AHASRADA
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Posts posted by AHASRADA
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Insurance, insurance, insurance! Make absolutely positive that your belongings are insured, ideally for replacement value, but at least current value, and not by the pound! Also find out what the max. coverage is. I would also advise that you take photos of your belongings (which we should all do anyway), including detailed photos of any particularly valuable or damage-prone pieces (piano, wide-screen TV, large wooden pieces). That way you have proof of the condition of your belongings in case anything is damaged.
Our movers (who were wonderful) accidentally packed dh's kerosene heater, which was in it's original box, assuming it was empty. It wasn't (full of kerosene!) It sloshed in the truck and got all over some items. They sent out an adjuster to look at all the items we claimed, and paid in a timely manner.
So, yes, look for a reputable company that is unlikely to damage or lose your items, but making sure they are well insured in the event something does happen, is equally important.
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From their website:
"Hypoallergenic - leaves no residue - perfect for babies and those who have sensitive skin Dissolves completely / biodegradable / Front-loader / HE compatible.
Our Laundry Powder is a revolutionary approach to laundry care. It does not cover up stains and odors with scents and brighteners - it really cleans. It is made with a unique blend of biodegradable coconut-based detergents and high-grade, completely soluble, Green River washing soda."
Charlie's is very highly recommended by cloth diaper companies, and is supposed to clean clothes down to the fibers, leaving no residues. It has no scent or enzymes. You can only buy in bulk directly from the company, but Amazon has one tub of the powder for $12 with supersaver shipping, so that might be a good way to give it a try.
HTH,
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I love the show; don't think I've missed an episode since it began on TLC. Dh thinks it's sick, and can't imagine how I can stand to watch. Personally, it doesn't motivate me to the extent that it does the other posters, in that I don't immediately jump up and start cleaning and purging. What it does is make me feel better about my own clutter, ie: it's not hopeless, look at the mountains of junk they managed to dig out from under, so surely I can get a handle on a few rogue books, jackets and toys! Fortunately, no one in my family hoards, we don't keep trash or junk, but all of us (except maybe dd) tend to keep our possessions for a very long time, and they eventually become too much and need to be purged. Ds is particularly sentimental and doesn't like to part with his stuff. As I type, he is watching Tarzan on VHS, the first mainstream video he ever received...at age 4! (he's 14!) I said, "We still have that?" His response: "Where would it go?" Yes, indeed. :tongue_smilie:
I, too, have considered the possibility of being a professional organizer. Most people tell me I am the most organized person they know, and am very good at the theoretical/procedural aspect...especially with other people's stuff ;). Somehow, in my own home, I can't help but see the whole picture, feel overwhelmed, not know where to begin, and therefore lack the motivation to do so. Watching hoarders reminds me that my little piles are certainly not insurmountable and encourages me to take small steps toward decluttering.
BTW, preparing to welcome a new baby into our home (including all the baby equipment) and the accompanying nesting instinct, has been the best decluttering motivator ever (watching hoarders is probably an easier way to get motivated, though). :lol:
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My 8 year old asks me why some people cover their head (if we are at the grocery store, for example). I always tell him to go up and ask them because I don't really now. I'm waiting for the day he does. ;)
I have actually been asked on several occasions, by young children, why I cover. Sometimes their mom would ask on their behalf, half apologetically that they were curious, sometimes the kids themselves asked.
It's actually easier to explain to kids, because they *get* simple explanations and don't come to the situation with any baggage. I have always told them that, in my religion, only my husband and immediately family are allowed to see what makes me pretty. Since it's nobody else's business, and they don't have the right to decide whether or not they like me based on how pretty I am (or not) instead of the kind of person I am, I cover myself. That usually satisfies both kids and parents ;).
Unfortunately, this type of honest and innocent questioning has just about stopped since 9/11. I feel everyone is just too uncomfortable to "go there".
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I guess anything adventurous or terribly uncomfortable. That would include camping (unless in a camper trailer with full amenities), any type of sport whatsoever, canoeing/kayaking, water skiing, skiing/sledding, roller-coaster rides, that sort of thing. I just don't *do* adventure. I guess I don't really *do* outdoors much in general, unless it is for a pleasant walk or other benign activity (watching the kids play at the park or play sports, garage sales, sight seeing).
Lucky for my dc, dh is "Mr. Adventure", and will do any and all of the above with them. Even my dear parents will kayak, hunt, fish, hike, swim and sled with them, so I'm off the hook :tongue_smilie:. I sit home, keep food on the table, and enjoy the peace and quiet time with a good book and/or the internet ;).
