[Community College questions]

I'd say your daughter should talk to the admissions counselor at the university/ies she's interested in transferring to after community college. I started out in community college (1 year), am now in a state university, and should have no problem getting into a fairly prestigious graduate school program (PhD in history though. Before I had my daughter I was planning for medical school, but now it's just too much of a time commitment as a single parent!).

 

Some 4-year universities are tough to get into as transfers, and a select few don't accept transfers. Others won't accept spring transfers or transfer students before they get a 2 year degree. Still others have very specific requirements as far as courses. When I transferred I had gotten 38 credits in a year, but only half of the credits ended up transferring. If I could go back I would contact my university sooner for help in planning my community college courses.

 

If she has an idea of what medical school she'd like to go to, she could even contact an admissions counselor there and put the question by them. She could even contact a couple schools. Usually the admissions counselors can easily be contacted by email. But her *degree* will still come from the 4 year university, so if she goes to community college for 2 years and then transfers to a good 4 year school she shouldn't have a problem.

[Interesting question: Are the Olympics/elite sports self-selecting?]

I agree that the summer Olympic sports seem to offer more opportunity for those who aren't quite as well off. Not all of them of course, but things like swimming, track and field, football(soccer!)... don't involve quite as much in the way of expensive equipment and access to venues which may cost money to get practice, such as a ski run or ice rink.

 

It's amazing the sacrifices the Olympians and their families have made. In some of these sports they begin training at 4 and 5 years old and stay dedicated to their sport.

[Rehabilitation possible for a dog that bites?]

Rehabilitating a biter is TOUGH. I have a 120 pound lab who has bitten. She bit a little girl riding a scooter down the street (a visitor to my house accidently let her out the front door), my uncle twice, and my adult cousin (Although, she had never shown aggression towards my cousin until he kicked her, and she bit him a few days later.) None serious enough for stitches, and barely even stratched the skin. She has also shown aggression towards children and men.

 

We LOVE our dog. The thought of putting her down devestated us. So we just stopped having visitors, and when we absolutely HAD to have people over she was locked up, and we took very special care to MAKE SURE she couldn't get out. This worked for awhile. Then I found out I was pregnant. Obviously with a child around the house we needed something else. So I basically had to retrain her. I needed to make sure she knew that I was the pack leader, not her. Not easy to stare down 120 lbs of big brown dog! :tongue_smilie:I would take away her food, toys, stare her down, taught her some new tricks, made her walk right by my side at all times... basically doggie lockdown. Obviously this would only work if the owner was absolutely *sure* the dog in question wouldn't bite them. I also started to resocialize her with people, but always when I was in control of the situation.

 

After my daughter was born, her and I spent a lot of time on the floor with the dog. I have so many pictures of the two of them together. When Jenna started getting older, I pet the dogs head while Jenna pet her body and used her as a balance to learn to walk. Now, I'd consider the dog rehabilitated. We still lock her up when strangers come in the house, but more just to be safe. She has NEVER shown aggression towards my daughter. My DD can take steak right out of her mouth and the dog will walk away. They sleep together every night. We can have friends over again without locking her up.

 

Well, that was a long story to say.... Yes, a dog that bites CAN be rehabilitated, but it is a LONG process and very tough.

[Courting, Dating, and Relationships]

Important to note::: Being that my daughter IS only 4, all this is subject to change! :D

 

While my daughter is younger, under 14 or so, I'll allow group dating. I believe that completely forbidding something only creates problems later, much the same as completely denying a child sweets leads to overindulging later in life. As she grows up and begins to prove her maturity and responsibility, I'll allow her solo dates.

 

As for her choice of mates.... well, that is her decision. Obviously anyone who is downright bad, drugs, alcohol, arrest record, will not be allowed around my daughter, but I can't pick who my daughter spends her life with. I'd rather develop a relationship with her so that she feels she can trust me and talk to me and come to me for advice. I *hope* that she chooses a man who is of the same faith and race as we are... but only because it will make her life easier. Society doesn't like people who go against the grain. As long as she is happy, loved, respected, and taken care of, Mommy is happy, even if that is with someone of a different faith, race, or even another female.

