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MorganClassicalPrep

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Posts posted by MorganClassicalPrep

  1. This brings back a memory for me... I was in my best friend's backyard playing with her, probably about 7 years old, and having a great time. I said something to her along with a nickname I called her once in awhile: Nicki. Her parents overheard, corrected me in an off-putting way, saying, "Her name is NICOLE. Nicki is like a dog's name or something."

     

    I felt hurt, because I was just having fun with my friend. Somehow, that comment has stayed with me all these years. And Nicole herself didn't mind the nickname. Harrumph.

     

    Friends do make up nicknames. It's a sign of affection. Parents need to step away from micro-managing how their children's friendships progress.

     

    If my son were named Jacob, I called him Jake, but a friend started calling him Jack, that would be the children's business, not mine.

     

    But I think Chucki said that her daughter DID mind the nickname and didn't feel comfortable speaking up? That changes things for me. It isn't just a crazy parent trying to be in control, but a child (who has a history of not sticking up for herself, despite parents working on the situation..) being unhappy with a situation and unable to do something about it.

  2. Didn't make it to the end of the thread, so sorry if I repeat what someone else said...

     

    1) Due to my eye disease I never took off my sunglasses. That annoys some people right off.

     

    2) I ended up sitting by myself because I picked the group of chairs to the left of the door. Since I was first in the room I sat all the way down on the left end. Everyone else sat in the grouping of chairs to the right of the door except one lady who came in late. She grabbed the first chair to the left of the door.

     

    Those two things could have said obnoxious even before I spoke to the other mom.

     

    Hm. Guess I seem pretty obnoxious in my DD's dance class. I almost always wear my glasses because I'm sensitive to the sunlight coming through the front glass, and I pretty much sit far away from everyone because I don't like being touched and feel awkward trying to make small talk.

    It's interesting to think of how others see us, isn't it?

     

    We've been working on it practically since birth. Dd is the kid that would give her ice cream to the kid that dropped his. She would calmly go get another box of crayons instead of asking for hers back if another kid hogged them all.

     

    Not having siblings to fight with might have its drawbacks.

     

    I have a kid like this, so I can understand where you were coming from by speaking up yourself. Maybe if you had explained that to the other parent? "Bobbie Joe doesn't really like being called Bob, she really prefers Bobbie Joe. But she's a little shy and doesn't want to hurt your daughter's feelings. Would you mind passing on the message so neither girl feels awkward?"

     

    (I have a Jenna. People try to shorten her name to Jenny and Jen. Uhm, NO! First, Jenny is no shorter than Jenna. Second, Jen is my best friend, not my daughter. Third- her name is JENNA!!!! :tongue_smilie:)

  3. honestly she wants French only but i thought learning latin first would give her an advantage on learning another language.

     

    Well, French alone is going to help learning another language. If that were the case, I'd think about putting Latin off some. Waiting a couple years isn't going to hurt since Latin isn't a language you need to be able to speak.

  4. If I read your post correctly you are going to do Minimus and then start French. I don't think that's too much at all if your child wants to do it. We are learning Latin and Greek and plan to add a modern language in a few years. DD wanted to do Greek for an entire year before I let her start. I thought it would be too much. It turns out it's not a problem at all for her. I have to look at the teacher book a lot because my mommy brain isn't as good at remembering things as hers but other than that it's gone very smoothly.

     

    Oh yeah, this reminds me of the question I wanted to ask (to the OP): does the child in question WANT to do two languages? That can make a difference also. In my situation, I was planning on waiting another year or so to add a second language, but DD is adamant that she wants to do a second, NOW, and has the motivation for it.

  5. Not at all. 2 languages is well within possibility if you have the time. Remember that children in countries other than the United States often grow up with three languages: mother, father, and community; or parents, community and school.

    I agree with others that it's best to stagger the languages. Start one and wait at least a couple months before starting the next.

     

    My DD is doing French now. We're adding Spanish in over the summer, and then Portuguese in 2013. She'll also study Latin in late elementary, but we won't worry about speaking it much, just about grammar/written components.

  6. The problem is I am surrounded by people who either think it's awful that I'm homeschooling at all, people who are horrified he didnt learn to read at 3 or 4, or people that are horrified I'm teaching him to read before he's 7 or 8. It's important for my husband that they are AT LEAST at grade level. He has tons of memories about kids at state testing who couldn't read and cried the whole test, things like that. But my MIL tells me I shouldn't do anything with them but read to them and let them play. That I'm rushing them and I'll make them hate learning and crush their little spirits. So, anytime I feel like I'm on to something I like, I read something else that also makes sense, and then I'm just like, ugh.

