I'd lay serious money that the hospital had a complaint letter, or a series of complaint letters, about insensitivity to religion issues, and this is a portion of how they choose to handle it. (Non-religious examples): Example 1: When our first child was (C-section) born, the nurses were not bringing me appropriate or adequate meds on schedule, but were condemning me for not walking independently to the bathroom (with no meds in me). I wrote a letter of complaint to the hospital when they asked for feedback after dd had been born. When our second child was born, guess who was put in charge of my meds? That's right: ME. They gave me a sheet of paper to record when and what I took. The meds were locked in my room (in case of other small children/siblings visiting the room) with an easy code on the lockbox. If I didn't get meds when I needed them, it was my fault. Within 4 years, the hospital had addressed the problem. Example 2: Friend went into labor a couple of weeks early. She received poor advice from the on-call nurse, and was told to not leave for the hospital until the contractions were 1 minute apart :eek: (as opposed to 5 minutes apart as we had been educated in prenatal classes). Then they were delayed by two trains blocking the road as they came across town. When she arrived at the hospital, the check-in nurse was asking her paperwork questions about dietary preferences and such. :glare: It's really not what she needed at that exact moment. Of course, she complained in the after-birth evaluation that she gave to the hospital. Again, by the time our second child was born, paperwork about dietary preferences was included in the "pre-registration" packet that all pregnant parents are asked to fill out and turn in weeks before delivery date. I believe that most people (especially those nurses!!!) are genuinely caring people who want to be there for you in your hour of need. This gives patients and opportunity to voluntarily share and address religious concerns with their caregivers so the best of care can be given.

For the record, I think when we begin discussion, we will move to the CHAT board. *I didn't know it was down there! Duh!!!!* At that time, I will try to put an announcement on this board at that time. We hope that we can get up and running down there soon!

And the winners are........ February: Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv (16 votes) March: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain (16 votes) April: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (8 votes) If you really don't want to read one of these books, then skip that month and join us in the months that you have interest. Our time if too valuable to be reading stuff that we don't want to read. ----------------------------------------------------------- PM me if I messed up in the vote count. I apologize in advance for any mistakes I have made. Yes, I know there was a tie between Last Child and Quiet. I made an executive decision. (I had already started reading Last Child because it was ahead in the voting a few days before when I went to the library). Watch for the new thread around February 1, 2013. It will be in the form of "MBC Feb13 Last Child in the Woods." Start your own personal lists of which books to recommend for May-June-July (if we get that far). We'll do another voting thread in April.

Thank you so much for all of your replies. It is reassuring just to know that this is within the normal range of development. I'll try to post again when they finally fall out!

1) Legos from Lego Education (teaches engineering and programming). I would do either WeDo or Mindstorms. 2) A second language. Chinese is great. Knowing Hindustani or Spanish will make him a powerhouse and open doors for him. (To sell this, google the top languages in the world and how many people he could communicate with if he knew either of those on top of Chinese). 3) Silent reading. 4) Engineering Activities with Paper and Cardboard Pitsco has many building kits: from catapults to rockets. Browse the site. 5) Snap Circuits to teach electronics. There are threads on WTM discussing which kit is the best. 6) Join Boy Scouts, and assign this time for working on badge requirements. 7) If you have a dog (or a neighbor with a dog), assign this time to walk the dog, play with the dog, and train it. Tricks could be: sit, lay, leave it, roll over, come, etc. What would he like to do? What solution does he have for this issue?

Dd just turned six years old in the middle of last month. A day or two after her birthday, she announced that a couple new teeth were coming in, and sure enough, her two front-bottom teeth are coming in! It has been three weeks, the two new bottom teeth are bigger every day, but her old (deciduous) bottom teeth are not even loose. We're ready to rename her "Bruce" (after one of the sharks in Nemo). 1) Has this happened to anyone else? 2) At what point should we take her in to see the dentist? (Daughter's next scheduled appointment is in April). Other information: two weeks ago, Loverboy telephoned our family dentist, and the dentist wasn't worried about it.

If there is a tie between books, we will simply have our book choices for the first 4 months rather than the first 3 months. It's all good!

We just finished the Apples (first book) from Inter-Library Loan. (It had to come all the way from Washington state; we're in Iowa!) Fred uses math in his everyday life. So when your kids ask, "When will I ever use this math???" Fred can answer them. We have friends that use it as their sole math program, and their kids love it. I think most people use it as a supplement to traditional math, or as a reward (because the stories are so silly). It is recommended (on the website? somewhere?) that your kids know all of their basic math facts before starting the series. I haven't decided yet if we will purchase the series or not. I'm trying to talk the local library into purchasing the series. I emailed the library's homeschool liason and dropped off the book and a message with her coworker today. There is religious content in the book, usually as a detail; not as "the moral of the story." I don't know if that bothers you or not. I am not sure how much it bothers me. There are discussions on freethinker homeschooling sites that outline how much it bothers (or doesn't bother) that population.