 

I guess I feel like, at 18 I lose all power over the situation anyways. I'd rather spend her teenage years building a strong relationship with my daughter than fighting a power struggle over dating.

[Would you ever consider moving to New Zealand?]

Although... I'd move practically anywhere in a heartbeat. I have a bit of wonderlust.... a strong desire to travel, but it's an itch I've yet to scratch. Growing up my parents idea of vacation was going to the beach for the week, meanwhile I was buried in books about far off places the entire time! Then I got pregnant at 19, before I had time to go off on my own.

 

Now I'm just waiting for my daughter to grow up enough to make travel together possible!! :D Actually just the other day started to consider planning a trip to Europe for the summer of 2011.... renting a flat, getting rail passes and just travelling whereever we think to go... sounds amazing!

 

Oh right, but New Zealand. I would in a heartbeat. It doesn't have to be permanant, but if you pass on it now you may never get the chance again!

[Dog breed ?s]

My vote would be for a lab mix. :001_smile: They are awesome dogs. We have a purebred Chocolate lab and a chocolate lab mix, both of which are wonderful with my daughter. They have enough energy to play with her, and are very strong "pack" dogs. They aren't happy unless they are with us. Right now I have one dog under my elbow and one under my feet. :tongue_smilie:

 

I only say lab mix because mixed breeds are generally speaking healthier than purebred dogs, and also tend to have less incidences of behavior problems.

 

I can't imagine not having my dogs. We will always have labs.

[Migraines - pain relief specifically]

I take topamax for migraines. Before starting the topamax I was having migraines 3-4 times a week. The topamax has been amazing. I take 75 mgs a day. There are some irritating side effects. Occasionally my hands or face tingles, although that's decreased with time. I can't drink carbonated drinks anymore, they all taste flat to me. The taste of some foods has changed. But all of that was SO WORTH IT! I've gotten almost complete relief from my migraines. The worst part is since I don't have health insurance it costs 180 dollars a month, which is a struggle for me since I have returned to school.

 

Nothing else worked for me.

[WWYD, unwed mother baby shower....]

Goodnes, we all assume the worst of people, don't we? ;)

 

I assumed that the OP included the fact about being unwed, because she felt she should go just because of that, as this girl might need more support than your average just-an-acquaintance.

 

I would be more inclined to send a gift because of her situation, even though I wouldn't normally send a gift for someone I barely know.

 

Well... oops. I have to admit, when I first read the post, I did assume she didn't want to go just because the girl was an "unwed mother", and found that slightly offensive. Then again, I may be extra sensitive, since I was 19 when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, and in the homeschooling world I tend to feel like somewhat of an outcast for being a single mother! SO, OP.... Sorry for assuming the worst!! :tongue_smilie:

 

I wouldn't attend either. I don't feel comfortable in situations where I don't know many other people and would feel quite awkward sitting around. But if you can afford it and feel the need, I would send along a gift. Perhaps you could just "drop by" the baby shower at the beginning, say hello and drop off a gift, but let them know you have other plans for the day and are unable to stay?

For baby showers I always buy 6 months+. Size 2 or 3 diapers, wipes, if I buy clothes I get the bigger sizes. Usually other people can be counted on to buy the newborn/0-3 month stuff, and the baby will be growing quickly!!

[Using BOB books to teach reading]

For those of you who have used BOB books to teach your little ones to read, did you just use the BOB books or did you use them with another program?

 

I bought the first set of BOB books last week for my just turned 4 year old and she has flown through the first two books in the set. She read them both with very little assistance from me (just a little reminder to put the sounds together if she's having trouble figuring out the word, or reminding her what "and" is).

 

I was thinking of getting another program to supplement, but I'd like to find something that will compliment the BOB books system, since she is so proud to be reading on her own already! Is there a reading program out there that works well with the BOB books, or what did you use with your little ones that worked well?

 

Thanks!