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Yup, love watching them, don't know why. Of course, I used to love Jon & Kate, until that turned into a train wreck. I guess I'm impressed that the fame doesn't appear to have gone to their heads, that they are unwaivering in their convictions, and have a strong family-centered focus. I am also amazed at Mrs. Duggar's calm demeanor, and Mr. Duggar's obvious devotion to her. It is also fun just to watch the logistics of them trying to live a modern American existence on such a large scale.
Good wholesome fun, I guess ;)!
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Well, I had my perfect "one boy, one girl" family in my 20s, and thought I was done. So glad to be done with diapers, terrible 2s, etc., glad I got it overwith while I was still young, and looking forward to still being young enough to pursue my own interests when they were grown and gone. At that time, over 35 was too old to have kids in my mind.
Now, here I am, just turned 37, and expecting our 3rd in 3 weeks! What happened?! Well, I guess you could call it "mid-motherhood crisis". My first-born is a man-child, as big as his father, and my sweet baby girl is a becoming a "tween". Rather than seeing a light at the end of the tunnel which is parenthood, I began to see a door closing, never to be re-opened. I started to ask myself if this is it, is this how and where I want my family to be completed? Sure, 2 kids is great when you're raising them, but am I satisfied with my kids going through life as adults with only one sibling (and of the opposite gender?) Am I ready to be an empty-nester in 8 years? Well, you can guess our decision ;).
So, from this vantage point, I would say over 40 is too old (certainly over 42). :tongue_smilie: BTW, I have already decided, if I determine this new baby just has to have a sibling to keep her company, I will have to time my pregnancy so I deliver a month before my 40th birthday, so I can say I had him/her at 39!! Just too much stigma in my mind to having a baby at 40, especially for someone who got married at 18! JMHO, as crazy as it may sound.
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Unless you're talking ice fishing or sleeping in an igloo....no, no camping here on Thanksgiving :lol: Not that I would camp anyway, without a fully-loaded camping trailer, complete with microwave, TV, heat/AC, toilet and shower, etc. but that's just me. A vacation with fewer amenities/conveniences than home does not appeal to me ;).
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I would absolutely eat it. My family has no issues with food sensitivity, being prone to food poisoning, etc. We typically leave leftovers on the counter for a couple of hours before refrigerating. It sounds like the meat was in the oven for 3 hours, a good portion of which time the oven was still hot. If it doesn't smell nasty, or form a layer of slime on it, I would re-heat it well (bring to a bacteria-killing temperature) and use it.
Of course, if you have sensitive digestive systems, or very little ones, they probably would be wise not to partake.
ETA: I just noticed it stayed out overnight, not 3 hours. Hmm, that's a tough one. I think I agree with your decision; if dh is OK with trying, he should, since it's his fault. If no one else dares to eat it, that can be his meat for the next week or two till it's gone. At least it won't be wasted.
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Honestly, I wouldn't be too worried. Obviously, it depends on your fertility. All 3 of my kids were conceived during the first month of stopping BCP *completely*. However, I had many occasions when I forgot pills and doubled up later, sometimes 2 consecutive days on more than one occasion during the same month, once for 5 consecutive days, and nothing happened. Of course it's worth taking a pregnancy test if you end up being late, but I wouldn't be terribly worried.
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I don't know, I would tend to expect they would know by that age. However, my ds has a friend who will be turning 14 in a month, who is still ambivalent. He says he still believes, but he's starting to question a bit :001_huh:.
I suspect the children either want to keep holding on to that part of their childhood, despite how illogical it may seem, or they are afraid to lose the gifts brought by "Santa".
Personally, I never got the point of lying to kids about the existence of these mythological creatures, only to have their belief (and possibly trust) crushed by peers, etc. But, I digress...
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I almost didn't join, since I won't be pregnant that much longer, God willing, but I figured, why not? I am pregnant with my 3rd, due the day before Thanksgiving. The ultrasound says it's a girl, but I am trying to keep an open mind, just in case. I have a ds13 and a dd 10, so I am definitely starting over. Really had no intention of having more kids until this year. A combination of approaching the end of my fertile years (OK, I'm 37, but I wouldn't want to have kids in my 40s), and realizing how quickly my kids are growing up. We decided, it's now or never, and I wanted my kids to have another sibling.
All 3 times, I became pregnant during the first month of stopping BC, so it was a bit of a victory to realize we've still "got it" after all these years!
This board has been a great support for all types of pregnancy-related questions, and hopefully this group will be even more so.
Thanks for establishing it!
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:iagree: I thought it was just an expression meaning easy.
Me too! I love learning the history behind expressions, but I honestly never thought about the origin of this one. I guess I equated it with "Piece of cake!" How cool to know there is an actual game called a Cake Walk, but that people still play them! I learn so much on this board!