Write a letter to whoever coordinates libraries in your state, and tell them to look into Iowa's WILBUR system. This is a systemic problem and needs a systemic solution. WILBUR is a database of audio downloads and ebooks. (As I understand it): With the rise of e-products, all of the libraries in Iowa joined together and created WILBUR. All Iowa libraries may participate in WILBUR. We all share the e-content. So, if I want to download, The Hobbit, I have access to however many downloadable copies the combined libraries have purchased. Likewise, if a book is specifically popular (50 Shades of Grey was the example), our town library may purchase extra copies of the ebook that is reserved for our members before other libraries have access, so the wait will not be as long. This is an example of government working well. I don't know who in the statehouse voted to fund such a crazy idea, but the system is great!

Bump

1) Is he tired? For most kids, morning is the best time for math and phonics. Also, does he wake himself in the morning, or do you need to wake him? 2) In our household, if there is yelling by the child, I have found it effective to ask, "Am I yelling at you? We don't yell at people who aren't yelling at us." 3) Whenever we get to the point of meltdown, I suggest that dd go rest on her bed. Nearly every time this happens, she is asleep within minutes. No wonder she was out of sorts. 4) I ignore the whining. Or agree with it. "(sigh) Why do I always have to do work?" My reply: "You bet I do! Because I want you to know lots of things when you grow up." 5) Ask your child what HE thinks the solution is. Explain that there is this schoolwork that needs to be done. What does HE think is the solution? What would he tell a 5yo that wasn't doing the things he was supposed to do. 6) Rewards: Could you hold the legos until at least one subject is done for the day? Don't just take them away. Mention a couple of times in the day or week leading up, "Starting next week, the legos will be put away until X is done." Put them in your bedroom or in a closet. When there is complaining, "I wish I could have my legos," Answer: "Well, as soon as X is done, the legos will come out. I don't have control over you doing X. Only YOU do. I'd be happy to help you with X in whatever way you need. Let me know what I can do." And move on with your day. "I am not the one you need to be mad at. You are the one who is not doing your work. When X is done, the legos will come out. In our household, it's not legos, it's tv that is monitored and limited in this way. Dd gets a half hour of tv for free, and she can earn more tv if she does schoolwork. 7) Would an incentive of staying up late be a possibility? For the past two nights, dd has stayed up late with the understanding that she will be doing schoolwork, and she will not be complaining. I don't care if math is done from 10-11am or 10-11pm. I just care that it gets done. Whenever there is complaining, the deal is off. 8) On days that he does schoolwork, praise him to Daddy on the phone (if possible) and at dinner. "Jack worked really hard at his schoolwork today! He did x, y, and z!" Praise your child while he is working, "I can see how hard you are working! I can't wait to tell Daddy tonight!"

Sorry folks. I've tried REPEATEDLY to delete this poll and this post, and I just can't figure out how to do it. This poll only allows one vote. Please be sure to vote on the other thread instead to make sure that your votes count.

Here is the time to vote on books for the nascent monthly book club. PLEASE VOTE ONLY IF YOU PLAN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MONTHLY BOOK CLUB. Please make 3 or fewer choices. Note that the compare and contrast books were listed both separately or together. I also listed the LOTR series, but I also gave the option of the just the first book in the series. The books listed in the poll are those that were mentioned by name and seconded by another member. I apologize if I overlooked any worthy books. It was not intentional. Today is Tuesday, January 2nd, 2013. Voting will remain open for one week. By the end of that time, we will have our choices for February, March, and April. The most popular book will be chosen for February. The second most popular will be our pick for March. And the third most popular book will be our April selection. This will give you a few weeks to request books from the library, purchase them from a local bookseller, or order them online. We hope that even if the selections are not your specific favorite, you will feel free to drop in to read for the months with books that appeal to you. If a choice is more than 400 pages, we will adjust the time to reflect 100pages/week. We all have very busy lives, and I think that 100pages/week is the maximum quantity that I can dedicate to this project. I know I am not the only one. On February 1st, I will try to start a thread with the title: MBC Feb13 [name of book].

The Phantom of the Double Post strikes again!

Our librarian says that she is okay with the little kids chewing on books and such. She says that it is important that young children know that, "Books are pleasurable." Of course, if you are the one replacing them, it is an issue. Invest in a roll of packing tape (for pages ripped out or board books) and a roll of scotch tape. When the kids outgrow the books, toss them. You may need to put the books up or away in a clothes basket in your room until the littles learn to be more gentle with them. -------------------------------------- Beware! We invested in a Nook because there were some early chapter books that our public library just didn't invest in as paper. Checking out as electric was the only option. We have read a few books together this way, but at this time, the kids associate the Nook with apps and games rather than reading a book. I can't even read to myself with the Nook while nursing the 2yo because she will insist that it is game time. FTR, I don't regret the apps on the Nook because both kids have learned a ton from them. They just are not quite ready to sit for a Nook Story. One more thing-- As I remember it, the electronic books for little kids have not been kid friendly. If I ask dd2 if she sees an elephant, she will point to the page, and by touching the screen, will move to a different page before we are done discussing the page we are currently on. Not a good medium for 2yos.

I just sent PMs to both of the OPs for the prior threads. I am willing to take the lead, but I don't want to step on any toes. It could just be that it is a crazy/busy time of year. Hopefully we can get something going by February 1st.

