[The Collapse of Parenting by Leonard Sax]

Ha! I read the book!!!! It was very thought provoking, especially the teacher concerns at Australian high school compared to the teacher concerns at US ones.

 

So amusing to hear the opinions of those that haven't read the book :)

[Anthologies: The Children's Hour vs Young Folks' Library vs ?]

This thread is old! But I came across it while Googling for Golden Books Nature or something. Now I've got Bookshelf and Through the Golden Window on the way.

 

[Carseat booster for 8yo?]

Finally ready to move out of the Britax 5pt harness and I'd likes some recommendations for a booster seat for an 8yo.

Which ones are good? What to avoid? Are the ones with highbacks better than the little seat things?

[Good Friday Etiquette Question]

Thank you for all the straightforward replies. I so enjoy this group!

 

[Good Friday Etiquette Question]

Good Friday is an important observance to me.  But I don't think it's inappropriate or disrespectful for someone to plan a party on Good Friday especially since many USians don't observe the day at all.  Christmas is a broader cultural tradition in the US as is Easter Sunday to some extent, but Holy Week isn't. Most people in the US don't get school or work off on that day. In many parts of the US there's really no reason to not have a party that day.

 

I don't think about planning around Eid al-Adha in the US unless there are a lot of Muslim kids in the neighborhood.  I don't worry about Yom Kippur if there aren't Jewish kids we're inviting.  Those are highly significant holy days for Muslims and Jews, but there's no reason why the greater community around those people should be expected to close down too.

 

As a religious person, I figure there are going to be times when we can't do things because of our religious commitments.  It seems odd to me that people would expect their wider, non-religious community to not plan a party on a significant holy day.

 

Thank you. This puts it into perspective.

 

[Good Friday Etiquette Question]

Do most people 'observe' Good Friday? Would it not be ideal to have a party that day, specifically, a child's birthday party?

 

 

 

 

ETA: To correct wording of 'celebrate' to 'observe'.

Sorry to offend - I don't even know what it is, just saw it on the calendar and have heard that it is a Christian day.

 

 

[Ebay return question and advise needed]

File an "Item Not as Described" case with Ebay.  He will then be forced to take it back and pay for the return shipping as well.  I'm a long time seller on Ebay.  Ebay will always side with the buyer in a case like this.  In the case of "item not as described", there's really no way, as an Ebay seller, to have a no returns policy.  Depending upon the item's value, the seller may choose to just give you a refund and tell you to keep it.  That would save them the cost of the return shipping.

 

As the other poster stated, don't ship it back until he agrees to receive it and provides you a shipping label for it or pays you the cost of the return shipping.

 

Thank you. I actually did file with Ebay that the item was not as described and he said he wouldn't refund or accept my return, but then I got the postage paid Priority shipping label.

 

I'm just worried he will withhold the cost of return shipping, plus since it's so heavy, I feel like I could send it media mail for way cheaper. Can he withhold the return shipping cost from the refund?

Would it be okay to send the books back media mail even though he sent the Priority label? I could send the stuffed animal with the Priority label.

 

And he is a power-seller so I keep thinking he must know a way to rip me off.

[Ebay return question and advise needed]

How does a return work when the seller states they don't accept returns? I bought a set of books that came with a small stuffed animal. The seller shipped media mail, even though there was a non-media item.

 

It arrived smelling like mildew and overall the condition was not as advertised. This was not a small purchase, it cost $175.

 

I contacted the seller about the condition, who told me they do not accept returns and would not offer a refund. I told him I'd like to send it back, and he said he'd refuse the package and would not give me a refund. Again I explained that the books smelled like mildew and wasn't sure what to do. He did not respond, but I received notice from Ebay that the seller had sent me a postage paid label for the return....

 

Now, I'm really not sure what to do!

 

The postage label is for priority shipping and it is a 14lb package. It will cost about $50-$60 to ship Priority. Who pays for this? Can the seller back charge me for the postage? Could I send the stuffed animal back with the Priority postage paid label and then pay out of pocket to send the books back media mail (2 packages)? I'd rather not anyone have to pay that much in shipping if it can be avoided.

 

If I send it back, will I get a full refund or will it be up to the seller that has already told me several times he wont refund? And if he does refund, can he deduct the return shipping cost? Is there anything I should do to protect myself from loosing out on the books and the money.

 

Oh yeah, the return label is to a PO Box.

 

What should I do?

Return it using the postage paid Priority label, return it in 2 packages, try to resell it to some one that doesn't care about the smell?

 

 

[Cartoons like Little Bear or Kipper- suggestions]

I forgot to add 'Yakari' - I really don't like the shows where they're mean or rude, however in this one, one of the older boys occasionally lightly teases Yakari.

 

I've found the PARENT reviews at Common Sense Media to be an excellent source for deciding what's good or not. You have to scroll down to see them.

[Cartoons like Little Bear or Kipper- suggestions]

I'm right there with you.

 

'Justin Time' - this is such an awesome, educational show. It is so sweet, the characters are sweet, nothing bad happens, it's about history. It really needs a lot more publicity than it gets.

