscience could not add to the public debt and use tax-payer money for something that we should pay for. Also, what a waste that perfectly good used cars have to be crushed and never used again. What are people who can't afford newer vehicles going to be able to purchase, or your homeschooled high schooler who can't afford a new car? Or how about salvage yards that keep those older vehicles to fix the body or your car when in an accident? Seems like trading one set of supposed problems (cleaner air/emissions) which hasn't exactly been proven, for another (landfill waste that won't ever decompose) plus public debt, personal debt, etc, etc. JMHO.

 

Another :iagree:here. I just found out today that my minivan with nearly 150K miles has a leak in the radiator. I'd love to have something new to drive, but it just doesn't feel responsible to do that when it means saddling my kids and grandkids (and yours) with paying the bill for these cars for decades to come.

[Challenging homeschooling article by Jonathan Lindvall (most definitely CC)]

I might go back and read the whole thing when I'm in a better mood. (Rough day here...) But I didn't make it very far into the piece...even though I am a Christian, I just don't like it when people question "non-Christian" motives for doing something. Why is teaching your kids about Jesus the ONLY real valid reason for a Christian family to homeschool? I know that for many people, that is the main reason. It's a part of why we began this journey, but isn't the entire picture.

 

I imagine that the author and I share quite a lot of the same convictions regarding our faith--and I do take mine very seriously. But it bothers me when people over-spiritualize things to the point that it discounts other good reasons for making choices such as homeschooling. To imply that reasons such as a better education, more family time, less exposure to bullying, etc. are less valid than a desire to teach our kids our faith...well, that kind of tunnel vision just annoys me. If that's YOUR main reason for homeschooling, fine. But there are lots of other good reasons to choose this path in life--reasons that I dare say, God himself would approve of.

["reek havoc"]

My oldest's ex-3rd grade teacher used to send home letters with misspellings ALL the time. (Spring BRAKE rung a bell...) :glare:

 

I tried posting a reply to this thread last night but it had to be moderated...I think because of a semi-naughty word I used to describe my FIL? Or maybe I'm not allowed to share links yet. Anyway...

 

My favorite Craigslist blooper is one I see often down here in the south: Chester Drawers (chest of drawers). :lol: One time there was an ad for a Rod Iron Candle Lauber. Highly confusing at first; then I saw the pic and realized it was a wrought iron candelabra.

 

And my pompous FIL, who loves to talk about his health problems...actually he never really stops talking...droned on and on one evening about his "hyena hernia". (Hiatal hernia) I wanted to ask if the doctor knew it was a hyena hernia by the laughter-like sound it emitted. :D

[How do you clean baby "creases"??]

I had a chubby, sensitive-skinned baby and was always told NOT to use cornstarch on these type of rashes, as they're most often caused by yeast. And cornstarch is actually food for yeast; it makes it worse.

 

You can still find plain talc baby powder, and it is best for crease rashes. Just be careful not to breathe in the dust. If it's really stubborn, I put a thin layer of Butt Paste ointment on first. Also, your ped can give you a prescription for Nystatin powder. That stuff is antifungal and like a miracle cure!

["reek havoc"]

My favorite and most commonly seen Craigslist blunder is "Chester Drawers" (chest of drawers) :lol:

 

I also saw an ad for a set of "Rod Iron Candle Laubers". It took me a minute to realize that it was a wrought iron candelabra.

 

But my favorite spoken blunder has to be what my loudmouthed, overbearing, know-it-all but quite dumb FIL said while droning on about his health one night. He told us all about his "hyena hernia" (hiatal hernia) . I don't know how I kept a straight face as he said it repeatedly. I kept biting my lip to keep from cracking up, but I wanted to ask if the doctor knew it was a hyena hernia from the laughter-like sounds it emitted. :lol:

[The disillusionment has set in...]

Lol! Sorry, but I'm also in the education field, have homeschooled my daughter from the beginning, and I get this as well. I've felt the same as you: why every other child can enjoy my lessons (I tutor ps children now), but my own daughter doesn't? What am I doing wrong? The answer is, nothing.