It DOES get easier as they get older, but that doesn't help you now. We co-sleep, and I still nurse both our girls, so I TOTALLY get where you are coming from. For me, I am lucky with Loverboy. Once a month, I abandon him and the girls, and I rent the local community center of our trailer court ($10) to sew or scrapbook all day. I order out for Fighting Burrito. Sometimes friends join me. Sometimes it is just me. I am just around the corner if the baby needs to nurse to lay down for a nap. The trade-off: 1) The kids watch a lot of tv that day. We follow the 85% rule in our house. As long as the kids' tv is limited 85% of the time, it will be okay. 2) Dad feeds them whatever they want. His philosophy (for the nursing toddler) is that she can't have the one thing she wants (breastmilk), so he is willing to give her WHATEVER ELSE she will eat. (Apply the 85% rule to junk food). 3) When I come home, the kids are a little more needy of my time and attention for that evening. I try to be accommodating. 4) Dad is pooped at the end of the day. I used to feel bad on an average day because I would be too exhausted to do anything by the end of the day. Once I started leaving Loverboy with the kids, I realized, "Hey, I look like that at the end of the day!" And I quit feeling bad for not doing more in the evenings. Can you get an evening a week or a couple of days a month of time to yourself if your husband can take the kids?

1) For some parents, unschooling is just not a good fit. 2) For some kids, unschooling is just not a good fit. 3) That doesn't mean that it may not be a good fit or under certain circumstances in the future. 4) You shouldn't feel any worse about changing from unschooling to something more structured than you would by recognizing, "Hey, [insert math program here] isn't working for us. I'm going to trash it and try something different." 5) You should be :party: because you know what direction to try next! Let me pop open the champagne for you!

I don't know about what Dave Ramsey says, but goals do need to be specific to be attainable. To say, "I need to be more affectionate toward my partner," is not nearly as specific as, "I will hug and kiss my partner at least 3 times each day." --------------------------------------------------- Goals for me: 1) 4 servings of fruit each day (1/2 apple is one serving) 2) 5 servings of vegetables each day 3) Lay out fruits and vegetables first thing in the morning 4) Do SOMETHING for exercise every day. 5) Put dd6 to bed by 9:30 each night. (If she gets to bed later, she is a BEAR in the morning to get up before 9am). 6) Awaken dd2 by 9:30am. (If she sleeps too late in the morning, she will nap late (5-7pm) and stay up until past midnight. 7) Pull my sorry butt out of bed by the time Loverboy leaves for work.

More legos: http://shop.lego.com/en-US/MiniBuilds;jsessionid=Di87Xru5twUrK1HBXYrYYg**.lego-ps-1-4?ShipTo=US&_requestid=1237616 ...but that wasn't the site I was thinking of. The Lego Idea book has ideas, but it is too old for us in our house (age 6). http://www.amazon.com/LEGO-Ideas-Book-Daniel-Lipkowitz/dp/0756686067/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356877521&sr=8-1&keywords=lego+book

Lego has things to build on their site: http://club.lego.com/en-us/building-steps/ I know there's another source, too. I'll see what I can find.

I'm sorry that you don't have the support you need from family. :grouphug: Since that is the case, your first assignment as a homeschooler is to practice the phrase, "Please pass the bean dip." 1000 times over the next month. "Please pass the bean dip" is a common refrain for changing the subject whenever others comment with negativity about your homeschooling. I think the phrase has even been copyrighted by the homeschooling community. :laugh:

I'm going to have to go pee before I read any more of these. The toddler is still in bed, so I can't blame and accident on the living room floor on her!

Stamps. Coins and other money. Subway tickets. Candy. Photos or postcards of French Landmarks: --Louvre: entrance and traditional part --Eiffel Tower --Arc de Triomphe --Notre Dame --the Sorbonne --artists painting and selling their wares in public --motorscooters --cafes

1) Thumbs up for ETC as supplement to another phonics program or replacement for HWOT. 2) We did 100EZ Lessons. It was adequate and did the job; I plan to use it for dd2, but there are MANY good curriculum out there that will do the same job, if not better. 3) We are doing a K/1 year this year. Dd is a Ker age-wise, but some of her curriculum is higher. She just turned 6. So we are just a little ahead of you. We also have a 2yo in the house. This is your friendly warning to not get bogged down and discouraged if you don't get around to doing lessons every day. Some days the toddler needs me most. She just needs to nurse and nurse. Some days we just can't seem to get traction to get stuff done. I'll have been up late (2:30am) with the toddler or insomnia, the cat throws up on something, and we have no clean dishes for lunch (so they need to be washed before anything else is done). Or when Loverboy has a day off from work...I just know that traditional homeschooling is going out the window. This is also your friendly reassurance that it will be fine if the schedule is not strictly kept. We do best with a stable schedule, but at this point, the big goals are reading, writing, and arithmetic.....but especially reading well. These are the things we work on if we get a good start in the morning. On days that we don't get a good start, we just read (and evaluate the books), do ETC, Maps, State Study, or Unit Study. Sometimes we just play educational games. There are days that we do piano and flashcards and then watch a lot of PBS KIds. :blush: Welcome aboard!