 

Really like 'Stella and Sam' because the siblings are so nice to each other.

 

'Kate and Mim-mim'

 

'DragonTales'

 

'Lily's Driftwood Bay' - another show where they are very respectful to each other

 

[new homeschool group]

I agree with Ellie. Smaller groups are more intimate, however getting together too often can cause other kinds of problems. The idea suggestions are wonderful.

[What did you give your 18 year old dd for her birthday?]

When ours turned 18, we gave gifts that symbolized blessings. I can't remember everything, but a few things were:

 

journal - to write your own story

compass - to find your way

chocolate - for life to be sweet

steampunk skeleton keys - to unlock doors

flashlight - to always have light

 

 

 

[Evolution of language: "hippie"]

To me, "crunchy" is the positive or neutral term while "hippie" is the derogatory term.

 

"Crunchy" has all the natural living associations without the negative '60's era "free love", drug-abusing, etc. associations of "hippie".

 

Yes, this. Exactly what I was trying to say, but you made it much clearer.

[Evolution of language: "hippie"]

Derogatory, unless it is referring to an older person that actually fits the description of a hippie in the 60's & 70's (peace-loving hippie).

 

In our circles, when we hear 'hippie' it is generally used as an insult referring to an unlcean, poorly-educated, slow-talking, drug user (hippie or dirty hippie).

 

I think now-a-days the term people used to define themselves as "hippie" is 'granola' or 'crunchy.'

[YES! My dh just called a child the wrong name.]

why would it be something only mothers did?  Or do you mean that so far it has only been something you have done in your family?

 

Around here it is 50-50.

 

DH grew up being called the dogs name, lol. 

 

lol! Well, in our house, it's just been me. And I've only heard other moms do it or discuss it, so I assumed it was just a mom-thing. Apparently I've been wrong all these years :D

[YES! My dh just called a child the wrong name.]

I do that all the time! Dh is more prone to calling the dc by the dogs' names.

 

:lol: I'm not sure why I think that is so funny, but it keeps making me giggle.

 

[YES! My dh just called a child the wrong name.]

He's always grins and stifles a laugh when I've gotten it wrong. So excited that it happened to him. lol!

[YES! My dh just called a child the wrong name.]

I thought calling your child the wrong name was exclusive to mothers, however my very intelligent husband just called one of our children the name of another child. :laugh:

[DNA Testing? For ancestry information]

Has anyone did one of these? If so, who with and which company? Seems like there are several, but not sure which one is the best.

 

TIA

[Am I Being Unreasonable here?]

I don't know, reading these boards I wonder if I'm especially confrontational or something. Maybe I'm a brute who lacks refined social graces, but if I felt this much about the pencil then I'd have waltzed right up to her the next day and said "Hey, colleague, where is my special purple pencil? You know the one that I *told you* was very special to me and that I'd want it back? Yeah, that one. Oh, you forgot it at home today? No problem, can you please bring it tomorrow? Thanks."

 

I'd be mad if she'd lost my special favorite pencil, but I wouldn't have a visible negative reaction to it.

 

The way that I see it, its my bloody pencil, it was a loan given in good faith not a gift given out of love. You have the right to expect it back.

 

:iagree:

 

Yep, except, I'd ask to follow them home so I could pick it up!

 

It's the principle of it.

 

 

 

BTW: This was funny!

[Am I Being Unreasonable here?]

I only logged in to vote.

 

YES! Go ask for your pencil back. Just say, 'hey can I have my pencil back that you borrowed?'

 

It may seem petty to other people, but ultimately, it is about YOUR BOUNDARIES!

 

If you let it go now, then it will forever be easier and easier for you to compromise yourself later. Unless you love her, or she's your child, or something along those lines, definitely go get it back.

[A fun social studies book for k]

Mine liked Richard Scarry's and the Sonlight Pk (says Pk, but the books are good for about 4-7/8)

 

What Do People Do All Day

 

Busy, Busy Town

 

Things People Do

[Co-op Science]

I'm no help, but curious how you set up your SOTW co-op. We're starting a co-op, but have no idea what I'm doing :) Would love ideas, or even some sort of plan!

[Van Gogh and his ear - telling a child?]

I just read the link. Very nice. Thank you for sharing it. I'm glad to know this about him, makes me like him a little better and makes a whole lot more sense than the other story...

[Van Gogh and his ear - telling a child?]

It was only his earlobe, not his whole ear, and interestingly enough some historians are now suggesting that it was actually cut off by Gaughin, who was an expert fencer, and that Van Gogh claimed to have done it himself in order to cover for his friend.

 

 

Yes, as an adult, this is what I've heard too, over an argument that had been escalating for some time, and that he gave it to a prostitute of a brothel they frequented, not a random woman on the street - which is what my teacher said.

 

I'm just annoyed that it's what everyone wants to tell children right away. Seems like most people immediately want to pull out the morbid very young - none of these homeschooled children had heard about it before and mine was a little confused and couldn't understand what it had to do with the picture they were looking at.

 

When is it age appropriate?