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Maybe now is a good time to do an inventory of your homeschool stuff for insurance purposes, taking pictures and such. ;)
:iagree: If we do this, then there is no need to run back into a burning building for books. ;)
BTW, this is a good mental exercise to do in general. If the house was on fire (or a forest fire approaching,hurricane/tornado warning, etc.) and you had to grab what you could in 15 minutes, what would it be?
Not only is this a good thing to have thought through in case an emergency ever does transpire, but it forces us to evaluate the true "value" or "necessity" of all the clutter we have clogging our homes, and might just inspire us to get rid of some of it, now!
Oh yes, and the documents that are truly vital are in a fire-safe box (ideally along with CDs of irreplaceable family photos and such).
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I would assume that it's probably an Arabic name?
Very educated guess, Jean! (and correct ;))
We actually have friends whose dd has those initials. They didn't realize it until much later and then it is hard to change.Lesley
See, this is what I just don't get. How can someone choose a name for their child which creates obscene initials, and not "realize it until much later"? :confused: But, then again, I do over-think, over-analyze just about everything, so it's difficult for me to fathom.
Thanks again for everyone's kind comments. Still working on deciding between the "O" and the "U", for additional reasons other than just initials (ease of pronunciation in different languages, etc.), but I think I have finally given up looking for any name alternatives (unless dh throws me a curve ball at the last minute).
You gals are great!
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My dd started with Saxon 2 (now in 6/5), and their approach to teaching multiplication with skip counting was very useful. Yes, there were times that I questioned the sequence, but it all seemed to fall into place over the course of the year and the logic became apparent later on.
Out of all the programs I tried with both dc, Saxon was the only one that truly *taught* math facts, and at a realistic pace. The others would introduce a new set of facts almost daily, and simply remind me in the TM to "practice facts". Saxon comes with the fact cards, and tells you which sets of facts to practice each day, so it actually gets done, and in a manner and pace that works.
As for reviewing the earlier facts in Saxon 3, that is what they are doing through the skip-counting. I don't know if you are saying them as a chant or not, but we did, and that helped to solidify them in her brain. We are finding the approach useful even now, when factors are being introduced.
HTH,
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BTW, there just happens to be a radio program on NPR called "Science Friday". It might be interesting to your science-inclined kiddos to tune in!
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I don't know if this helps or not, but I do language tutoring, and I charge $20 an hour if they come to my house, $25 if I have to travel (and I won't travel more than 15 min. away). Typically, they prefer to come to me, which is ideal. I usually have 4-5 sessions per week (one hour per day). This does not really inconvenience my family much, I am able to homeschool full-time, and add a decent little contribution to the family income. True, I am not worrying about building my resume, but it is a good option to consider that would allow you that "non-homeschooling" outlet, while allowing you plenty of time to work with your own kiddos.
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Personally, I am relieved to know there is an option to refuse the scan. My dh's family is overseas, and we typically go to visit every other year or so, we even lived there for a while. I have not flown since the scanners were installed and, since from what I've seen they leave little to the imagination, I was really questioning when, if ever, I would feel comfortable flying again. I was actually appauled that the scanners were approved and installed so quickly, with no major protests whatsoever about the violation of privacy. This is a computerized image. Couldn't they create an image that makes our bodies look more square or fuzzy or something, rather than showing the true shapes, curves, proportions? I never would have realized how invasive they were if I hadn't read articles about two male airport security personnel getting into a fist fight after one commented on the size of the other's anatomy :001_huh:. Oh, sure, these are the people I want looking at my image on a screen. I would feel better if only same-gender security workers were viewing the screen, but it is an image, it could be viewed remotely as well.
Yes, a pat-down could be humiliating, and I can see how some would prefer a scan. Personally, I would rather a female security officer touch me briefly, albeit intimately, than to have my naked image produced on a screen, out of my control/possession, to be seen by anyone who so chose.
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If I had to choose one, I'd say tea, although I rarely drink either. Coffee? Can't stand the stuff, never drink it, yuck. I enjoy tea, particularly the herbal variety, but it is not something I think to have on a regular basis. I sip tea when visiting with friends, curled up with a good book on a snowy winter day...I just don't get that kind of down time very often ;). I guess I equate a warm beverage with leisure time, not a daily thing.
I drink milk with breakfast and water (maybe with some Crystal Light powder) the rest of the time.
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Thanks for the kind replies :001_smile:. Actually, while I was typing the initials, they didn't look as bad written out as I was imagining in my head. I kept thinking "odd", but it doesn't look that way spelled out, although it does spell "O.D.", which could be worse?
You're right, a lot of over-thinking going on. Dh's initials are MAD, who cares? It's actually kind of funny. I have just rejected so many names based on the "make-fun-of" factor, that I didn't want to choose a name that would cause her to be made fun of because of her initials. But, it's true, how often do we use initials? Mostly for signing documents as an adult, I guess.