 

There are naturally born "I love school regardless of where it is" children (I was one of those), and there are children who will not love school, regardless of where it is. Your son and my daughter fit that category.

 

My kids are like your daughter and the OP's son...and I am like you! Actually, I didn't LOVE the social experience of school, as I was painfully shy as a child. But I loved all the learning, the projects, reports, all of the bookwork. It's taken some time to accept the fact that my boys just aren't wired the same, and it's NOT personal when they ask "Are we done yet?" Usually it turns out that they're daydreaming about something, like building a new Bionicle (7 y.o.) or practicing a new riff on the guitar (11 y.o.).

 

And hey, let's be honest--some days I'm also daydreaming of being finished so I can finally kick back with a cold drink and a magazine. :D

[Seriously, how bad are the bugs in Florida?]

I lived in Orlando a couple of years after college, and now I only like to visit there. In the wintertime. ;) But you have to understand that I wilt in humidity and get very irritated when I'm hot for long periods of time. And in Florida, that's pretty much February through November. The first year I lived there, it was so hot we only had one month (January) that we did not have to to use the a/c at home.

 

We were also stationed in Pensacola for a couple of years and that left a bad impression, too. I have no desire to ever live in Florida again.

 

The bugs are awful, and the worst are palmetto bugs. Google them if you dare; massive nasty cockroaches that FLY (one flew into my hair once...so disgusting!). I found them just as prevalent in P'cola as Orlando. They live in pine trees and only come inside looking for food or water. We used to get them lots in P'cola because we had a lot of pines around the house. One time, we'd ordered a pizza, and went into the kitchen for another slice. When I raised the lid, I saw a big honkin' cockroach sitting on top of it, eating my pizza! It was so big, I swear to you, you could see the teensy bite marks it made into the edge of the cheese! They also used to leave droppings under the kitchen sink. I thought I had a mouse problem until an exterminator told me what that actually was. SO gross!

 

You also get reptiles in the house in central Florida. We'd often move the sofa to vacuum and find these flattened, dried up tree frogs that had gotten in and died underneath. However, our cat loved chasing the lizards that also crept in from time to time.

 

Oh, and don't forget the lovebugs. They come twice a year and spatter all over your car when you drive. They're very acidic and if you don't wash them off right away, they can start damaging the paint job.

 

I know every area has its ups and downs, and Florida can be pleasant during the wintertime. But the rest of the year the weather and the bugs make it too miserable for me.

[So-o-o many new faces. Perhaps it is time for a new intro thread.]

Total newbie here, but have been lurking for a while. I don't even remember how I found this board, but you have some interesting discussions, so I thought I'd register and chime in.

 

Lily and Max (my username) are my cats.

 

I'm Kari, and have been homeschooling my two sons since we pulled the oldest out of school in the middle of third grade. That was January '07 and we haven't looked back. The plan, for now anyway, is to HS through high school.

 

DS1 is 11 and just started 6th grade. DS2 is 7 and in 2nd grade.

 

I'm 32 weeks pg with our third boy. Since I'm going to be 41 soon, and experiencing pregnancy complications, this is probably our last child, though I'd have loved to have more.

 

We are Christians, and we live in the Southeastern US. I also work very part-time as a freelance writer.

 

And I'm hoping that my signature shows up at the bottom of this, because for the life of me I can't figure out why it didn't show on other posts! :001_smile:

[Door to Door Religious Visitors]

I'm usually friendly, but point-blank. I say something like, "I understand why you're doing what you're doing, but I have a strong belief in my own faith and know that no matter how long we might talk, you won't change my mind and I won't change yours." Then I smile, say "Have a great day!" and close the door.

[Only second day of PS and so far I am not impressed.]

Just adding that the local elementary school here also does not allow talking during the lunch period ever. This has been 2 years and counting and parents don't care. Boggles my mind. How can you expect 1st-3rd graders to not talk hardly at all ALL day.

 

 

My 7 y.o. is an absolute motor-mouth who would die in that kind of environment! :lol: Or constantly be in trouble for talking. And I also think it's ironic that we're told to send our kids to school so they can socialize...when they're not allowed to talk. :001_huh: