I have a similar approach, though I will say that I find myself needing to remind my girls more often than I'd like to about various recurrent tasks, such as emptying the litter box, feeding the cats, tending to the chicken. I'd like to find ways to get them out of the habit of waiting for me to REMIND them of a chore. I have the sense that they only do that when I'm at home. When I'm not here, they manage to get it done. How do you (any of you?) address that one? Doran

We have a running joke in our family that The *** Fairy (insert whatever noun you want to....Laundry, Cleaning, Cooking, etc.) is off duty!! You are so right. And, I'm sure you know that. ;) It makes no difference what the "other parents" do...you and your son have to do what is best for your household. Doran

Thanks for the replies. I'm curious to know if those of you who travel into D.C. often (or live there?) have favorite eateries. Lunch? Dinner? The owner of Restuarant Nora is a personal friend, so that's always a top choice for me. But, I don't want to miss another opportunity for good food. Who knows anything about special art exhibits going on in the D.C. area? Online clearinghouse type sources where I might find a listing of events? Where to purchase a great city map? Doran

It's certainly not the FIRST time I've left them on their own. But, it's a first for so many hours. As it happens, this is their initiation into a whole weekend of similar arrangement. Completely unplanned that there would be so much of it in close proximity. I'll be out of town w/ my mother from Friday mid-day through Sunday, so the girls and their dad will be doing the homefront dance. Dad generally spends good portions of his weekend days at his shop, so once again, the kids are going to have a lot of independence for days in a row. The teen is more used to that -- but not alongside (and assuming a role of authority for) her sister. Today will be a good trial run! Thanks for the good wishes. You can keep 'em coming! :) Doran

Aw shucks, Andie - thankee! I have a special way of not picturing people. Sure, if pressed, I could come up with a vision that comes to mind, based on the voice I know here, but I don't really read posts and conjure up images of the person as I go along. Now, with the avatars, I'm in big trouble. I figure you're a 1950's school teacher, and Audrey is a green fairy! I really debated about putting a photo in at all -- there aren't so many of me in my files since I'm generally the one behind the camera -- but I realized how much I like having a real image to go with the voice, so I thought maybe I should offer that in return. Colleen, sorry if I rocked your world in any way :p And glad you like the avatar. We wear some pretty funky socks in this family! So, that's part of the me that's me, too. Cheers, both! Doran

My kids will be on their own for much of tomorrow. Fortunately, the youngest is getting a ride in to her gymnastics class courtesy of another mother, so she'll be otherwise occupied for several hours. But, the two girls will be quite together for much of the day as well, WITHOUT ME! I'm taking a grant writing workshop tomorrow from 9-4:00 (so I won't be here either -- sniff!). Grant writing is an area I have considered getting into more than once, and this seminar is free. I hate messing up our school routine like this, but how could I pass up such a good opportunity?! Anyway, if you think of it, send some harmony and sisterly love our way. I have visions of arriving home to two bloody stumps! After all, they are teen and pre-teen, and I'm leaving them alone. Eeek!

I failed to mention that this is happening THIS weekend. C'mon ladies and gents -- get those ideas flowing. :p Doran

You had no way to know what age child I was talking about! :o Outlining and note taking are very hard for her -- writing and reading are still such a struggle that I am only just having her write some of her own narrations instead of doing them for her. I feel she actually loses so much content when struggling over how to get the words on paper. Gotta get this kid proficient on a keyboard! Thanks for your help -- it means a lot. Doran

Oh, phew. No Bake Crack just doesn't have a pretty ring to it. It puts me in mind of No Butt Crack which is highly appealing, or unappealing, depending on which way you look at it. I think I should be quiet now. :rolleyes: Doran

Ack! Now I'm questioning my use of the term "spin". I didn't mean that the term couldn't legitimately mean collective wisdom, I just meant that if you look at it from a different angle (as some people might), you could see the negative definitions instead. I absolutely understand that it can also be positive. Hope that makes sense. :) Toodles, Doran

They sound delish. I've heard they also go by No Bake Cr@ck :eek: -- so maybe I'm doing myself a disservice by even exploring these. But, I was wondering if anyone has ever tried substituting coconut oil for the butter so that they could be non-dairy? Doran

I gave my mother a special gift for her 80th birthday (12/22) - I promised her a weekend away, just the two of us. After some deliberating, we've settled on a trip to Washington, D.C., which is just 2 hours from my home. This way, she can pop in and see the kids before we head off. We're fortunate to have the use of the home of dear friends, who will be out of town, for our accommodations. We've discussed the idea of visiting parts of the Smithsonian, National Gallery of Art, and maybe catching a show at the Kennedy Center. But, so far, our plans are very loose. That's how I prefer it, but my mother is more of a planner. So, I don't want to disappoint her by not having options in mind for her and enough information that she can just say, "I like that idea." So, what else should I consider -- even though I'd love it if we spent a good bit of our time just sipping tea and talkng! Doran

I never skip garlic if I can help it. I was thinking, when I read your list of ingreds, that it seemed a bit on the sweet side. The jicama is crunchy but does it have much of its own flavor to counter the sweetness of the fruits? Worthy of consideration - but of course it comes down to what you love most: A dash of salt Definitely something perky, like fresh hot pepper or tabasco. red onion or scallion orange juice black beans Sounds yummy!! Doran

You know, Jennifer -- it helps us process our own stuff, too! I'm glad you've had a little enlightenment. That's a great feeling! This does sound much more like the root of the issue - it makes perfect sense. Don't you love it when clarity hits you? And, if I may say so myself, I'd be willing to bet that your are NOT just like your mother. :p Doran

I appreciate the advice, and I can apply it to a certain degree. Trouble is, my youngest is 11. We won't get through SOTW a full three times, probably only twice. So, I am a tad more concerned that she start cementing some of the details now. But, she is not a strong reader (processing issues), so the extra reading isn't always a simple matter. I think we'll just keep plugging along and maybe add some additional books here and there as we can. The projects are often fun, as well, when they aren't too "crafty" to really do anything to help with understanding. We do them sporadically. Anyway, thanks for the tips. Doran

What sorts of plants are you growing, and what are the butterflies you're seeing? The trick, if there is one, is to be sure you have plants that the caterpillars eat, not just the flowering species that the butterflies enjoy. Monarch larva eat only milkweed, so that narrows the field quite a lot. Swallowtails eat a larger variety including dill, parsley, fennel, regular and wild carrot (Q.A's Lace), I think. So, if you're not growing any of those particular plants, you could start with that. Also, Google images for the caterpillar types you're hoping to raise so that you know what to look for. The eggs are TINY and easy to miss. The larva, in their first instar, are also very, very small, and easy to miss if you're not familiar with what you're looking for. Pictures will help you be prepared. Have fun! Doran

When we go over the review questions the next day, I make notes on the white board. I even leave these in place and allow my dd to look at them when we're composing the writing. But, she still struggles. Maybe we'll try just doing one section at a time and getting the writing portion done right after. That would certainly help for short term recall. But, it doesn't address the longer term issue which is that much of the data-heavy information is forgotten by the very next day, let alone a week or so later. The stories are easier for her to remember, but there are fewer of those in the later books. Doran

Yes, that's the positive spin. But the other uses -- those alluding to conformity and "groupthink" seem more negative, to some more so than to others. All that to say, it doesn't get my knickers in a twist, but I understand how it might rub someone the wrong way. Twisted knickers have a way of doing that...or so I'm told! Really, I just want eleven little green squares of good reputation by my name...is that asking for too much?! :D Doran

I do, too. But, if you just look at the way the two terms are described outside the context of this board, it's not as easy to "get", kwim? Obviously it hasn't stopped me from being here, but I can see why the joke might be lost on some. I have to admit that it has taken me longer to accept the whole "bee network" -- Larva, Worker Bee, Nurse Bee, etc. I realize it's all part of the fun, but for those that don't get it in the first place, it might leave a really bad taste in the mouth. I'm not feeling nearly as negative as this sounds. Just observations from my neck of the hive. ;) Doran

We've been using SOTW for many years now, and we like the program very much. But, toward the end of the second book and now into the third, we find that the material is more complex, with more names and dates/events to absorb. My oldest doesn't have so much difficulty with it - that's just the way she learns - but the youngest isn't retaining much. To be perfectly honest, neither am I. If we read a chapter and don't go right to the narrations/review, we've both forgotten a good portion of the detail. Generally, I read a chapter, try to summarize bit by bit as we go along, then we do the review questions and writing the next day. But, I'm wondering if any of you have found any good techniques for helping your kids absorb material more long term? Doran

FWIW, I think the larger "circles" up at the top of the posts, beside our names, have to do with whether we are online or not at any given time. OTOH, the little squares near our names (over the the right, I think -- not looking right at it right now), those are the reputation indicators. And, that's about where my understanding stops. LOL!! I still miss the old boards, too, but I'm trying to adapt to the change. Doran

Oh, Crissy. Ouch! Like the others, I'm mostly here to tell you that I'm sorry, that I know it's hard, that hearing that must've felt like you'd been hit by a train. Based on my brother's issues (CML and prostate cancer), it seems that doctors make a diagnosis/prognosis based on what they know in comparison to other cases of similar magnitude and type. But, as you know intuitively and from others here, there is no black and white. Please know that I am holding you in my heart here -- you and your g'ma. ((((Crissy)))) Doran

Hi Monique! Hi Anj! Glad to see you both. It takes some getting used to, but just remember it's new to all of us. Don't hesitate to ask questions -- most of which are appropriate on the "How To" board (last one on the list of board options). Five at once with chicken pox!? Ohhhhh Nooooo! Glad they're all better. Doran

Well, hear people talking all the time, but they're in my head! :D Gad, Lisa! I'm sorry. I have no advice, but I wanted to let you know that I really don't think you're crazy (hee), and I hope you find some resolution soon. Know any good computer geeks? I'd be on the horn in a blue streak. Doran

Yep. This is usually my take on the whole concept. We didn't do it as a "project", per se, more as part of my job. It felt like a lot of work for not enough reward. And, if the kids had been expecting lots of chicks, they might've been disappointed. Our results (on more than one attempt) were quite poor. It is a great learning tool. Just know these things: you need to prepare yourself and your kids for the possibility that some won't hatch, and some might hatch and not make it. You also need to know exactly what you're going to do with them if/when they do hatch. Good luck and let us know what you decide. Doran