A name is just such a permanent thing that follows a person all their lives, I prefer to over-think now, than to regret it (or have it held against me) in the future.
Thanks for all your help and encouragement!
ETA: I just realized my nephew has the same initials: OD, or MOD, and I never thought about it (he is only 4, but still...)
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OK. So, I'm due in 4 weeks, and we have had a terrible time choosing a name for this little one (not helped by the fact that our other dc feel they have just as much say in the matter as we do ;)).
Our 2 dc's names start with the same letter, so we started out trying to stick with that pattern. We just couldn't find another name we were in love with starting with that letter, and the kids thought it was time to break the pattern. Considering this new baby is a "new batch" (11 years later), we were OK with that.
It has taken us months to come up with a name that we are all happy with. Now that we are all in agreement, I have come to realize that, since the name starts with a vowel, we would be setting her up for a set of initials that will form words (or quazi-words) in various forms. Our kids have compound names, so depending on how many initials she uses, they would be read as:
OD
LOD
LOBD
Now, this name could be spelled with a "U" instead of an "O", making her initials:
UD
LUD
LUBD
So, which is worse? Should we go with the "O" spelling, or "U" spelling? Or choose an entirely different name, in order to avoid the whole vowel problem?
BTW, there is one name that starts with the same letter as my other dc (to keep the pattern) and is really the only "runner-up" name. We could go with that in order to avoid the initial problem. However, it is quite similar to dd's name (fine if they were twins, but 11 years apart?), and would give them the exact same initials :tongue_smilie:. This runner-up name is easier to pronounce based on the spelling, but we just don't love it as much, and aren't as thrilled with the meaning.
Advice?
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I think one distinction to keep in mind is comparing PS kids to hsed kids. PS kids have less time at home each day in which to complete chores, in addition to homework, after-school activities, etc. Most importantly, they are not home all day MAKING A MESS to be cleaned up!!! I see working together as a family to keep the house in order as another benefit of hsing. There is not the common modern distinction between the parents who work and provide for the children, and the kids who focus on academics and extracurriculars and little else. Hsing is a blessing to our entire family, but it means that we are all under one roof, all day, helping, teaching and caring for each other as needed. My kids understand that Mom cannot devote all her time to their education, and also pick up after them; it has to be a team effort.
My chores:
laundry
meal planning
grocery shopping
cooking most meals
2/3 of the dishwashing
household organization/decluttering
ds13:
2/3 vacuuming
2/3 dusting
trash/recycling
lawn mowing/snow removal
help with dishes
cooking meals 1-2 x per week
dd10:
1/3 vacuuming
1/3 dusting
clean bathrooms
wipe down kitchen
help with dishes
baking as desired
dh:
help with dishes
help with grocery shopping occasionally
home maintenance
auto maintenance
In addition, everyone takes care of their own stuff: cleaning rooms, putting clean clothes away, breakfast, re-heating lunch, putting away personal items left around the house, etc.
I am the home manager, assigning chores and making sure they get done, but I am not the maid, and implying that I am using my dc as my housekeepers, when they live here and make the mess, is ludicrous.
BTW, I was made to do very little as a child. Fortunately, my mom went back to work when I was in HS, and so paid me $20 per week (in 1989-90!) to do the laundry, vacuuming and cleaning bathrooms. Otherwise, I probably would not have learned these skills. It took me at least a decade of marriage to get over my feeling of entitlement, that hard/yucky/unpleasant work was for other people, not myself. I was definitely raised with the idea that school was my job, period. Why people think that kids, if never given adult responsibilities, will somehow assume them, graciously and proficiently, upon reaching adulthood, I'll never understand.
Kids deserve respect and not to be treated as slaves. They also deserve to be treated as productive and vital members of a household, capable of and necessary to the prosperity of the family unit.
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I am currently living outside the US, and just don't feel our state elections are close enough for me to bother requesting an absentee ballot. I did do so for the presidential election, but since I'm due in 4 weeks, I've got a bit more to worry about than voting ;). However, if I felt particularly strongly about a certain candidate, and the race was close, I definitely would vote.
Laundry question... when you buy new clothes
in General Education Discussion Board
Posted
Wow, I am surprised how many people don't sort colors :001_huh:. I have 3 baskets in my room, whites/mediums/darks, and everyone's laundry goes in those. When one is full, I wash it. This eliminate most color-running worries.
However, if I have something brand-new that looks run-prone (dark denim, red, etc.), I usually fill the sink with water, soak it, ring it out, soak it again, and keep repeating until it no longer runs. Either that, or I just make sure that everything in that particular dark load is really dark (and therefore wouldn't be affected by the running color anyway).
And while I usually wash reds with the rest of the darks, I do periodically do a "red" load, being mostly dd's stuff (red, purple and pink, including her bed sheets). :tongue_smilie: