Would this work? When kitten comes to you for attention, pick her up and give her a minute of attention, then let her go again. She is a living creature and has needs for attention and affection. (Not that you are not attentive or affectionate; I understand being interrupted when you are busy!) We usually do homeschooling on the livingroom floor, and our beloved cat Guinea is FAMOUS for plopping down on dd's workbooks or in the middle of whatever math project or phonics game we are playing. I have found that if I PICK HIM UP AND PET HIM, he gets his "love fix" and moves on. Do not pet him in the location you do not want him (on you keyboard, etc). Many cats are NOT affectionate like this, so value it and love her for it! hth ***We have 3 adult cats in the house.*** -------------------------------------------- ETA: I'm sure that you also probably have a few cat toys in the house for the new kitten. Could you assign each of your children to play with her for 3 minutes a few times a day so kitty can get the attention she needs and get tired out? This is a good "chore" if you have a 4 or 5yo in the house!

Loverboy is "along for the ride" for homeschooling...as well as several other of my crazy schemes! (Oh, if you only knew!!!) I do all of the planning and nearly all of the administration at this point. Loverboy steps in if I am tired and dd wants to work. How lucky am I? I am starting to plan in my head how we will do bigger history, science, or art projects together during Family Home Evening once dd is older and those subjects are introduced more seriously.

You have received really good advice to encourage your husband to wait until your newest baby is past the one year mark. This gives you time to heal and get past post-partum, and if he still feels the same way at the end of the year, you will know how strongly he feels about it. I am writing to encourage you to consider foster care or adoption if you feel that you have enough love in your home to share with another child. There are SOOOOOOO many kids that need the love you have to offer. If your husband is concerned about money for additional children, the state would subsidize the medical care and other needs of a foster child (not that you would be expanding your family for the money, but that the state would help you with care for an additional child....who really needs you!) Again, you most certainly should not be making any big decisions anytime in the near future, but I'm just putting this out there to think about.....

This is what works for us. Dd4 is addicted to tv. She would love to watch it all day every day. Dd gets 30 minutes "free" each day. Usually this is spent first thing in the morning watching a PBS show of her choice. (The TIVO is worth its weight in gold!!!!) Sadly, tv is the only way I have discovered for how to get her out of bed in the morning on preschool days. If dd wants more tv time, she must earn it with school work. If she does 4 pages of school work, she can earn 30 minutes of TV time. If she wants 30 minutes more, she must do 3 more pages of schoolwork. If she wants 30 minutes more, she must do 2 more pages of schoolwork. If she wants 30 minutes more, she must do 1 more page of schoolwork. Other details: --I group the harder/more time consuming lessons in the first group, when she is not so tired. --By the end of the 2 page cycle, she can see that she gets great benefit for doing just 1 more page of work. --We don't do 10 pages every day. My child is only 4, so a the schoolwork we do is "optional" for pace and amount these days. The OP has older children and will of course mandate certain subjects being done. --This system builds in automatic breaks, so dd4 can relax, and I can spend some quality time with the baby .... or I could wash dishes. :glare: --If dd wants to use her tv time during the day, it must be for educational tv (PBS; we also own Muzzy, Schoolhouse Rock, and Zula Patrol DVDs). If she wants some crap she checked out from the library (SpongeBob, Pokemon, ScoobyDoo :glare:), she must wait until after supper to use her tv time. This also teaches delayed gratification. --At this point, I don't limit computer games or combine them with tv screentime. All of dd's computer games are educational so far, and she is not on the internet other than Starfall or PBS kids. Disclaimer: things will of course change as our kids grow older. --I also reward financially to motivate dd, but that is another topic.

Yes, you are correct. If your child knows her math facts, all of math will be easier for her. This is so important. I have tutored college algebra students whose downfall is basic math facts. I have no fun or compelling games or activities, but this is what I did with the kids I homeschooled/nannied/babysat. Will there be moaning and groaning? You betcha! But this is what works: You need a digital timer and a set of flashcards from the store (~55cards) (Walmart, KMart, etc). 1) Set the timer for 3 minutes. Go through as many cards as your child can manage in the 3 minutes. If the child gets it wrong, put it on the bottom of the stack and move on to the next. If the child answers correctly, put the card on a stack for the child. When the timer goes off, count how many your child has answered correctly. Don't be discouraged if your child only answers a handful the first time. 2) Record the number your child answered correctly on a simple grid with date and what operation it was. The grid I would use had the date listed above, and I would write +/12 or x/38. Your child will see improvement over time, and that is encouraging to the child. Your child will also see that some days they do better or worse in the normal ups and downs of learning something new (another life lesson). 3)Reward your child IF they improved their score or got through all the cards. I have used 1 skittle as a reward. You could also pay 5 cents. (Is it worth it to you to pay 5 cents a day to improve your child's math skills?) You know what will work for your child and your family. ***Extra hints: --There will be moaning and groaning until they see you do this. The student will probably feel this is an impossible task. When you cannot stand the complaining any longer, take the cards, reset the timer for 3 minutes, and fly through them. Usually when I do this, there is 25 seconds left on the timer when I am done. The complaining stops. --What to do if your child has not yet learned all of their facts within the curriculum: For example, if I am working with a first grader that has only learned addition with +0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6, when a card surfaces with +7, +8, or +9 (which we haven't covered), I flip it over for the student to do the other side. If the student has not yet been exposed to that fact, too, just toss it to the side. No big deal. --Review review review. If I had a daughter that was in 4th grade, and she had already learned addition, subtraction, and multiplication, but was learning division: Every day we would do the division sequence for 3 minutes, and we would also alternate and do addition one day, subtraction the second, and multiplication the third. We would also record and reward scores for those 3 minute runs.

I have never used a rent-to-own store, although a friend uses a rental service occasionally to rent equipment for his business. (He is a house painter.) He does not rent-to-own. This only works for him for occasional pieces of equipment that he will only need for a few days or for a select job. Otherwise, I wouldn't do it. My understanding for the rent-to-own stores was that by the time your contract was completed, you had paid TWICE what the cost of the item was. I'm sure this doesn't need to be said, but: Read the contract carefully and make sure that you understand all additional fees and penalties. Some lease contracts add a balloon payment at the end of the contract. Others contracts are "open ended" (for some car "purchase" plans) so that you pay every month until forever. There is no amount listed as "This is the value of the car, and when you have paid that amount for a specific and limited number of months, your contractual responsibilities are complete."

To explain bizarre activity or choice of another: "Well, everybody needs a hobby."

Ames, IA, here. We are less than an hour from Newton. It was 105+dF in the shade this afternoon. *singing praises to the almighty inventor of air conditioning*

***I haven't read the other suggestions.*** Do your dc have friends who would keep them? Another family with similar aged children who would keep your young 'uns for a few days or parts of a few days? When #2 came along, I asked the mom of dd's best friend to keep #1 while we were in the hospital having the baby. #1 went to friend's house early in the morning (5am), and stayed most of the day until daddy collected her (5pm or so). After a quick visit to the hospital, daddy and #1 went home until the next morning (mid-morning), when #1 went to visit friend again. This continued until mom and baby were released from hospital. Some other things we did to prepare: --Same friends were willing to be on emergency call if the baby came early. --The day before baby's birth (planned C-section), we visited friends and daddy attached carseat in friend's car for their convenience. --Babysitter's notebook for friends to keep when our dd was there. This has all important phone numbers (cell phones, pediatrician, etc). --Permission slip for friend to put in her wallet in case dd needed emergency medical care....even though we were at the hospital. Oh, the irony. :tongue_smilie: --$100 in cash for friend to spend on dd for a fun day or for emergency. I know they planned to go out to lunch ("because it's not every day you become a big sister.") Likewise, I wanted friend to have cash on hand if dd needed anything we forgot to pack. Most of this money came back to us. My philosophy is that, "These people are caring for our child. We want them to be happy, and we want to make things as easy/simple for them as possible." Can you tell that I used to be a nanny? I offered cash payment to friend, too, but she refused. Instead, I bought a really nice set of blocks for their household. http://www.toystogrowon.com/sku601 Again, these people cared for Dear Daughter and helped us when we really needed it. To know that dd was in a safe and loving location allowed me to do what I needed to do: birth #2 and heal/rest before going home.

:iagree: As others have said, usually the younger generation (further removed) are less aware of the details of WWII. Likewise, I have seen my generation and older generation in my family be less aware of history within the last two decades. (I am 41yo). The genocide of Rwanda, for example, is unknown to them...among other historical events.

We have a chest freezer in the garage, too. And at least some of the summer has 100-degree-weather. (We're in Iowa, and every day of the next week is expected to be 95+dF). This is our third summer with the chest freezer. We've had no trouble so far. 1) Make sure the freezer closes tightly. I've started putting a random box on top to keep it closed. You could also lock your freezer to ensure it stays closed. To keep from losing the key, tie it to the wall or a garage shelf with a string that reaches to the lock. 2) Keep your freezer full. If this means filling empty milk jugs with water to fill the empty space, do it. It can double as your emergency water supply if your water is ever compromised. (Our city had 7 water main breaks last summer during flooding. We had non-potable water for nearly a week). If this is a brand new freezer, then I would be tempted to wait just a few weeks until the worst of the heat is past...if you can afford to wait.

Are you trying to rent from my dad? Long story....but my dad is just not savvy about housing prices. I wish he would just splurge on computer/internet access and get current info on the rest of the world.

From the start, dd4 wouldn't sleep more than 10 minutes if not in our bed. We tried letting her cry it out, but just couldn't. Once she came to our bed, she slept through the night all night every night until she started teething at 4 months. We transitioned her to a single bed in the same room before dd(infant) was born late last year. Often she falls asleep in the big bed, and we move her to the single bed when we as adults go to bed. Dd(infant) now sleeps with us. We love to be cozy with our girls. They will not always be this young.

Loverboy and I met online.

Lead Paint. One of the theories is that we don't put lead in paint any longer. Lead makes children (who grow up to be adults) violent. If children are no longer eating lead paint chips, the violence level goes down.

Poor is: --not enough food and not enough appropriately healthy food. (Food stamp alleviate this, but not everyone qualifies for food stamps). --greater than 30% of income spent on housing; especially if housing is the smallest/cheapest domicile one can find. --transportation is a struggle. This could mean inability to afford transportation, or a crisis occurs when your 19yo car breaks down. (Better public transportation would alleviate this). --living paycheck to paycheck --unable to afford to take days off from work, let along a 3 day vacation to another location. If your boss cuts your hours, it's a crisis. --unable to afford basic health care for self and dependents (Medicaid alleviates this, but not everyone qualifies who needs it). --unable to afford safe, quality childcare for your young children (Sliding scale daycares help, but the waiting list is often a year. Universal Pre-K helps). --having to work 2 jobs to pay the bills. --unable to afford even part-time college without financial aid. (Financial Aid helps with this, but too many students are graduating with massive student loans.) When more and more families with one or both parents working full time cannot afford these things, it is time for the government to step in. It is time for systemic changes.

We do 1 side, and I save the other for a later date. On days I don't have time to do all of the other parts of Saxon (clock, money, calendar), I'll have dd do a few pages of the review.

Both of my girls were born C-section. The first was after several days in the hospital after twice inducing...and still no baby. The spinal block didn't work for me, so I was knocked out with no notice, and I have no memory of dd4 being born. The anesthesiologist came to visit me in the hospital afterward to check on me. I told him that "remembering dd's birth would have been a wonderful memory, but it would have only been icing on the cake. The goal was a healthy baby, and that is what we got. I have no complaints." For dd(infant), we did a C-section because the local hospital no longer does VBACs. I'm not sure we would have done a VBAC anyway. With an older child for which to plan childcare, and Loverboy's work schedule, the C-section was the most practical. I encourage you to stay in the hospital as long as you can. We left after only 2 days (rather than the recommended 3, or the potential 4 that my healthcare would provide) because we wanted to be home by Thanksgiving. I should have taken that extra day or two.

If you are willing to give them away, I'll bet if you posted them here (on WTM site), someone knows an Emma that would get really good use out of the dresses. If it makes you feel better, ask for payment for mailing. I am in awe of your talent to make such beautiful dresses for your daughter!

We made this for supper tonight. It only took a few minutes. Avocado Soup 2 avocados 2 cloves garlic, minced 1c milk 2c vegetarian broth 1/4t ground nutmeg Add all ingredients to the blender and mix. Chill. Serve cold. I'm still burping garlic!

We don't even wash disposable swim diapers in the washing machine. I just put them upside-down/inside-out over a large juice bottle (filled with water to stabilize) to dry. After all, they've been marinating in chlorinated water.

:iagree: My younger brother sucked his two fingers until past age 9. Between the potential orthodontic bills for us and the potential teasing from peers for a child at that age, I KNEW I didn't want a thumbsucker. Dd4 was never impressed with a pacifier, so every time I saw her with a finger/thumb in her mouth, I offered her the breast. Of course, she's still breastfeeding......:lol:. Maybe it would have been easier to break a thumbsucking habit......

I would check out the Pampered Chef website. (No, I don't work for them). Pampered Chef teaches me how to look like a better cook than I actually am. http://www.pamperedchef.com/recipe_search/results.jsp?keywords=dessert&x=0&y=0 I like to make a trifle for dessert in a gathering. They are a lot easier to make than one would imagine.

I have no suggestions for you, but I'm incredibly impressed with the son you describe. We have only been doing a few months of piano lessons. I hope my daughter keeps it up. Could you just take him to a music store and let him browse a bit?

I'm not sure that our family has memberships to either, but we support both. Loverboy has several guns and loves to shoot targets. I am not 'into' guns, but am in favor of the 2nd Amendment as a lover of the Constitution. We both value the ACLU. When individual claim to be lovers of the Constitution, but hate the ACLU, I think it is a matter of missing information on their part. ***Duckens is trying to not be banned by dipping her toes into the political/religious waters*** In my extended family's part, they complain that the ACLU is anti-Christian and anti-Conservative. They don't know that the ACLU has defended a long list of both. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2729138 Rush Limbaugh, Oliver North, and Pat Robertson are also high profile cases defended by the ACLU. It's not personal. It's just the first amendment.