Thanks for your replies! They're helping me sort stuff out. We rarely have friends over inside the house. These types of issues (or rather, my uncertainty about them) are one of the biggest reasons why. Mama Anna

Okay, I need outside input on this one. What do you do when your child has a toy she really likes and a friend comes over and wants to play with it - but your dd doesn't want it to be played with? (Issues like it might be broken or messed up realistically exist.) I can see both sides: Dd got it for Christmas and she's concerned a much younger girl might break it/mess it up. The first time this happened, I allowed Dd to put it away and just let the friend know that it was off limits at the time. The little friend was very persistent in talking about it and wishing for it for the rest of the visit. (It's natural, I suppose - she was 3 at the time.) This time, the friend came over unexpectedly (dd hadn't had a chance to put it away, completely out of sight) and when friend asked to play with it, I thought dd had shown it to her. I basically required dd to let her play with it. After all, guests should be treated hospitably. Dd was very unhappy, of course. So, how does this go? I'm no expert in the art of hospitality. I want to honor a guest and teach my children to do the same, but it goes against the grain that a guest can point at anything and say, "I want to play with that!" and have it automatically given to her, regardless of possible damage. Normally I would just say, "Keep it out of sight." But is there a line of reasonable/polite behavior on the part of the guest? Can a hostess politely say, "I'm sorry, dd's toy needs to be put up right now." and stick with it (even in the face of annoying youthful persistence) without feeling like a rude jerk? Also, I know hospitality is a regional thing. If you give your opinion, could you also name your region? (ie. Northeast, South, Midwest, etc.) Thanks! Mama Anna

Honestly? Through his mother. Dh calls his mother 1-2 x/mo. and hears what's going on in the lives of his six siblings. I carefully stay in touch with one of his sisters and one of his sils. We see them 1-2x/year, when we inevitably wonder why we've taken the trouble - our lives are (for the most part) very different from theirs. FWIW, I don't do much better. I contact one brother a few times a year, see another one a couple times a year (by communicating with his wife), and rarely say much to the third. Additionally, we all get together 1-2x/year as well. I have fairly good relationships with my brothers - especially the ones I stay in touch with least! :tongue_smilie: I've figured before that the ball is in my court communication-wise either because I'm the "talkative girl" in the situation or because I care more. I don't think my brothers have too much contact with each other now that they all live in different states. When two of them lived near each other they were constantly together. Does that help? Mama Anna

I voted "yes." We bought each others' rings. :) Mama Anna

I'm a conservative Christian with a conservative homeschool conference happening this weekend half an hour (tops) away. I'm sorry to miss the MUS session. I should be able to hit the one on our state laws. Mostly, I go for the CURRICULUM FAIR. :drool5: Just saying that even some who share the conservative Christian values but have academic rigor up there as a majorly high priority for the homeschooling choice find the vast majority of the sessions at one of these types of conferences just . . . unhelpful. Commiserating, Mama Anna

Our default is one lesson each week. Our morning math happens four days/week. Day one is Video, watched together, with me pausing it whenever she looks confused and explaining things to her until she's okay with it, and then going on. She'll do Wksht A that day. Then, if she's got it pretty well, we do D, E, and F on the next three days and move on to the next lesson the next week. If it's something more difficult, I might assign her half a worksheet each day in order to stretch things out (she gets overwhelmed by lots of problems when she's still chancy on the concept) or print out the worksheets from the website worksheet generator. I try to always have her do the Systematic Review pages from the workbook (pages D-F for each lesson) for the sake of the review. We have math review in the afternoons 5 days/week. That's when I have her review her facts (ie. "+7 and x9 today") and/or do one or two problems out of Singapore's CWP, a level down. Or, I just camp on whatever she's still figuring out (right now it's long division) and have her do one problem (that I make up) each afternoon. She can handle one at a time with little trouble - it's the many at once that overwhelm her. When she can do one at a time without any stress or mistakes for a week or so at a time, then I move on to review something else that's weak. I use the teacher's manual (in advance) to make sure I understand what Demme is trying to explain and how he's going to go about it so that I can step in and clarify when needed. It works for us. She's used MUS since Alpha and we're down to a solid routine now. She's not "mathy," though she is generally a bit accelerated. The drama of her personality finds some of it's most flamboyant outlets in the course of her math lessons, so much of how I do it is effected by that. :D HTH! Mama Anna

Thanks, Jean! :D Mama Anna

Thanks again! I ran the 5K today. I spoke to my friend-the-athletic-trainer :) and while she probed around my knee and concurred with my opinion of tendonitis and even encouraged me to keep training for the half-marathon, her up-beat projection of my recovery time after the race gave me pause. I trained by cycling for another week and tried running to find absolutely no improvement. At that point, 2 1/2 weeks out, I could almost hear my knee telling me, "You might get 10 miles out of me the weekend prior, but what makes you think you'll be able to turn around and do 13 in the race?" I knew that if I tried it, I'd be paying out recovery time that I can't afford in my season of life. So I ran the 5K for my first-ever race. It was an experience. My attitude still isn't the best about it, but I plan to carefully build a really good base for a half next year!! The best part is that my knee didn't bother me at all during the race and I figure it should be all better in 4 to 6 weeks of rest - I know that wouldn't be the case if I'd run 13.1 miles today! Now I've got to resign myself to the cycling instead for the present. Thanks again for all your advice!! Mama Anna

I'm not sure if this will help or not, but I occasionally have something happen where a blood vessel will pop under the skin and I'll get a sort of spontaneous bruise. There's usually a sharp, burning pain that dies down to a tingling soreness while the bruise pops up. If it happens around a joint, any motion of that joint is sore for a few days. Could it be the same thing? Mama Anna

I'm much like that, too - 4.0 student who didn't learn as much as I should have. I blame it on good test-taking skills. Dh is similar, although I usually studied more than he did in college (and seminary) because I was more concerned about my grades. I'm really worried about dd8 because (like Mama and Papa) things come easily to her. Especially anything LA-related. This is my rationale for pushing her a bit in math. It's one of the few things that she seriously finds challenging. She's about a year ahead according to age cut-off/grade level/etc., but she doesn't know it. I try to be encouraging, I try to take extra time to make sure she gets a lesson before we move on (we use MUS, so that's not too difficult), and I support her all I can, but I want to make sure she understands what it is like to struggle with something, persevere, and WIN. As a result, she's not fond of math - but so far we've kept her out of the severe "hate" phase. (We celebrate the "wins" like mad!) I may live to regret that I'm doing this, but it's my best way of trying to help her develop "struggle muscles" that she'll likely need later when she gets beyond her depth. I don't know that this helps you with your question, but I think it's great to be asking for drill from your son now. Once his mental muscles become reflexive with the skills and information, it'll be celebration time!! Just my 2 cents! Mama Anna

Frustrating: Dd8 keeps dissolving into tears. "Mama, it's 9:45 and I haven't finished my math, yet!" (She started it at 9:30.) "I haven't done my AWANA stuff yet. What if there's an [assignment that must be done over several days]?" "I can't go water my part of the garden yet!" "It's not fair that dd5 could go out and I couldn't yet, even though she had waited 1/2 hour for me and I wasn't ready!" "I didn't have enough water!" "I over-watered my forget-me-nots!" Grrrrrrrr. And she's not even a tween yet, is she? (This is completely apart from the frustrations of dd2 not liking the fact that they're mowing our complex today and insisting on spending much of lunch-prep time on my hip. With her hair carefully pulled over her face so she wouldn't be able to see the mower pass outside the window.) Nice: I'm in near-perfect silence right now. Ahhhhhhhhhhh . . . Ipad? Maybe in the next 10 years . . . <sigh> Mama Anna

I second the art museum! It's free (if you park on the street) and their lawns are extensive. You could pick up some picnic food from a grocery store and spend much of the day there if you liked. Their ancient collection includes all the accouterments for an Egyptian mummy as well as a bas-relief from Ancient Assyria. Not to mention jewelry from Ur, busts from Ancient Rome, etc. If your kids are seriously studying ancient art and haven't had a chance to study such things in person, I'd highly recommend it! Mama Anna

I again appreciate everyone's replies. I'm hearing that I need to get to a PT if at all possible. I'm not sure it will be, but I can try. The no insurance=no doctor issue comes from the last time we had no insurance and tried to get into a doctor's office; they insisted on a $100 physical at the first appointment - and didn't even address the problem my dh went in for. (That would have needed a follow-up.) We have about $300 for med. expenses for the forseeable future, without dipping into our emergency fund. This is why I'd rather not see a doctor and why I must not sustain a bad injury. A PT might be different. I have friend who is an athletic trainer if all else fails . . . :D Thank you all for your interest and advice! I especially appreciate your post, StephanieZ - the detail is what I'm looking for! To not push too hard is the key. And to let the whole thing (half and 5K) go if I need to - despite my goal-driven nature - that could be the hardest part! Thank you all!! Mama Anna

First of all, thank you all for your quick replies! Yes, the tendonitis is self-diagnosed. We have no medical insurance and therefore no doctor. I've read up on knee pain on marathonrookie.com and it seems to fit the tendonitis description better than the IT-band issues, thought it could be a combo. We have a specialty running store in the area and I've been in several times to ask those guys for advice, too. Going downstairs is uncomfortable. I've learned to stand up gently. I don't have any pain in my hamstrings, only in my knees. Primarily the pain/discomfort is in the area directly below my knee-cap. I was told to strengthen my hamstrings in order to keep my quads from pulling the joints out of balance, which is why I mentioned those exercises. Sorry about the mis-type - it's a 5K. How far would I need to be able to go beforehand on a long run in order to finish the half without real fear of injury? Dh told me this morning that he'd be willing to try and help have time to train again for next year's half if I can't do it this year. It's not like this would be my last chance unless I hurt myself badly enough . . . I really do appreciate those of you who are telling me that a 5K isn't wimping! :) One more question: If I just rest for awhile, biking to keep up some semblance of conditioning, how can I tell my knees are ready to try some more? I wish there were a sensor somewhere that would show red for "Injuy" and green for "Good to Go!" Mama Anna

Should I wimp out and do the 3K or keep working toward the half-marathon? Background: I'm a novice runner and have yet to run a race. For the last couple summers I was running a couple miles 2 to 3 times a week. I liked the energy it gave me. Then an acquaintance mentioned training for a half-marathon this spring and I jumped on it. It gave me a goal that encouraged me to run through the winter. (So I could continue to enjoy the extra energy, etc.) In general, my body takes running well, so I figured it should be manageable. My knees hurt at the beginning (tendonitis), but I asked for advice and took it, making sure I was running on a flat track and icing my knees after each run as well as at other times, and strengthening my hamstrings with exercises. I've been following a 16-week 3 run/week training plan because that's what fits my schedule. For cross-training I've been generally walking a mile on my off mornings and doing a video workout that I can complete in about 15 minutes 3x/week. (It's meant to take longer, but I only have the amount of time that breakfast is in the oven so I move through things pretty fast.) So now, 3.5 weeks out from the half, my knees are hurting again. It began a couple of weeks ago when I came back from a short run (I'd tried to do some speed drills) barely able to walk up a big hill. I could run okay on the flat, though. The next long run, which should have been 8 miles, I did on dh's bike - riding for almost 2 hours (until my knee was hurting whenever I had to pedal uphill). Things were better. Last Saturday my knees felt pretty good and I was eager to go for my 9 mile run, plotting it to take in as few steep hills as possible. But it was warm out and I started heading for heat exhaustion, I think. Between the nausea (water didn't help), the graying vision, and my lower GI having unrelated difficulties I managed under 6 miles, some of which I walked. That was a bummer. So today I was supposed to run 4 miles - generally not a problem. I took an ibuprofen and started out delicately because my knee has been pretty sore lately. (I almost wasn't able to do my push-ups yesterday because my knees hurt so bad being that straight.) Going down the first hill, which isn't big, my knee was sore all the way. It stayed sore on the flat. I turned around and walked home. What am I supposed to do about my theoretical 10 mile run on Saturday? I can't afford to get a severe injury. We don't have medical insurance and I can't do that to my family. The only reason I set my sights on this half was to give me an excuse to run through the weather. That worked. Should I just switch down to the 5K that's also offered? On the other hand, I will have trained for more than 16 weeks. (It took me about a month to carefully work up to a good pre-training platform.) For a 5K?!?!? It seems like a waste! Not to mention the money I've spent on running clothes, a hydration pack, etc. Can I do it? How? Is this a normal point for a rookie to get discouraged? I need advice! The solutions I've thought of are: 1. Gatorade for the heat problems. If it's only for a few weeks, I think our budget can handle it. 2. One of those tennis-elbow type bands for my left knee, which is the worst. Maybe I could run this afternoon with it? 3. I could always try biking again this Saturday, if that would help. 4. A heavier exercise band for my hamstring exercises to step them up. 5. Maybe not ramping all the way up to 12 miles in my long runs? (The schedule I'm following goes all the way up to 12 miles by the week before the race.) Thank you for reading this book! Could any of you with experience weigh in with your opinions? TIA!! Mama Anna

Seriously? I'm just happy that someone even noticed it! :D

:bigear: Mama Anna

Well, these aren't picture books, but Classical Kids puts out dramatized audio CDs that focus on some of the more famous classical composers: Bach, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Handel, and Mozart are among the ones I've seen/heard of. I also just do a search on our library's catalogue to find possibilities. Don't know if this helps, but at least it will give you a bump! Mama Anna

My dd2 just turned 2.5 last week. She's a late speaker and says: Mama Papa dd8's name "other dada" for dd5 (although, if taxed, she can come up with something like dd5's name) Babu (for my dad) Bibi (for my mom) and her own name. I'm happy that she's finally getting into prepositions and an occasional verb these last few weeks. My other two were early speakers and I have to continually work to not freak out about dd2's late speech. She'll be fine. I know that. I just have to remember it! ETA: These are how she naturally refers to these people, not what she repeats after me if I'm trying to get her to say something. Mama Anna

:svengo: Dd5 and I have been plodding through OPGTR at a glacial pace of about 2 lessons/week for the past . . . however many months. She's just past the half-way point (we've been doing this for about 1 1/2 years now) and is reluctant to read stuff. This is hard for me because dd8 was the exact opposite and I'm not so sure how to handle dd5 except to slow waaaaaayyy down and keep it coming steadily. Well, as I've been prepping for next year, I decided to be hopeful that she'd finish OPGTR during next school year and purchased the McGuffy's Third Eclectic Reader that WTM recommends for practicing Oral Reading. I found the whole set of McGuffys on Ebay and won them, figuring it was money well spent. Dd5 was sooo proud to have books arriving for her. She handled them several times. I told her she could probably handle reading the Primer now, and she proceeded to go almost half-way through it today. On her own. For the pure fun and challenge of it. :party: I'm sure it will wear off, but it's one of the first times she's settled down with a book on her own. "Soooooo happy!" (from Roman Holiday) Mama Anna

:lol::lol::lol: I remember reading the original version in the book . . . Thanks for the laugh!!! Mama Anna

I didn't vote because I'm really not sure. My dh has two seminary degrees (I have one) and is now working on his PhD at a seminary. I'm fine with where we are, but I know that all these degrees are not required to be a high-quality pastor. Some of the upsides of having an MDiv: You (hopefully) are trained to exegete the Scriptures well when you preach - with the knowledge of the original languages to back you up. You also have opportunities to study subjects like worship and counseling. A downside of having an MDiv: The debt you come out the other end with may very well prevent you from being free to follow God's call. Dh is presently communicating with a small church that has needed a pastor for 4 years or so. They keep updating their posting on our school's ministry positions board and not getting anyone because they need a pastor who will live locally in a rural area, be bivocational, and get paid $1,000/mo. Rare is the student who graduates with loans and has any hope of being able to afford such a church. Yet this little fellowship of believers needs a shepherd. For the OP: I have a couple of suggestions for your son. (You mentioned that you'd like him to get a little more life-experience under his belt before he begins pastoring.) One is that he investigate spending a 1- to 2-year term being a missionary. That might very well provide lots of life experiences as well as allow him to "trust, try, and prove" God on a daily basis. The other is that he think about working his way through his MDiv so that he can graduate loan-free. It will take a lot longer, but the freedom he'll experience when he has his degree and can happily take whatever situation God leads him to without worrying about a pile of loan debt hanging over his head will be marvelous! Just my thoughts! Mama Anna

You suddenly realize you should stop producing hydrogen gas in your science experiment so your kitchen doesn't explode. :D Mama Anna

Dd8 finished OPGTR at the end of K and it was easy for her. She could decode like nobody's business, reading the NIV Bible easily. Dd5 is still half-way through. After 1 1/2 years. (Yes, I started her too early. <sigh>) She's going slo-o-wly but steadily. I'm hoping she finishes before 4th grade. :D Seriously, I hope she'll finish by the end of next year (1st) and be on a 2nd to 3rd grade level - for our household, anyway. We'll see. Mama Anna

Thus far, we've pretty much gone by "The Book" :) in science. I think it's gone well. It's certainly been pretty cheap financially - which has a great appeal! We don't spend the full time rec. on it each week, but we follow the process in general. (I must admit, though, that dd hasn't been researching terms, etc. as much these last two years.) I've really enjoyed it these last two years, with Chemistry and Physics. I wouldn't say that dd has a full grasp of either, but we've been over atomic and molecular structure, worked lots and lots of experiments in the kitchen (I love experiments - otherwise I'd probably hate this style!) and gone over the basic theory involved. It helps that I enjoy science and my dad has a PhD in physics. If I'm ever unsure about something coming up, he can give me a good 30-minute lecture involving all the whys and wherefores that I get to condense into about 5 minutes of passionate explanation in order to keep dd's excitement level high. Or at least present, anyway! :lol: I love that grammar stage science (at least in Botany, Chemistry, and Physics) in WTM is so hands-on. Some of the experiments haven't worked (creating a vacuum that sound waves wouldn't be able to travel through bombed last week), but others have been soooooo neat - like running an electrical current through salt water. Maybe I get more excited about it than dd8, but she tends to catch it fairly well. She started things a bit out of whack schedule-wise, so I'm actually looking at beginning logic stage science with her in the fall. I'm hoping to keep sticking by the book. We'll see how it goes! HTH! Mama Anna