     

    I liked sonlight because I love books and I get so excited thinking about them loving reading and I liked that Sonlight has some really great books. I also liked that it wasnt all workbooks (though my boys have so much fun with workbooks!) and constant drilling and flash cards. The read alouds are fine, we actually add stuff in a lot. They get frustrated by reading the little stories, like one or two sentences. I've tweaked things a bit to have it not so jumpy.

     

    They LOVE science experiments, art, lots of activity. DS1 doesnt love books unless they're about things he's really interested in, but DS2 loves all books.

     

    First: :grouphug:. It is very overwhelming. But remember; it's good that we're overwhelmed- it means there are lots of choices out there!

     

    I would spend some time browsing on these boards. Just scroll backwards and open up the threads that look interesting. There is so much good information here. I regularly find myself reading old posts. Once you have done that, I'll bet you find yourself with more focused questions.

     

    I would also start with the big ones: reading, writing, and math. Then add the extras in from there.

  7. I want to be a college professor.

    But I didn't know that until I was about... 22? 23? And it took having a child to make me realize where my real priorities were. (Intellectually stimulating and flexible schedules at the very top.)

     

    I think it is a rare person who picks what they want to do as a child and then actually does it for the rest of their life. I mean, at 13 we don't really know what life holds for us. Before I had my daughter, I wanted to be a forensic pathologist, but then I realized how tough the schedule is, the amount and difficulty of the education required (med school. ack!) with a child, etc.

     

    I aim to give my daughter a well-rounded, liberal education that will prepare her to be successful in college and for careers in any field.

  8. There's no need for the alarm clock to sound like the fire alarm.

     

    Try one of the alarm clocks that plays music and gets gradually louder. (They make ones that light up gradually too, but that doesn't wake everyone.)

     

    It wakes you up without the adrenaline.

    :iagree:

     

    Alarm clocks scare me. My heart starts racing, I shake a little, and just *feel* scared inside, like I'm being threatened.

     

    I use my phone now, which plays music and gets louder as time goes by. It's a little better.

  9. Chick-Fil_A has a different demographic than other fast food places. I think they know their customers and will find people who eat at their restaurants supportive of these changes.

     

    I agree that they have slightly different demographics but... all I was saying is that for the people who eat out as a special treat, I believe the new menu will deter people from choosing Chick-Fil-A over other places. It's not really a treat if they force parents to either get the fruit and milk or pay extra.

  10. So, you CAN'T get fries and soda with a kids meal?

     

    I'm already part of a boycott on chick-fil-a, but this would be one more reason not to eat there. We don't eat out often, but when we do it's specifically as a treat. We can have fruit and milk at home (and in fact.... that's just what DD is eating now for lunch! :tongue_smilie:)

     

    I think chick-fil-a will not like the results of this change on their profits.

  11. Maybe you could find out if one of the families that dances with you is also in financial need? They might be willing to swap child care for dance classes? I'm sorry you're going through this. :grouphug:

     

    I was just going to suggest this. I would barter child care for dance classes in a heart beat- it's so expensive!!! I bet there would be many people willing to do this.

  12. Does anyone have experience with the First Act brand of musical instruments (sold at Toys R Us). DD wants the accordion, bongos, and percussion pack. They *look* like good quality, but I don't want to waste money on something that is going to sound badly.

     

    Also... what are the options for buying guitars? I've checked amazon and my local guitar shop, but they don't have what I'm looking for, which is a 3/4 size green electric guitar. Shaped like a star or heart would be a plus, but has to be green. :tongue_smilie:

     

    ...oh birthday shopping, how I love thee.

  13. Is there a reason to make such a drastic change so soon after loss? At 50 she could still live independently in most cases. And leaving all her friends and her home will add to her grief.

     

    There are many reasons. Her and my father were already planning on following me to graduate school (in 18 months) and moving in with us to help me with DD. Plus, my mom can't stay by herself at night (anxiety reasons- not health reasons). She does want to move with us, this part isn't me forcing anything on her!

     

    Your mom is an age peer to many of us posting. :glare:

     

    I'm not sure the circumstances of her coming to live with you, but I'd encourage you not to approach her/her situation like a school project. ;)

     

    She's an adult, and compentent. If she wants to come live with you, I encourage you to say "yes" but only do so if you can comfortably allow her to do nothing but sit around all day.

     

    I'm sorry your Dad died; but her grief as a widow is her grief. Let her work it out. Healthy grieving varies widely. I'd feel "closed in on" and a little patronized and "managed."

     

    I promise I didn't mean anything by the old people comment... I really was being snarky because I knew it would make my mom laugh. I don't see her as old at all!

     

    Thank you. Everyone. I definitely don't want her to feel patronized... I guess I just feel so.. useless. DD and I both have a lot going on, stuff to keep us busy and not focusing on what's happened. I'm really worried about her sitting around, thinking about my Dad all day. I guess I'll leave her be, and hope that being with us will help.

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